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PROGRAM The Inter-American human rights system

The right to freedom of expression and access to information in the Inter-American human rights system. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. PROGRAM The Inter-American human rights system

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PROGRAM The Inter-American human rights system

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  1. The right to freedom of expression andaccess to informationin the Inter-American human rights system Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  2. PROGRAM The Inter-American human rights system Mandate of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Advances in jurisprudence Prohibition of prior censorship Prohibition of desacato laws Proportionality of subsequent liability Prohibition of indirect restrictions on speech Access to information Violence against media workers Challenges: The hemispheric agenda for the defense of freedom of expression Inter-American freedom of expression standards Protection of journalists and the fight against impunity: prevention, protection and the pursuit of justice Subsequent liability Pluralism and diversity in the democratic debate The right to access to information Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  3. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights The Inter-American human rights system

  4. Organs of the Inter-American Human Rights System Inter-American Commission Created 1959 American Convention: 1969 Based in Washington D.C. 7 members – comissioners Commissioners elected by the General Assembly of the OAS Studies cases/situations concerning all OAS member states Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  5. Organs of the Inter-American Human Rights System Functions of the Inter-American Commission Contentious jurisdiction Individual cases Cases based on violations of the American Convention on Human Rights Admissibility and merits phases Prior exhaustion of domestic remedies is required Precautionary measures Reports Country reports Thematic reports Human rights promotion Declarations Press releases Public hearings Rapporteurships Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  6. Organs of the Inter-American human rights system Rapporteurships of the Inter-American Commission Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression Women’s rights Migrant workers and their families Human rights defenders Indigenous peoples Persons deprived of their liberty Afro-descendents and racial discrimination Rights of the child Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  7. Organs of the Inter-American Human Rights System Inter-American Court Created by the American Convention (1969) Begins functioning 1979 Based in San José, Costa Rica 7 members – judges Judges elected by the states parties to the American Convention on Human Rights Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  8. Organs of the Inter-American Human Rights System Functions of the Inter-American Court Contentious Jurisdiction Individual cases Cases based on violations of the American Convention that have been decided by the IACHR Against the 21 States that have accepted the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court Proceedings before the IACHR must have been exhausted Provisional measures Advisory opinions Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  9. Legal frameworkof the inter-American human rights system OAS Charter (1948) American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1948) American Convention on Human Rights (1969) Article 13: Freedom of thought and expression Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression Specialized treaties on: Economic, social and cultural rights Abolition of the death penalty Violence against women Forced disappearance Torture Discrimination against persons with disabilities Jurisprudence of the IACHR and Inter-American Court Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  10. Legal framework of the inter-American human rights system:Article 13 of the American Convention 1.  Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and expression. This right includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice. 2.  The exercise of the right provided for in the foregoing paragraph shall not be subject to prior censorship but shall be subject to subsequent imposition of liability, which shall be expressly established by law to the extent necessary to ensure: a.    respect for the rights or reputations of others; or b.    the protection of national security, public order, or public health or morals. […] Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  11. Legal framework of the inter-American human rights system:Article 13 of the American Convention […] 3.   The right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private controls over newsprint, radio broadcasting frequencies, or equipment used in the dissemination of information, or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions. 4.   Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 above, public entertainments may be subject by law to prior censorship for the sole purpose of regulating access to them for the moral protection of childhood and adolescence. 5.   Any propaganda for war and any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitute incitements to lawless violence or to any other similar action against any person or group of persons on any grounds including those of race, color, religion, language, or national origin shall be considered as offenses punishable by law. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  12. Organs of the Inter-American Human Rights system Processing of an individual case before the Inter-American human rights system Petition presented to the IACHR Admissibility phase before IACHR Merits phase before IACHR Possibility of friendly settlement Merits report and period for compliance with recommendations Publication Submission to Inter-American Court Case presented to Inter-American Court Public hearing before Inter-American Court Judgment of the Inter-American Court (preliminary objections, merits, reparations and costs) Compliance supervision Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  13. Mandate of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  14. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Creation Created by the IACHR in October 1997 Permanent office with functional independence and its own operational structure Mandate Stimulate the hemispheric defense of freedom of thought and expression, in light of its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of democratic regimes and in the protection of other human rights Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  15. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression • Functions • Individual case system: strategic litigation on matters of freedom of expression in the inter-American system • Precautionary measures • Public hearings • Official visits • Seminars and workshops with strategic actors in the region • Annual report and production of expert knowledge • Statements and special declarations: the bully pulpit

  16. Advances in Jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS

  17. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Advances in Jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression • Prior censorship is prohibited • Prohibition of desacato (contempt) laws • Proportionality of subsequent imposition of liability • Prohibition on indirect restrictions on freedom of expression • Right of access to information • Violence against media workers

