The United Nations and Freedom of Expression and Information
Critical Perspectives

Maps the UN legal instruments relevant for the protection and promotion of the rights to freedom of expression and information.

Tarlach McGonagle (Edited by), Yvonne Donders (Edited by)

9781107083868, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 June 2015

534 pages, 1 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm, 0.88 kg

There are a multitude of UN legal instruments which pertain to the rights of freedom of expression and information, and this book is the first to comprehensively map them and their function. It details the chequered history of both of these rights within the UN system and evaluates the suitability of the system for overcoming contemporary challenges and threats to the rights. Leading scholars address key issues, such as how the rights to freedom of expression and information can come into conflict with other human rights and with public policy goals, such as counter-terrorism. The book's institutional focus comprises five international treaties, UNESCO and the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression. Relevant for academics, lawyers, policy-makers and civil society actors, it also examines how new communication technologies have prompted fresh thinking about the substance and scope of the rights to freedom of expression and information.

Foreword Nigel Rodley
1. The development of freedom of expression and information within the UN: leaps and bounds or fits and starts? Tarlach McGonagle
Part I. UN Normative and Institutional Approaches to the Protection of Freedom of Expression and Information: 2. International covenant on civil and political rights: interpreting freedom of expression and information standards for the present and the future Michael O'Flaherty
3. International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights: accessibility and the right to information Yvonne Donders
4. International convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination: the prohibition of 'racist hate speech' Patrick Thornberry
5. Convention on the rights of the child: freedom of expression for children Lucy Smith
6. Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities: ensuring full and equal access to information Eliza Varney
7. UNESCO: freedom of expression, information and the media Sylvie Coudray
8. The UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression: progressive development of international standards relating to freedom of expression Toby Mendel
Part II. Elected Thematic Focuses: 9. Ten challenges for the right to information in the age of mega-leaks Helen Darbishire
10. Early days: the UN, ICTs and freedom of expression Karol Jakubowicz
11. A new vision of values, accountability and mission for journalism Aidan White
12. Uprooting 'defamation of religions' and planting a new approach to freedom of expression at the UN Sejal Parmar
13. Limits to freedom of expression: lessons from counter-terrorism Martin Scheinin
14. Tacit citing: the scarcity of judicial dialogue between the global and the regional human rights mechanisms in freedom of expression cases Antoine Buyse.

Subject Areas: International organisations & institutions [LBBU], International human rights law [LBBR], Law [L], Human rights [JPVH], United Nations & UN agencies [JPSN1], International relations [JPS]