GENEVA – A group of United Nations independent experts expressed serious concern over the Turkish Government’s measures, taken in the context of forthcoming elections, to prevent access to YouTube a week after Twitter was shut down. “The right to freedom of opinion and expression is a central pillar of modern democratic societies”, the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, said. “Blocking access to YouTube and Twitter entirely unduly restricts this fundamental right. This is all the more surprising following the recent temporary court injunction against the blocking of Twitter”, he added. “Concerns about national security can be legitimate, but limitations to the freedom to seek, receive and impart information must conform to the strict test of necessity and proportionality to the aim pursued”, Mr. La Rue said. “International standards are clear: the free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues among people, candidates and elected representatives is essential,” he noted. “This requires a free press and other media to facilitate debate on public issues without censorship or restraint, in particular in the context of elections. The public also has a corresponding right to access information... Continue reading →
On September 27, 2012, the UN Human Rights Council adopted an important resolution that will help bring protections for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and of association into the 21st century. The resolution on “the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association” (A/HRC/RES/21/16) reiterates "the important role of new information and communications technologies in enabling and facilitating the enjoyment of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association." It also stresses the importance of States promoting and facilitating access to the Internet. The resolution also "reminds States of their obligation to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely, online as well as offline." It goes on to stress the importance of safeguarding these rights in the context of elections, and for groups most at risk. "It is critical that the online environment be recognized as an important arena for people to exercising their assembly and association rights," said Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and of association. "The Internet, for example, is not just a means for people to assembly and associate in the real world - it is a place of assembly and association itself." In his 2012 report to the... Continue reading →
