The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr Frank La Rue, has presented his annual report to the Human Rights Council. The report notes that people affected by extreme poverty risk becoming socially excluded from full participation in the society in which they are living, emphasizing the need for access to information to be guaranteed as a means towards securing participation and accountability. It was presented in Geneva on 2 June 2009.

In particular, the report states that ‘strengthening the voices of people living in poverty improves understanding and actions aimed at addressing poverty, injustice and inequality and can inform and influence public agendas locally, nationally and internationally.’

In common with global organizations working for inclusive communication such as Panos and WACC, Mr La Rue believes that adequate access to knowledge and information helps communities work for a better future. In this respect, mass and community media play an important role by ensuring the dissemination of information and raising awareness of poverty as well as of a community’s role in eliminating poverty and improving living standards.

The report points out that community-based broadcasting provides an alternative social and economic model for media development that can broaden access to information, voice and opinion. It recommends that governments consider community broadcasting as a vital tool for the voiceless, which would enable them to exercise their right to freedom of expression and access to information.

Mr La Rue also encourages governments to strengthen public broadcasting and to introduce anti-monopoly legislation in order to achieve a diverse broadcasting system which is accessible to all. ‘Policies should promote freedom of expression and public participation.’

The Special Rapporteur was strongly criticized in reactions to the report by Egypt (on behalf of the African Group), United Arab Emirates (on behalf of the Arab Group), Pakistan (on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), and individual delegations such as Algeria, Egypt, Malaysia, Sudan and Yemen

These states attacked the report for comments that the concept of ‘defamation of religions’ does not accord with international standards regarding defamation and that restrictions on freedom of expression ‘should never be used to protect particular institutions or abstract notions, concepts or beliefs, including religious ones.’

Many of these states concluded their statements by threatening to have Mr La Rue stripped of his position as Special Rapporteur unless he conforms to their interpretation of his mandate.

ARTICLE 19 and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) have both condemned the attacks and openly expressed their support for the work of the Special Rapporteur.

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