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Comments on legislation and policy

On this page, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression shares all comments on national laws, regulations and policies provided by the mandate to States and to private companies. The mandate regularly provides comments on the adequacy of normative and policy developments with international standards for the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

The following is a list of letters concerning norms sent since 2011 and the responses received.

All comments sent since 2011 listed by country

Azerbaijan

  • 10/12/2012 – Amendments to Law on Freedom of Assembly, the Administrative Offences Code and the Criminal Code. - AZE 5/2012

Argentina

  • 26/04/2018 – proyecto de ley por el que se regula la responsabilidad de los intermediarios de Internet - OL ARG 1/2018

Australia

  • 3/12/2019 - Summary Offences and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 that was adopted by the Queensland Parliament on 24 October 2019 - AUS 8/2019
  • 04/04/2019 - Amendment to the Criminal Code on Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Content, AUS 5/2019
    • Government reply: 23/09/2019
  • 11/09/2018 - Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 – AUS 5/2018
  • 15/02/2018: Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security's call for submission on National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017 – AUS 2/2018
  • 12/02/2016 - Amendments to criminal code "Prevention of Lawful Activity Bill" in the state of Western Australia – AUS 1/2016
  • 04/09/2014 - Draft Workplaces (Protection from Protestors) Bill - AUS 3/2014

Austria

  • 24/08/2021 – Comments concerning the Anti-Terrorism Act - AUT 2/2021

Bahrain

Bangladesh

  • 14/05/2018 – draft Digital Security Act – OL BGD 4/2018
  • 12/12/2014 - National Broadcast Policy 2014- BGD 5/2014
  • 02/07/2014 - Latest version of the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2014 - BGD 3/2014
  • 29/10/2013 - Amended Information and Communication Technology Act - BGD 11/2013
  • 23/10/2012 - Foreign Donations Regulation draft law- BGD 7/2012

Bolivia

  • 30/10/2014 - Reglamento parcial 1987 de la Ley 351 de Otorgación de Personalidades Jurídicas - BOL 3/2014

Brazil

  • 15/6/2021 - Comments on the amendment and expansion of anti-terrorism laws - BRA 6/2021
  • 3/7/2020 - draft bill on "Freedom, Responsibility and Transparency on the Internet" - BRA 6/2020
  • 13/04/2017 - The federal "School Without Party Programme" bills, PL 867/2015 and PL 193/2016 - OL BRA 4/2017
  • 28/10/2015 - Draft terrorism legislation, Law no.101/2015 – BRA 8/2015

Brunei Darussalam

Burkina Faso

  • 18/9/2020 - loi N°044-2019 qui modifie le Code pénal du Burkina Faso - BFA 2/2020

Burundi

  • 18/02/2013 - Draft law modifying Law No. 1/025 (Regulating the press) - BDI 1/2013

Cambodia

  • 03/04/2018 – "Draft minimum wage law" – KHM 3/2018

Cameroun

  • 08/01/2014- Law 962 on Counter-terrorism – CMR 2/2014

Canada

  • 17/04/2018 - Comments on the telecommunications and entertainment industry coalition's application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission pursuant to sections 24, 24.1, 36 and 70(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act 1993 to "disable on-line access to piracy sites" – CAN 1/2018
  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – CAN 1/2016
    • Government reply: 02/05/2016 and 14/06/2016
  • 24/05/2012 - Law regarding the settlement of the city of Montreal and law No. 78 - CAN 1/2012

Chile

  • 20/04/2016- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – CHL 2/2016
  • 23/01/2012 - Proyecto de Ley que Fortalece el Resguardo del Orden Público - CHL 1/2012
  • 02/11/2012 - Proyecto de Ley que Fortalece el Resguardo del Orden Público - CHL 5/2012

China

  • 1/9/2020 - Comments on The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("National Security Law") - CHN 17/2020
  • 19/6/2020 - proposed changes to the Hong Kong SAR's legal system and enforcement mechanisms proposed in the Draft National Security Law - CHN 13/2020
  • 23/4/2020 - comments on the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance, Cap. 575 ("Anti-Terrorism Law") and Crimes Ordinance, Cap. 200, Sections 9 and 10 ("Sedition Law") - CHN 7/2020
  • 1/11/2019: comments on the effect and application of the Counter-Terrorism Law and its Regional Implementing Measures, the 2016 Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Implementing Measures of the Counter-Terrorism Law of the People's Republic of China - CHN 18/2019
  • 12/11/2018 – Regulation on de-extremification – OL CHN 12/11/2018
  • 04/08/2015 - Draft law on Cyber-Security – CHN 7/2015
  • 16/04/2015 - Draft Law on Overseas NGOs –CHN 2/2015

