Freedom of Expression
Press Release 80/03
THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION HIGHLIGHTS THE SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE OAS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression highlights the acknowledgment given by the XXXIII General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) –held in Santiago de Chile, from June 8 to 10 -, to freedom of expression and access to information as essential components for the strengthening of democracy and governance.
The Declaration of Santiago on Democracy and Public Trust, approved at the end of the General Assembly, recognizes, among other things, that “democracy is strengthened by the full respect for freedom of expression, access to information, and free dissemination of ideas, and that all sectors of society, including the media through the diverse information it provides to citizens, can contribute to an environment of tolerance for all opinions, promote a culture of peace, and strengthen democratic governance.”
The OAS Secretary General, César Gaviria, also pointed out, in his opening speech, the importance of freedom of expression and the work of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.
This Office also celebrates the adoption by the General Assembly of the Resolution on Access to Public Information and Strengthening of Democracy. This Resolution insists on the obligation of the States to respect and make others respect the access of everyone to public information, and to adopt legislation or other types of measures necessary to enforce this right.
In the text of the Resolution, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is taken into account. In addition, the Office of the Special Rapporteur is entrusted with continuing reporting in its Annual Report on access to public information in the region.
When adopting the Resolution, the General Assembly considered that “access to public information is a requisite for the very functioning of democracy, greater transparency, and good governance and that, in a representative and participatory democratic system, the citizenry exercises its constitutional rights, inter alia, the rights to political participation, the vote, education, and association, by means of broad freedom of expression and free access to information”.
The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Eduardo A. Bertoni, who took part in the XXXIII General Assembly, stated, “Once again, the countries of the hemisphere acknowledge the importance of freedom of expression in democratic societies. Moreover, the recognition given to the Office of the Special Rapporteur by the Secretary General and the confidence placed in it by the member States by entrusting it with tasks, encourage us to intensify our efforts to further comply with our mandates”.
Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom
of Expression
June 13, 2003
Washington,
D.C.