  18. Advances in jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Prior censorship is prohibited Case of the “Last Temptation of Christ” (Olmedo Bustos and others) vs. Chile (2001) Case of Palamara Iribarne vs. Chile (2005) Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Palamara Iribarne Case

  19. Advances in jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Prohibition of desacato (contempt) laws IACHR, Report on the compatibility of “Desacato” laws with the American Convention on Human Rights (1994) Violate the Convention per se Unnecessary in a democratic society, disproportionate, and necessarily discourage speech about matters of public interest Case of Palamara Iribarne vs. Chile (2005) Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  20. Advances in jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Proportionality of subsequent impositions of liability Case of Herrera Ulloa vs. Costa Rica (2004) Case of Ricardo Canese vs. Paraguay (2004) Case of Kimel vs. Argentina (2008) Case of Tristán Donoso vs. Panamá (2009) Case of Usón Ramírez vs. Venezuela (2009) Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Herrera Ulloa Case

  21. Advances in jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Prohibition of indirect restrictions on speech Advisory Opinion No. 5/85 Compulsory Membership in an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism (Arts. 13 and 29 American Convention on Human Rights) (1985) Case of Ivcher Bronstein vs. Peru (2001) Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  22. Advances in jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Access to public information Case of Claude Reyes and others vs. Chile (2006) Case of Gomes Lund and others (“Guerrilha do Araguaia”) vs. Brasil (2010) Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  23. Advances in jurisprudence in the area of freedom of expression Violence against media workers Violence perpetrated by state agents Case of Carpio Nicolle and others vs. Guatemala (2004) Case of Manuel Cepeda Vargas vs. Colombia (2010) State responsibility for the actions of third parties: violation of the duty to ensure by aggravating situations of risk Case of Ríos and others vs. Venezuela (2009) Case of Perozo and others vs. Venezuela (2009) Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Manuel Cepeda Vargas Case

  24. Challenges: A hemispheric agenda for the defense of freedom of expression Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  25. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Continuing challenges to free speech in the Americas • Protecting journalists and promoting accountability for crimes committed against media workers in the exercise of their profession

  26. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Continuing challenges to free speech in the Americas 2. From critic to criminal: the need to eliminate laws that criminalize speech and promote proportional impositions of subsequent liability • Desacato and other criminal provisions that protect privacy and reputation • Defamation of religions, symbols and institutions • Use of criminal provisions on “terrorism” or “treason” • Criminalization of social protest

  27. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Continuing challenges to free speech in the Americas 3. The many faces of censorship • Direct censorship • Indirect censorship • Arbitrary allocation of frequencies, licenses and government advertising • Arbitrary use of regulatory and auditing authority • Creation of an environment of hostility • Failure to control abuses by private parties

  28. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Continuing challenges to free speech in the Americas 4. State secrets: the right to access to information and to habeas data

  29. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Continuing challenges to free speech in the Americas • Pluralism and diversity in the marketplace of ideas • Antimonopoly laws: to avoid concentration in the ownership and control of communications media • The allocation of TV and radio licenses and frequencies should be inclusive and promote diversity and pluralism

  30. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Inter-American freedom of expression standards: Fundamental characteristics

  31. Freedom of expression in the Inter-American system: fundamental characteristics Freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds Orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one's choice Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  32. Freedom of expression in the Inter-American system: fundamental characteristics Dual dimensions of the right to freedom of expression Individual Dimension The right of every person to share their thoughts, ideas and information Social/Collective Dimension The right of society to seek and receive information and ideas from others and to be well informed Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  33. Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Freedom of expression in the Inter-American system: fundamental characteristics • Functions of Freedom of Expression • Protects the right of every individual to think for themselves and share information and ideas with others • Indispensable requirement for the consolidation, functioning and preservation of democratic regimes • Crucial tool for the exercise of other fundamental rights

  34. Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Freedom of expression in the Inter-American system: fundamental characteristics • Speech subject to heightened protection under the right to freedom of expression • Political speech and speech about issues of public interest • Speech regarding public officials in exercise of their duties and candidates for public office • Speech that expresses essential elements of personal identity or dignity

  35. Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Freedom of expression in the Inter-American system: fundamental characteristics • Freedom of expression is not an absolute right • Permissible restrictions: • Right of reply of persons injured by inaccurate or offensive statements (art. 14) • Should be regulated by law and meet the requirements of art. 13.2 • Subsequent liability (art 13.2), which must: • Be established by law • The law must be clear and precise • Pursue a legitimate objective • Respect for the rights or reputations of others • Protection of national security, public order, or public health or morals • Be necessary to meet the objective pursued • Narrowly tailored to achieve the objective • Proportional to the end pursued • Interfere to the least extent possible with the exercise of freedom of expression

  36. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Inter-American freedom of expression standards:1) Protecting journalists and combating impunity: prevention, protection and the pursuit of justice

  37. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Violence against journalists • The murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats to journalists, as well as the material destruction of communications media violate the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression. • These crimes have a chilling effect on other journalists and citizens in general, because they generate fear of denouncing abuses of all kinds, restricting the free flow of information.

