Freedom of Expression

Press Release R93/16

IACHR Launches Questionnaire for Report on Children’s Rights, Freedom of Expression, and the Media in the Americas

 

July 8th, 2016

 

Washington, D.C. – The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and the Rapporteurship on the Rights of the Child of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) initiated a public consultation process on July 8th to receive information on the promotion of freedom of expression and the role of the media in the hemisphere in connection with the rights of children and adolescents. The inputs received from this process will be used to draft a thematic report on "Children’s Rights, Freedom of Expression, and the Media in the Americas."

The consultation process is designed to gather information on the legal and regulatory frameworks for audiovisual communications services (free-to-air television, subscription-based television, radio, and other service alternatives that offer programming through convergent platforms). It will also be helpful to receive studies or information related to the promotion of freedom of expression and children’s and adolescents’ access to information through the media and programming produced in the region for this age group.

To supplement this process, we also hope to receive information on the public policies and practices that the States have developed for the protection and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents with regard to their freedom of expression and compliance with the States’ obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This entails not only promotion but also the education of young people to interact with the mass media. Finally, we are also seeking to compile information on the role of journalism and media practices regarding the treatment of issues pertaining to children. 

The Commission invites the States, civil society, and academic organizations of the region to respond to the questionnaire, providing examples of the situations that reflect structural obstacles or patterns, as well as best practices with regard to the issue. In addition, we ask that respondents attach copies of the regulatory frameworks, policies, and practices regarding the topics included in the questionnaire. The deadline for the submission of information is September 9th, 2016. The questionnaire is available here.