Freedom of expression
Respecting human rights means allowing all people the information they need to make informed choices and to challenge or criticise their government. Journalists, media workers, bloggers and media organisations must be allowed to work freely and safely.
The FCO supports an enabling environment for freedom of expression by encouraging governments to:
- End impunity for attacks against journalists
- Replace criminal libel and defamation laws with reasonable civil alternatives
- Promote media self-regulation and freedom of information legislation
- Support media pluralism, including the internet and new technologies
More widely, we promote the work of international and regional institutions, which defend freedom of expression and the free media.
The Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression is contained in the UN's founding documents and core human rights treaties. It is in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression monitors the situation of freedom of expression in all UN member states.
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2010-12-10
Freedom of expression
via fco.gov.uk
