Freedom of Expression
Press Release 79/03
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION MEETS WITH UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE
The OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Eduardo Bertoni, met with a representative of an official UNESCO mission.
The objective of the meeting was to strengthen the existing links between the Office of the Special Rapporteur and UNESCO. The Special Rapporteur and the UNESCO representative discussed proposals for future collaborative projects that would further the mandates and common objectives of both agencies.
Among the issues considered to be priorities by both agencies are legislation related to communications media in the region and legislation on access to public information. Concern was expressed that legislation regulating communications media is used in some countries to limit diversity in the media or to restrict the dissemination of certain expressions. It was also noted that many countries in the region still lack legislation that allows the public broad access to information in the hands of the government, and that where such legislation exists, it may be interpreted restrictively in order to prevent public access to some information.
Finally, the Special Rapporteur and the UNESCO representative discussed their shared concern regarding the recent deterioration of respect for the right to freedom of expression in some States in the region.
Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom
of Expression
June 5, 2003
Washington,
D.C.