Costa Rica

  • 7/10/2019 - Proyecto de Ley para Brindar Seguridad Jurídica sobre la Huelga y sus Procedimientos - CRI 5/2019

Cuba

  • · 12/6/2019 - Decreto 349 sobre "Contravenciones de las regulaciones en materia de política cultural y sobre la prestación de servicios artísticos" - CUB 2/2019

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • 19/6/2019 - Proposition de Loi Relative à la Protection et à la responsabilité du Défenseur des Droits Humains - COD 4/2018
  • 15/11/2017 – Draft bill on the regulation of NGOs – COD 2/2017

Denmark

  • 7/6/2021 – Comments on the “Security for All Danes” bill - DNK 3/2021

Ecuador

  • 11/1/2019 - Legislación que modifica la Ley Orgánica de Comunicación – OL ECU 1/2019
  • 11/12/2018 – Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de Organizaciones sin Fines de Lucro – OL ECU 5/2018
  • 14/10/2016 – Ley Orgánica de Comunicación de su país, y los efectos adversos a la libertad de expresión y de opinión que resultan de su puesta en práctica - OL ECU (6.2016)
  • 19/07/2012 – Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de Comunicación - ECU 1/2012

Egypt

  • 28/2/2020 – concerning the Anti-Terrorism Law, Protest Law, Association Law, and NGO law - EGY 4/2020
  • 09/08/2018 - Amendments to the Press and Media Law – EGY 13/2018
  • 19/08/2015 - Law on censorship of artistic works and on artistic expression – EGY 9/2015
  • 12/06/2015- Implementation of NGO- Law – EGY 10/2015
  • 14/01/2014 - Draft of the new Constitution as approved by the Egyptian Constituent Assembly - EGY 1/2014
  • 12/02/2013 - Two draft laws on associations and on assembly - EGY 4/2013

Ethiopia

  • 19/6/2019 – Comments on the Proclamation to Provide for the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism 2019 - ETH 3/2019

France

  • 26/5/2021 – Comments on the draft law to strengthen respect for the principles of the Republic (« projet de loi confortant le respect des principes de la République ») – FRA 4/2021
  • 12/11/2020 – Comments on bill on global security (« proposition de loi n° 3452 relative à la sécurité globale ») – FRA 4/2020
  • 20/8/2019 – Draft law on online hate speech ("proposition de loi visant à lutter contre les contenus haineux sur Internet") – OL FRA 6/2019
  • 28/05/2018 – Draft bills on "fake news" – FRA 5/2018
  • 28/12/2015 - Law no.2015/1556 on surveillance of international electronic communication, and law on state of emergency – FRA 7/2015
  • 03/02/2015- Law no.2014-1353 on counter-terrorism – FRA 1/2015

Gambia

  • 16/07/2013 – Amendments on the Information and Communication Act - GMB 1/2013

Germany

Ghana

  • 9/8/2021 - Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 -
    GHA 3/2021
  • 19/10/2020 – Proposed Public University Bill 2020 - GHA 1/2020

Guatemala

  • 21/2/2020 - Ley No. 5257 que dispone aprobar reformas al Decreto No. 02-2003 sobre Organizaciones no Gubernamentales para el Desarrollo - GTM 2/2020
  • 22/03/2018 – Iniciativa de Ley 5266 para reformar el Código Penal de Guatemala - GTM 3/2018
  • 10/03/2014 – Iniciativa de Ley para la Circulación por Carreteras Libres de Cualquier Tipo de Obstáculos - GTM 1/2014

Haiti

  • 6/8/2021: Commentaires et suggestions à propos du Décret portant sur la création, l’organisation et le fonctionnement de l’agence nationale de renseignements et du Décret pour le renforcement de la sécurité publique - HTI 2/2021

Honduras

  • 12/12/2019 - una moción presentada el 15 de octubre ante el Congreso Nacional de Honduras, y el posible impacto en la labor de las personas defensoras de derechos humanos en el marco del contexto actual de crisis migratoria en Centro y Norte américa - HND 6/2019
  • 07/06/2018 - iniciativa legal sobre ciberseguridad y medidas de protección ante los actos de odio y discriminación en internet y redes sociales - HND 6/2018

