(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an 18 May 1999 IPI press release: Taipei, 18 May 1999 The International Press Institute (IPI), meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, for its World Congress and 48th General Assembly (16-19 May), supports the Inter American Press Association’s opposition to the draft Inter American Declaration on Freedom of Expression, prepared by the […]
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an 18 May 1999 IPI press release:
Taipei, 18 May 1999
The International Press Institute (IPI), meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, for its
World Congress and 48th General Assembly (16-19 May), supports the Inter
American Press Association’s opposition to the draft Inter American
Declaration on Freedom of Expression, prepared by the United States OAS
Ambassador Victor Marrero, to be presented before the upcoming General
Assembly of the OAS in Guatemala in June 1999.
IPI believes that the draft declaration poses a threat to freedom of
expression in the Western hemisphere, and agrees with the joint criticism
expressed by the Inter American Press Association and the Inter American
Institute of Human Rights (IIHR), which concludes that the draft declaration
represents a step backward, as it allows for restrictions not currently in
place, weakens existing freedom of expression safeguards, and fails to deal
with existing obstacles which hamper freedom of expression in Latin America.
Among the more disturbing provisions contained in the text is article 4,
which states that “the exercise of freedom of expression entails special
duties and responsibilities” and “may be subject to certain restrictions
previously and expressly established under domestic law and international
obligations.”
This provision would offer less protection to freedom of expression than
article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR), which
establishes that “freedom of expression cannot be restricted by indirect
ways or means or by any other approach designed to obstruct communications
and the free flow of ideas and opinions.”
IPI agrees with IAPA that because article 13 of the ACHR establishes so
positive a standard, the only justification for a declaration would be to
move beyond that standard, rather than to weaken it with vague language. We
therefore urge that the U.S. government not present the draft declaration in
this form to the OAS General Assembly, and that the input of journalists,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other members of the civil
society, particularly the newly-appointed OAS Freedom of Expression Special
Rapporteur, should be sought before it is adopted.
