The UN
and Freedom of _expression_ and Information: Critical Perspectives
EXPERT CONFERENCE
Friday, 23 April 2010, Amsterdam
Organised by the Amsterdam Center for International
Law (ACIL)
& the Institute for Information Law (IViR),
University of Amsterdam,
& the Human Rights Centre, University of
Essex.
Background to the Conference
Article 19 ICCPR has become a standard reference point for
safeguarding the right to freedom of _expression_ and has served as a model
for comparable provisions in other treaties. This Conference aims to
examine UN standards and to stimulate critical thinking about how the
standards and mechanisms can be put to better effect, to ensure that the
right to freedom of _expression_ is more effective in practice. The work of
the Special Rapporteur on freedom of _expression_ is of central importance
in this regard. The timeliness of this Conference is underscored by the
fact that the UN Human Rights Committee is currently drafting a new
General Comment on Article 19, ICCPR, with the aim of clarifying the
scope of the right to freedom of _expression_ under the Covenant. The
Conference will discuss the version of the draft General Comment that
will be in the public domain following the Committee’s March 2010
session.
The key aims of the conference are to:
- Engage with pressing current issues concerning freedom of _expression_
and information, in particular by examining how they are dealt with by
relevant UN standards and mechanisms;
- Examine the extent to which the role of the (traditional and new)
media in democratic society informs the interpretation of UN standards on
freedom of _expression_ and information;
- Contribute to the (ongoing) process of drafting a new General Comment
on Article 19, ICCPR, by providing an expert public forum in which a
draft version of the new General Comment will be discussed by a wide
range of interested parties from relevant professional
backgrounds.
The Conference brings together experts from the UN system, including the
Human Rights Committee and other UN treaty bodies, UNESCO, and the
Special Rapporteur on freedom of _expression_, as well as experts from
Ministries, NGOs and academic institutions.
Information & Registration
For information (including the Programme) & registration, please
visit the ACIL website
(www.jur.uva.nl/acil) under
“Events”:
http://www.jur.uva.nl/aciluk/events.cfm/1CA4A850-1321-B0BE-A4CC07E04C6D785B
