Freedom of Expression

Press Release 36/00

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Attacks on journalists are specifically intended to silence them, and so they also constitute violations of the right of a society to have free access to information.

Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Mexico

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THE WORLD'S THREE DEFENDERS OF FREE EXPRESSION EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN ABOUT JOURNALIST KILLINGS AND THE EXISTENCE OF LAWS RESTRICTING FREE SPEECH

Abid Hussain, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression (UN), Freimut Duve, the Representative on the Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Santiago A. Canton, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States (OAS) issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the seminar on International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression.

This event, held in London on November 28 to 30, was organized by ARTICLE 19 with assistance from Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression (CJFE), two nongovernmental organizations active in the defense of free expression. After signing this new declaration, the three defenders of free expression reaffirmed the commitment acquired in their two previous statements to continue coordinating their efforts and taking joint actions to allow a broader and more effective defense and protection of the right of freedom of expression.

They used the occasion to state that the greatest threats facing free expression in the world were killings and other violent attacks against journalists, and the existence of laws that, with the pretext of protecting an individual's good name, are used to silence criticism of public officials, such as is frequently the case with libel and slander laws.

Similarly, the declaration calls for the abolition of "desacato" contempt laws. The preamble to the declaration also states its support of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, recently adopted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In this regard, Dr. Canton stated that: "The international community's support for this Declaration is of the greatest moment, in that it underscores the importance of more effective protection of free expression."

Finally, the three rapporteurs expressed their complete satisfaction with the results obtained at their meeting in London, and they stated their willingness to continue meeting regularly in order to inform the international community about the main threats facing full enjoyment of the right of freedom of expression. A copy of the declaration is attached hereto.

Santiago A. Canton
Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression
December 1, 2000