Hungary

  • 08/03/2018 - Draft legislative package on organizations supporting migration - OL HUN 1/2018
  • 09/05/2017 - Bill T/14967 on the Transparency of Organizations Financed from Abroad - OL HUN 2/2017
  • 12/04/2017 - The bill T/14686 amending Act VVIC of 2011 on National Higher Education, signed into law on 11 April 2017 - OL HUN 1/2017
  • 14/03/2012 - Law Freedom of the Press and the Fundamental Rules on Media Content (Act CIV of 2010) and the Media Services and Mass Media Act (Act CLXXXV of 2010)- HUN 2/2012
  • 29/02/2012 – New Constitution and related legal provisions for the independence of the judiciary- HUN 1/2012

India

  • 11/6/2021 - Comments on the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 – IND 8/2021
  • 6/5/2020 - concerning the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act 2019 (the amended Act) - IND 7/2020
  • 27/5/2019 - Follow-up letter with the regard to the ongoing process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update in the State of Assam - IND 11/2019
  • 14/02/2019 – The Information Technology [Intermediaries Guidelines (Amendment) Rules] 2018 – IND 3/2019

Indonesia

  • 31/08/2012 - Bill on Societal Organizations - IDN 11/2012

Iran

  • 17/2/2020 - concerning discrimination on the grounds of religion in the application process for national identity cards in the Islamic Republic of Iran - IRN 1/2020

Ireland

Israel

  • 03/03/16 – Draft legislation "Transparency Law" –ISR 1/2016

Italy

  • 20/03/2018 – "red button" operational protocol for the "Fight Against the Diffusion of Fake News through the Web", announced on 18 January 2018 - ITA 1/2018

Japan

  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – JPN 2/2016
  • 19/11/2013 - Draft Special Secrets Bill – JPN 1/2013

Jordan

Kazakhstan

  • 07/11/2018 – Draft law on distribution of information related to LGTBI – OL KAZ 5/2018
  • 06/10/2015 and 15/10/2015- Draft law on activities of Non-Governmental Organizations – KAZ 3/2015 and KAZ 4/2015

Kenya

  • 26/07/2017 - Guidelines for Prevention of Dissemination of Undesirable Bulk Political SMS and Social Media Content via Electronic Communications Networks - OL KEN 10/2017
  • 18/12/2014 - Draft Security Laws Bill –KEN 7/2014
  • 15/11/2013 – Bill amending two Acts: the Public Benefits Organizations Act and the National Youth Council Act– KEN 8/2013

Kyrgyz Republic

  • 06/05/2014 – Draft Bill "On the formation of a positive attitude toward non-traditional forms of sexual relations" – KGZ 1/2014
  • 23/09/2014 – Amendments to the laws governing non-profit organizations – KGZ 5/2014
  • 30/09/2013 – Draft law on "Non-commercial organizations fulfilling the role of foreign agents" – KGZ 2/2013

Lao People's Democratic Republic

  • 06/05/2016 - Decree on Press Activities of Foreign Media, International Organizations and Diplomatic Missions – LAO 2/2016
  • 29/05/2015 - Draft decree on Associations and Foundations –LAO 1/2015
  • 07/11/2014 - Decree No. 327 on Internet-Based Information Control/Management – LAO 1/2014

Latvia

  • 24/9/2019 – concerning regulation on pre-school education No. 716, which appears to impose restrictions on the use of minority languages in pre-school educational institutions - LVA 1/2019
  • 15/04/2016 – Draft legislation amending criminal law provisions on national security – LVA 1/2016

Libya

  • 09/01/2013 – Law no. 65/2012 regulating peaceful protests – LBY 3/2012

Malaysia

  • 25/03/2021 - concerning the enactment of The Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021 (‘The Ordinance’) which criminalises “fake news” regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and “fake news” regarding the emergency proclamation – OL MYS 5/2021
  • 28/12/2018 – Proposed and adopted legislation in the area of sedition, press freedom, defamation, "fake news", etc. – OL MYS 6/2018
  • 5/07/2018 – Communications and Multimedia Act and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission Act – MYS 2/2018
  • 3/04/2018 – "Anti-Fake News" Bill – MYS 1/2018
  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – MYS 5/2016
  • 23/12/2014 – Implementation of Sedition Act – MYS 8/2014
  • 01/10/2014 - Sedition Act of 1948– MYS 6/2014

