Defending Freedom of Expression and Information • Civic Space • Digital • Media • Protection • Transparency •
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Article 19: Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Article 19: Freedom of Opinion and Expression Why would a human rights organization go to court to support someone whose extreme political views or ethical position it fundamentally opposes? A pornographer perhaps, or an anarchist? Because of the rights asserted in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), we all have the right to form our own opinions and to express and share them freely. “If we do not believe in freedom of expression “The first human who hurled an for people we despise, we do not believe in it at insult instead of a stone was the all,” says linguist and political activist Noam founder of civilization.” Chomsky. Adds Human Rights Watch: –Sigmund Freud “freedom of speech is a bellwether: how any society tolerates those with minority, disfavored or even obnoxious views will often speak to its performance on human rights more generally.” This right underpins many others, such as religion, assembly and the ability to participate in public affairs, but freedom of expression is not unlimited. A common metaphor to describe its limits is that you cannot falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theatre and cause a panic and possible injury. Other forms of speech generally not protected include child pornography, perjury, blackmail, and incitement to violence. The UDHR’s drafters wrestled with the issue of how tolerant a tolerant society should be of people like Nazis and fascists who themselves are intolerant. They were acutely conscious of the role played by the Nazi media and film industry in the creation of an environment that enabled the slaughter of 6 million Jews, and other groups such as the Roma and people with disabilities. -
Joint Letter to the Human Rights Council Calling for States' Action To
www.amnesty.org AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT DATE 17 June 2021 INDEX MDE 28/4303/2021 JOINT LETTER TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CALLING FOR STATES’ ACTION TO ADDRESS THE ALGERIAN AUTHORITIES’ ALARMING CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY FORCES 82 civil society organisations call on states to take action to address the Algerian authorities' alarming crackdown on pro- democracy forces during HRC 47 The unrelenting criminalisation of fundamental freedoms warrants an urgent response Dear representatives, We, the undersigned Algerian, regional and international non-governmental organisations, urge your government, individually and jointly with other states, to address the alarming crackdown on peaceful Algerian protesters, journalists, civil society members and organisations, human rights defenders and trade unionists during the 47th United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) session. Repression has increased drastically and a more assertive public position from states is crucial to protecting Algerians peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. We urge you, in relevant agenda items such as in the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner under Item 2 or in the Interactive Debates with the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression and freedom of association and peaceful assembly under Item 3, to: ● Condemn the escalating crackdown on peaceful protesters, journalists and human rights defenders, including the excessive use of force, the forced dispersal and intimidation of protesters and the -
Confrontingcomplexity
106TH ANNUAL MEETING FINAL PROGRAM Confronting Complexity March 28-31, 2012 The Fairmont Washington, D.C. SIL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization founded in 1906 and chartered by Congress in 1950. The mission of the American Society of International Law is to foster the study of international Alaw and to promote the establishment and maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice. ASIL holds Category II Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies. The Society’s 4,000 members from more than 100 nations include attorneys, academics, corporate counsel, judges, representatives of governments and nongovernmental organizations, international civil servants, students and others interested in international law. Through our meetings, publications, information services and outreach programs, ASIL advances international law scholarship and education for international law professionals as well as for broader policy-making audiences and the public. 2223 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Phone +1 202-939-6000 Fax +1 202-797-7133 www.asil.org ©2012 ASIL Annual Meeting Dear Colleague, Contemporary reality is confoundingly complex: it is marked by rapidly evolving technologies, increasing global interconnectedness, rising population, and deepening understanding of science and the environment. New international actors; changes in social, economic, and political dynamics; a multipolar power structure; and novel security threats only add to the complexity. Amidst this confusion, international law can be a source of order and clarity. It can provide frameworks to peacefully resolve disputes, regulate relations between diff erent actors, and clarify rights and obligations. -
Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (Ms
GA65 Third Committee Subject to change – Status as of 8 October 2010 Special procedure mandate-holders, Chairs of human rights treaty bodies or Chairs of Working Groups presenting reports Monday, 11 October (am) Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Ms. Xiaoqiau ZOU, Vice-Chair, on behalf of Ms. Naela GABR, Chair of CEDAW) – oral report and interactive dialogue. Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Rashida MANJOO – oral report Wednesday, 13 October (pm) Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, Ms. Marta SANTOS PAIS. Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ms. Yanghee LEE - oral report. Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Ms. Najat M’jid MAALLA Monday, 18 October (am) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous people, Mr. James ANAYA Tuesday, 19 October (am) Chair of the Committee against Torture, Mr. Claudio GROSSMAN – oral report and interactive dialogue. Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, Mr. Victor Manuel RODRIGUEZ RESCIA – oral report and interactive dialogue. Wednesday, 20 October (pm) Independent Expert on minority issues, Ms. Gay McDOUGALL. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr. Tomas Ojea QUINTANA. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Mr. Richard FALK. Thursday, 21 October (am) Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Mr. Olivier DE SCHUTTER. Independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, Mr. -
Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Calls for Expansion of Freedom of Expression Rights to Be Integrated Into the New Draft Constitution of Kenya
For immediate release – 15 May 2009 Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Calls for Expansion of Freedom of Expression Rights to be Integrated into the New Draft Constitution of Kenya Today, ARTICLE 19 Kenya and East Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, submitted its comments to the Committee of Experts for the new Constitutional Review Process currently ongoing in Kenya. ARTICLE 19 welcomes the review process and calls on the Committee of Experts to ensure the new Draft Constitution of Kenya is in line with freedom of expression and information best practice and international standards, as laid out in Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Kenya has signed and ratified. The Constitutional Review Process seeks to improve the current Constitution of Kenya which was first developed in 1963, and amended in 1996. The current process to review the Constitution will be the third of its kind. The Committee of Experts is responsible for developing a new draft Constitution by 1 December 2009. The final draft is expected to be adopted by Parliament by 2 March 2010 prior to a constitutional referendum. In its note to the Committee of Experts, ARTICLE 19 highlights the areas where guarantee of freedom of expression falls short of international human rights law and standards on the right to freedom of expression, the right to access information, and media freedoms. ARTICLE 19’s recommendations to the Committee of Experts include: That the Committee should ensure that the new Draft Constitution of Kenya protects the right of freedom of expression, including the right to information, in compliance with international and regional human rights law and standards. -
Facilitating Peaceful Protests
ACADEMY BRIEFING No. 5 Facilitating Peaceful Protests January 2014 Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Geneva Académie de droit international humanitaire et de droits humains à Genève Academ The Academy, a joint centre of ISBN: 978-2-9700866-3-5 © Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, January 2014. Acknowledgements This Academy Briefing was written by Milena Costas Trascasas, Research Fellow, and Stuart Casey-Maslen, Head of Research, at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (Geneva Academy). The Academy would like to thank all those who commented on an earlier draft of this briefing, in particular Anja Bienart and Brian Wood of Amnesty International, and Neil Corney of Omega Research Foundation. The Geneva Academy would also like to thank the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) for its support to the Academy’s work on facilitating peaceful protests, especially the Human Security Division for its funding of the publication of this Briefing. Editing, design, and layout by Plain Sense, Geneva. Disclaimer This Academy Briefing is the work of the authors. The views expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of the project’s supporters or of anyone who provided input to, or commented on, a draft of this Briefing. The designation of states or territories does not imply any judgement by the Geneva Academy, the DFAE, or any other body or individual, regarding the legal status of such states or territories, or their authorities and institutions, or the delimitation of their boundaries, or the status of any states or territories that border them. -
Laws Used to Restrict Speech in Tunisia
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF ONLINE SPEECH OUTDATED AND FLAWED LAWS USED TO RESTRICT SPEECH IN TUNISIA Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. © Amnesty International 2020 Except where otherwise noted, content in this document is licensed under a Creative Commons Cover photo: 02/11/11 - TUNIS, Tunisia - Graffiti thanking Facebook for its role in the revolution (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives, international 4.0) licence. downtown Tunis. (Photo by Jim Rankin/Toronto Star via Getty Images) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode For more information please visit the permissions page on our website: www.amnesty.org Where material is attributed to a copyright owner other than Amnesty International this material is not subject to the Creative Commons licence. First published in 202 by Amnesty International Ltd Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, UK Index: MDE 30/3286/2020 Original language: English amnesty.org CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 4 1.1 GROWING INTOLERANCE OF CRITICISM 5 2. METHODOLOGY 6 3. PROSECUTIONS UNDER AN ARCHAIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK 7 3.1 PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CODE 8 3.2 PROSECUTIONS UNDER DECREE-LAW ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, PRINTING AND PUBLISHING 10 3.3 PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE PENAL CODE 12 4. -
Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation
Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean Gracias por su interés en esta publicación de la CEPAL Páginas Selectas CEPAL Revista CEPAL Revista Libros institucionales Libros Publicaciones Anuales Informes de la CEPAL Libros de la de la Libros OBSERVATORIO DEMOGRÁFICO OBSERVATORIO Cuadernos Estadísticos Notas de Población Manuales de la CEPAL Libros de la CEPAL Si desea recibir información oportuna sobre nuestros productos editoriales y actividades, le invitamos a registrarse. Podrá definir sus áreas de interés y acceder a nuestros productos en otros formatos. www.cepal.org/es/suscripciones Alicia Bárcena Executive Secretary This publication contains the full text of Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, adopted in Escazú, Costa Rica, on 4 March 2018. This document is published for information purposes only and does not replace the original authentic texts of the Regional Agreement that are held by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in his capacity as depositary. Updated information on the Regional Agreement and related activities can be found on the website https://www.cepal.org/en/escazuagreement. United Nations publication LC/PUB.2018/8/-* Distribution: G Original: English Copyright © United Nations, 2018 All rights reserved Printed at United Nations, Santiago S.18-01115 Applications for authorization to reproduce this work in whole or in part should be sent to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Publications and Web Services Division, [email protected]. Member States and their governmental institutions may reproduce this work without prior authorization, but are requested to mention the source and to inform ECLAC of such reproduction. -
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people, Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law, Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations, Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge, Now, therefore, The General Assembly, Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. -
Special Procedure Mandate-Holders Presenting to the Third Committee
GA66 Third Committee Subject to change – Status as of 7 October 2011 Special procedure mandate-holders, Chairs of human rights treaty bodies or Chairs of Working Groups presenting reports Monday, 10 October (am) • Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Ms. Silvia Pimentel – oral report and interactive dialogue. • Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Rashida MANJOO report and interactive dialogue. Wednesday, 12 October (pm) • Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Mr. Jean Zermatten, – oral report. • Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, Ms. Marta SANTOS PAIS. • Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Ms. Najat M’jid MAALLA. Monday, 17 October (am) • Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Mr. James ANAYA. Tuesday, 18 October (am) • Chair of the Committee against Torture, Mr. Claudio GROSSMAN – oral report and interactive dialogue. • Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, Mr. Malcolm David Evans – oral report and interactive dialogue. • Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment, Mr. Juan MENDEZ Wednesday, 19 October (pm) • Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Mr. Ahmed SHAHEED. • Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr. Tomas Ojea QUINTANA. • Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mr. Marzuki DARUSMAN. Thursday, 20 October (am) • Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Mr. -
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Maina Kiai*
United Nations A/HRC/26/29 General Assembly Distr.: General 14 April 2014 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-sixth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai* Summary The present thematic report is submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to Council resolutions 15/21 and 24/5. In sections I and II of the report, the Special Rapporteur provides an overview of the activities he carried out between 1 March 2013 and 28 February 2014. In section III, he assesses the threats to the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for groups most at risk. The Special Rapporteur outlines his conclusions and recommendations in section IV. * Late submission. GE.14-13475 A/HRC/26/29 Contents Paragraphs Page I. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1–2 3 II. Activities ................................................................................................................ 3–6 3 A. Communications ............................................................................................. 3 3 B. Country visits .................................................................................................. 4 3 C. Participation in various events ....................................................................... -
Environmental Human Rights Defenders a Global Crisis
PoliCY BriEf EnvironmEntal Human rigHts DEfEnDErs A global crisis John H. Knox february 2017 PrEFACE Environmental human rights defenders (EHrDs) are in the past, human rights organisations may have seen individuals and groups who ‘strive to protect and promote environmental advocates as primarily focused on issues human rights relating to the environment.’1 they come that fall outside their mandate; and environmental from many different backgrounds and work in different organisations, while often cognisant of the threats faced ways. some are lawyers or journalists, but many are by EHrDs, have historically been less aware of the ‘ordinary people living in remote villages, forests or relevance of human rights law and institutions. mountains, who may not even be aware that they are acting as environmental human rights defenders.’2 in in recent years, a number of civil society organisations many cases, they are representatives of indigenous and un experts have taken steps to reverse this neglect peoples and traditional communities whose lands and and shine an increasingly bright light on the situation of ways of life are threatened by large projects such as EHrDs. global Witness and other ngos, together with dams, logging, mining or oil extraction. the un special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, have begun to map and describe this What they all have in common is that they work to protect global crisis. in this report, we draw on and supplement the environment on which a vast range of human rights their work, with the aim of further increasing attention depend. We cannot fully enjoy our rights, including to the problem and identifying possible solutions.