  38. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Obligation to protect • Communicators have the right to be protected by the State in circumstances that may threaten their safety, their physical integrity, or their lives for reasons related to the exercise of their profession • The State must abstain from favoring or promoting this vulnerability • The State must adopt necessary and reasonable measures to prevent or protect the rights of the people at riskThese measures should include devoting sufficient resources and attention to preventing attacks on journalists and others exercising their right to freedom of expression • IACHR, Case of Luiz Gonzalo “Richard” Vélez Restrepo and family vs. Colombia (2010)

  39. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Obligation to Respect Obligation to respect: violence perpetrated by State agents Case of Carpio Nicolle and others vs. Guatemala (2004) Case of Manuel Cepeda Vargas vs. Colombia (2010) Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  40. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Obligation to Ensure Obligation to ensure: State responsibility for the actions of third parties Case of Ríos et al. vs. Venezuela (2009) Case of Perozo et al. vs. Venezuela (2009) Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  41. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish • The lack of investigation and prosecution of those responsible by the State gives rise to international responsibility • IACHR, Caso Héctor Félix Miranda vs. México (1999) • IACHR, Caso Víctor Manuel Oropeza y otros vs. México (1999) • The chilling effect of violence can only be avoided through decisive action by the state to punish those responsible • States must send society a clear message that grave violations against freedom of expression will not be tolerated. The state must: • Condemn these attacks • Investigate them promptly and effectively in order to duly sanction those responsible • Provide compensation to the victims • Inform the public on a regular basis about the proceedings

  42. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Journalists who cover armed conflict, emergencies or politically polarized situations • It is part of the field of journalistic activity covered by the right to freedom of expression to visit and document communities affected by armed conflict  They are protected by freedom of expression • Members of the press operating in conflict conditions are entitled to special protections from the State, even if the conflict involves unlawful armed group It is not enough to order measures of protection; an effective, coherent and consistent implementation of the order is also required • IACHR, Case of Luiz Gonzalo “Richard” Vélez Restrepo and family vs. Colombia (2010) • IACHR, Case of Narciso González Medina vs. Dominican Republic (2010)

  43. Protecting journalists and combating impunity: Inter-American legal standards Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Responsibility of media outlets • Media owners should be encouraged to provide appropriate support to journalists engaged in investigative journalism (2003 Joint Declaration of the Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression)

  44. Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights Inter-American freedom of expression standards: 2) Subsequent imposition of liability

  45. Subsequent imposition of liability: Inter-American legal standards Criminal sanctions Herrera Ulloa v. Costa Rica (2004) Ricardo Canese v. Paraguay (2004) Palamara v. Chile (2005) Kimel v. Argentina (2008) Tristán Donoso v. Panama (2009) Case of Usón Ramírez v. Venezuela (2009) Civil sanctions Tristán Donoso v. Panama Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  46. Subsequent imposition of liability: Inter-American legal standards Permissible limitations on freedom of expression under the American Convention Subsequent liability permitted in order to protect rights and reputation of others (art. 13.2), but: Sanctions should be civil in nature when matters of public interest are involved “Actual malice” standard should apply Party alleging harm bears the burden of proof Exceptio veritatis  absolute defense Opinions cannot be subject to liabilty Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  47. Subsequent imposition of liability: Inter-American legal standards 3-part test for assessing the permissibility of sanctions under Art 13.2: Established by law The law must be clear and precise Pursue a legitimate objective Legitimate objectives: respect for the rights or reputations of others, the protection of national security, public order, or public health or morals Necessary to meet the objective pursued Proportional to the end pursued, interfering to the least extent possible with the exercise of freedom of expression Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  48. Subsequent imposition of liability: Inter-American legal standards Criminal sanctions Struck down in all cases in which criminal sanctions subjected to examination of Inter-American Court Criminal sanctions can only be employed in exceptional cases due to chilling effect on free speech Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  49. Subsequent imposition of liability: Inter-American legal standards Criminal sanctions found to violate freedom of expression by Inter-American Court: Herrera Ulloa v. Costa Rica (2004) Ricardo Canese v. Paraguay (2004) Kimel v. Argentina (2008) Tristán Donoso v. Panama (2009) Usón Ramírez v. Venezuela (2009) Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

  50. Subsequent imposition of liability: Inter-American legal standards Considerations on civil sanctions Proportionality of civil sanctions Should not be so large as to exert a chilling effect on freedom of expression Should be designed to restore the reputation harmed, not to punish the defendant Pecuniary awards should be strictly proportionate to the actual harm caused and the law should prioritize the use of a range of non-pecuniary remedies Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de ExpresiónCOMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of ExpressionInter-American Commission on Human Rights

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