Freedom of Expression and the Rule of Law

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Freedom of Expression and the Rule of Law

UNESCO cooperates with the judiciary and security forces to support their vital role in reinforcing the “three Ps” (Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution), to guarantee journalist’s safety and end impunity for crimes against them. We raise the capacities of judicial actors and law enforcement agents on international and regional standards on freedom of expression, access to information and the safety of journalists through , on-the-ground training and workshops, and the publications of and . We do this within the framework of the .

Just launched: new online course

UNESCO is pleased to announce its new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Freedom of Expression for Parliaments and their Members, organized in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Centre for Law and Democracy.

This free global course, beginning on 28 October 2024, is designed for parliaments and their members, parliamentary staff, and all key stakeholders in media regulation who wish to gain essential insights into the intersection of freedom of expression and parliamentary functions.

Learn more about the MOOC here

10 years: UNESCO's Judges' Initiative

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Judges Initiative by UNESCO. This innovative programme has made significant progress and had real positive impact on an international scale.

10 years of engaging judicial actors

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Training of judicial actors and security forces

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Judiciary is key to end impunity for crimes against journalists, says UNESCO

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How to stop impunity for crimes against journalists

Why impunity of crimes against journalists prevails? - It is not an easy answer. But when a journalist is attacked for his or her work, not only is the journalist's individual right to freedom of expression violated, but also the collective rights of society to access information. Silencing a journalist should not only be a concern for one individual or journalistic union, it is an issue that affects society as a whole, its present and its future.

This video is also available with subtitles in , , , and .

UNESCO

The Legitimate Limits to Freedom of Expression: The Three-Part Test

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, indispensable in democratic societies. However, this right is not an absolute right, and may be lawfully restricted according to certain principles and conditions. Under international human rights law, and specifically, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the three-part test determines whether a restriction on freedom of expression is legitimate.