Freedom of Expression
Press Release 40/01
INTER AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION ENDORSES DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The Inter American Press Association endorsed the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression at a formal ceremony held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC on March 2, 2001 within the framework of the 110th session of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR).
Heading up the ceremony were OAS Secretary General César Gaviria, IACHR Chairman Claudio Grossman and the other members of the Commission, IACHR Executive Secretary Jorge E. Taiana, the IACHR Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Santiago A. Canton and an IAPA delegation led by President Danilo Arbilla. Ambassadors of OAS member countries, representatives of NGOs working in the field of freedom of expression and Latin American correspondents based in Washington were among the others present at the announcement.
The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression lays out thirteen principles basic to freedom of expression, which is defined as an indispensable requirement for the very existence of a democratic society. It also sets standards for the effective protection of freedom of expression throughout the Americas. The declaration was drafted by the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and adopted by the IACHR at its 108th session last October.
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has more than 1300 members representing newspapers and magazines from all over the Americas and is active in developing programs for the protection of freedom and expression in the hemisphere.
In his opening address, OAS Secretary General César Gaviria pointed out that “The Inter-American Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Special Rapporteur have earned the respect of all OAS member countries. Today we come here to reaffirm a commitment. The Declaration represents a major step toward the creation of a legal framework for the protection of freedom of expression, and member states will surely give it the attention and study it merits.”
IACHR Executive Secretary Jorge E. Taiana mentioned the support that the Inter American Press Association has given to the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, and added, “The Office of the Special Rapporteur and the IAPA share a desire to safeguard freedom of expression in the Americas. This ceremony to announce the IAPA’s endorsement of the Declaration marks a milestone in a relationship that began at the very moment that the office was created.”
Santiago A. Canton, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, said, “IAPA’s endorsement of the principles lends significant support to the Declaration. It is a further example of the efforts that our office is carrying out in conjunction with civil society groups to assure that freedom of expression is effectively protected and democracy made stronger in the countries of the Americas. As I have said before, democracy simply cannot exist without full freedom of expression.”
IACHR Chairman Claudio Grossman underscored the significance of the event by saying, “The adoption of these principles, which set out a legal framework for the protection of freedom of expression, gives the men and women of our hemisphere a new weapon with which to defend their right to express themselves freely.”
Lastly, IAPA President Danilo Arbilla stressed the true significance of the thirteen principles themselves. “They clearly place freedom of expression at the top of the list of all human rights.” Mr. Arbilla went on the say that, “The Declaration of Principles has become a powerful instrument to help us meet our goals. The progress we have made in defending freedom of expression is due precisely to the efforts we have carried out in conjunction with the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights and the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.”
Washington, D.C., March 3, 2001