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The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression The Special Rapporteur was established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1993. The current Special Rapporteur is Mr Abid Hussain of India. About the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression How to send a complaint to the Special Rapporteur Further information about the work of the Special Rapporteur About the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is concerned with the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information. The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which states that: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers". This right is also guaranteed in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). For the full text of the ICCPR click here For the full text of the UDHR available in many languages click here In the exercise of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur pays particular attention to: (a) Detention of, discrimination against, or threats or use of violence and harassment, including persecution and intimidation, directed at persons seeking to exercise or to promote the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including professionals in the field of information; (b) Activities of political opposition parties and trade union activists, whether a group or an individual; (c) Actions against the media (print and broadcast) or impediments to their independent operation; (d) Actions against publishers and performers in other media, including books, magazines, film and theatre and the studio arts; (e) Activities of human rights defenders (e.g. lawyers, community activists); (f) Women's human rights, within the context of obstacles - including laws and practices - which impede the right of women to express their views and be heard, participate in the decision-making process, have equal standing before the law, and seek and receive information on matters of particular relevance to them such as family planning and violence against women; (g) Obstacles to access to information at the local, regional and national levels on projects and initiatives proposed by the Government to advance the right to development and obstacles to participation in the decision-making process, as well as obstacles to access to information on other subjects such as environmental and health impact studies, national budgets, social spending, industrial development projects and trade policies. How to send a complaint to the Special Rapporteur Complaints can be sent concerning any matter which falls within the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as described above. There is no formal procedure for submitting a complaint to the Special Rapporteur. However, the Special Rapporteur has developed guidelines aimed at helping you to include all of the information relevant to your complaint which you may use if you wish. Click here for the Guidelines in English Click here for the Guidelines in Espagnol Click here for the Guidelines in Français If your complaint is urgent, you should write "for urgent action" at the beginning of your complaint. Complaints should be sent to Special Rapporteur on the promotion
and protection Fax: +41 22 917 9003 Before submitting a complaint you should click on the following two links which contain important general information: Click here for information on the exhaustion of domestic remedies Click here for information on multiple applications Further information about the work of the Special Rapporteur For further information in English, Espagnol and Français, visit the webpage of the Special Rapporteur by clicking here The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression is one of a number of United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Special Representatives. To find out more about how Special Rapporteurs and Special Representatives carry out their work click here |
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