Freedom of Expression
Press Release 54/02
THE IACHR DESIGNATES NEW SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has designated Dr. Eduardo A. Bertoni as Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the IACHR. Dr. Bertoni will replace Dr. Santiago A. Canton, who has served as Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression since November of 1998 and is currently Executive Secretary of the IACHR.
Dr. Bertoni is an Argentine lawyer and a graduate of the University of Buenos Aires. He has done postgraduate studies at Columbia University School of Law and is a former fellow of the Human Rights Institute there. He has also taught graduate and postgraduate courses on freedom of expression at the University of Buenos Aires and at the University of Palermo, Buenos Aires. Additionally, he has been a legal advisor for Asociación Periodistas, a lawyer at the Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) in Argentina, and a defender of journalists. He has also worked as an advisor to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Dr. Bertoni has written several publications on the right to freedom of expression.
Between November 2001 and January 2002, the IACHR held a public contest for the position of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. After evaluating all of the applications received and holding interviews, the IACHR appointed Dr. Bertoni, who will assume the post in the near future.
Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom
of Expression
March 20, 2002
Washington, D.C.