Maldives

  • 19/5/2020 - regarding the proposed and adopted legislation in the areas of press freedom, defamation, censorship, blasphemy laws, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and protection of journalists and human rights defenders - MDV 1/2020
  • 26/05/2016 – Draft law on "Protection of Reputation and Good Name and Freedom of Expression Bill" – MDV 1/2016

Mauritania

  • 24/01/2018 - Law against discrimination - MRT 5/2017
  • 14/05/2018 – Article 306 of the Penal Code mandating death penalty for blasphemy – MRT 1/2018
  • 07/08/2015- Adoption of law on associations –MRT 3/2015

Mexico

  • 8/8/2019 – sobre el decreto 115, el cual modifica el Código Penal del Estado de Tabasco y mediante el cual se estarían penalizando conductas que podrían ser una expresión legitima del derecho a la libertad de reunión pacífica y de asociación, a la libertad de expresión y del derecho a defender los derechos humanos - MEX 11/2019
  • 12/11/2018 – Ley de Seguridad Interior – OL MEX 16/2018
  • 20/04/2016- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – MEX 3/2016
  • 18/08/2014 - Decreto N ° 159 que modifica e introduce nuevas disposiciones a la Ley Orgánica de la Procuraduría General de Justicia – MEX 15/2014

Montenegro

  • 02/03/2015 - Fast-tracked adoption of revised Public Assembly Act –MNE 1/2015

Mozambique

Myanmar

  • 19/06/2014- Draft bill on Religious Conversion – MMR 4/2014
  • 18/03/2013 - Decree on the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession – MMR 1/2013

Nicaragua

  • 13/11/2020 - Ley de Regulación de Agentes Extranjeros y la Ley Especial de Ciberdelito – NIC 3/2020

Nepal

  • 11/07/2018 - National Integrity and Ethics Policy 2074 (Policy) – NPL 1/2018
  • 24/07/2015 - Draft Constitution – NPL 1/2015

Nigeria

  • 18/07/2014 and 10/02/2016 - Draft Act to Regulate the Acceptance and Utilization of Financial/Material Contribution of Donor Agencies to Voluntary Organizations and for Matters Connected Therewith – NGO 4/2014 and NGA 1/2016
  • 13/06/2013 - Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill – NGA 4/2014 and NGA 1/2016

Oman

  • 26/03/2018 - Royal Decree No. 7/2018 amending the Penal Code – OMN 1/2018

Pakistan

  • 19/3/2020 - Preliminary analysis of the Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020 - PAK 3/2020
  • 08/07/2016 – "Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act" - PAK 8/2016
  • 14/12/2015 - Draft Cyber-Crime Bill – PAK 13/2015
  • 07/03/2014 - Foreign Contributions Bill – PAK 3/2014

Palestine

Paraguay

  • 25/09/2017 - Regulación de la Activación del Servicio de Telefonía Móvil - PRY 1/2017

Peru

  • 22/7/2020 - Comentarios sobre el Decreto Ley No. 25475 - PER 3/2020
  • 20/04/2016 - Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – PER 2/2016
  • 30/07/2015 - Adoption of Resolutions no.085-2015 and no.097-2015 modifying directives regulating associations – PER 2/2015

Philippines

Poland

  • 23/04/2018 – Comments on the law 'On specific solutions related to the organization of sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Republic of Poland' - OL POL 3/2018
  • 13/02/2018 - Act of 26 January 2018 amending inter alia, the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance - Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation - POL 2/2018

Qatar

  • 14/04/2020 - concerning criminal penalties for spreading "fake news" online, which may unduly restrict freedom of expression - QAT 1/2020

Republic of Korea

  • 27/08/2021 – Comments concerning amendments to the Act on Press Arbitration and Remedies for Damage caused by Press Reports - KOR 4/2021
  • 28/11/2019 - Preliminary reactions to the Act on Transfer to and Performance of Alternative Military Service (the draft bill) - KOR 4/2019
  • 7/11/2018 – Decision of the Supreme Court on conscientious objection – OL KOR 4/2018

Republic of Moldova

  • 29/07/2013 - Law n°117 completing the Contravention Code – MDA 4/2013

Romania

  • 11/9/2020 - proposed bills that reportedly (i) prohibit sexual education unless there is parental written consent, and (ii) impose a blanket ban on a discussion regarding "gender theory or opinion" in Romanian educational establishments – ROU 3/2020

