[governance] FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND NEW MEDIA - Human Rights Committee

[Sonigitu Ekpe]

Dear Dam,

Yea I support you to the fullest, criticism  "considered to be insulting",
checkmate should  "including the army", very very important. The biggest
question yet  unanswered is, 'why the WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION and not
FOOD FOR ALL?

Regards to ALL.

Sea

On 5 Sep 2011 20:14, "Dam Philippe" <philippe_dam at yahoo.fr> wrote:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/FreedomExpressionandnewmedia.aspx

 Freedom of expression and new media
When the UN Human Rights Committee last clarified the rights to freedom of
opinion and expression, use of the internet was limited and the effect it
would have on the mainstream media was still the subject of speculation.

More than two decades on, the Committee seeks to give practical application
to freedom of opinion and expression in the radically altered media
landscape which has the internet and mobile communications centre-stage.
Describing “a global network to exchange ideas and opinions that does not
necessarily rely on the traditional mass media”, the Committee says “States
parties should take all necessary steps to foster the independence of these
new media and to ensure access”.
Any restrictions that might be applied to websites, blogs or any other
internet-based networks or support systems should be limited, the Committee
says, to content only and should not be applied to entire sites and systems.
In the context of permissible restrictions generally, the Committee
recommends extreme caution and provides many examples of situations where
the urge to restrict freedom of expression should be resisted.  There are no
circumstances which justify limiting freedom of opinion, the Committee notes
in its revised General Comment.
Lawmakers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists
and others will turn to the General Comment for guidance on the scope and
practical applications of the rights to freedom of opinion and
expression.
In the  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which sets out
the right to freedom of expression, only two situations are described which
justify its limitation: respect of the rights or reputations of others and
protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or
morals. The Covenant also prohibits advocacy of religious hatred.
Allowing for those very limited exceptions, the Committee says blasphemy
laws and prohibitions on displays of disrespect for a religion or other
belief systems are a contravention of the right to freedom of expression, as
are laws which favour one religion over another, or religious believers over
non-believers, or which prevent or punish criticism of religious leaders or
commentary on religious doctrine.
The Committee notes that the Convention places a particularly high value on
uninhibited debate concerning political figures and public institutions.
Laws which prohibit or restrict criticism of important people and
institutions are cause for concern the Committee says.  “The mere fact that
forms of expression are considered to be insulting to a public figure is not
sufficient to justify the imposition of penalties… all public figures,
including those exercising the highest political authority such as heads of
state and government, are legitimately subject to criticism and political
opposition”.  The same should apply to institutions such as the army.
Committee member, Michael O’Flaherty says, “The main point of the general
comment and of the Committee adopting it is that freedom of expression is at
the heart of the entire human rights system.”
 “That means,” he says, “we have to put up with a lot of speech that we
don’t like.
1 September 2011

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