Russian Federation

  • 1/05/2019 – Amendments to the law on "Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection" and Amendments to the "Code of Administrative Offenses on the distribution of foreign print media" – OL RUS 4/2019
  • 5/02/2018 – Amendments to Foreign Agents Media Law – RUS 2/2018
  • 28/07/2016 – "Yarovaya Law" – RUS 7/2016
  • 20/06/2014 – Law on Non-commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents - RUS 5/2014
  • 18/12/2013 – Law on Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts (in part regulating Activities of Non-Commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents) - RUS 13/2013
  • 13/06/2013 – Law on Introducing Amendments to Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation ( Regulating Activities of Non-commercial Organizations which Carry Functions of Foreign Agents) - RUS 3/2013
  • 16/06/2012 – Law introducing amendments to : the Code on Administrative Violations, and Federal Law on Assemblies, Meetings, Demonstrations, Processions and Picketing - RUS 4/2012
  • 11/07/2012 – Draft law on Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Regulation of Activities of Non-commercial Organizations Performing the Functions of Foreign Agents – RUS 5/2012
  • 12/12/2012 – Draft federal law No. 44554-6 introducing amendments to the Code on Administrative Offences - RUS 8/2012

Sierra Leone

  • 22/02/2018 – New policy on NGO regulation – SLE 1/2018

Singapore

  • 24/04/2019 - Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, SGP 3/2019

South Sudan

  • 29/07/2015 – Entry into-force of Non-Governmental Organizations Bill – SSD 1/2015
  • 23/10/2014 – Non-Governmental Organizations Bill - SSD 1/2014
  • 04/12/2013 – Non-Governmental Organization Bill – SSD 1/2013

Spain

Sri Lanka

  • 9/8/2021 - Concerns about the adoption and implementation of a recent regulation, titled ‘Prevention of Terrorism (De-radicalization from holding violent extremist religious ideology) Regulations No. 01 of 2021’ - LKA 3/2021

Sudan

  • 15/08/2013 - Amendments to the Legislation on the Armed Forces - SDN 6/2013

Switzerland

  • 26/5/2020 - Commentaires et suggestions à propos du projet de loi sur les mesures policières de lutte contre le terrorisme - CHE 1/2020

Tajikistan

Thailand

  • 26/03/2021 – Draft Laws aimed at providing oversight of not-for-profit organisations in Thailand – THA 2/2021
  • 12/11/2014 – Draft Public Assembly Act - THA 12/2014
  • 14/12/2012 – Law on 'lèse majesté'- THA 13/2012

The Netherlands

Togo

  • 13/08/2021 – Commentaires concernant l’avant-projet de loi relatif à la liberté d’association - TGO 3/2021
  • 11/9/2019 - projet de loi modifiant la loi du 16 mai 2011 fixant les conditions d'exercice de la liberté de réunion et de manifestation pacifiques et publiques - TGO 1/2019

Tunisia

  • 26/8/2019 - projet de loi n ° 91-2018, qui vise à modifier la législation tunisienne en matière d'état d'urgence - TUN 4/2019
  • 24/07/2015 – Draft law no.2015-22 on counter-terrorism – TUN 1/2015
  • 21/11/2012 – New constitution - TUN 5/2012

Turkey

  • 26/08/2020 - Anti-Terror Law No. 3713 ("Anti-Terror Law") and the amendments made to this law and the Penal Code through Law No. 7145 adopted on 31 July 2018 - TUR 13/2020

Uganda

  • 04/02/2014 – Revised version of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill - UGA 1/2014
  • Government reply: 21/02/201421/02/2013 – Draft on (anti) homosexuality legislation- UGA 6/2012
  • 15/06/2012 – Public Order Management Bill - UGA 4/2012
  • 17/12/2013 - Public Order Management Act-UGA 1/2013

Ukraine

  • 09/06/2015 - Adoption of Parliament Resolution requesting derogation from certain rights protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights – UKR 1/2015
  • 16/11/2015 - Decree banning journalists and bloggers from reporting in the country on grounds of "threats to national security" – UKR 6/2015

United Arab Emirates

  • 13/11/2020 - 2014 Law No. 7 On Combatting Terrorism Offences (Law 7) – ARE 6/2020
  • 07/11/2013 – Implementation of the new law on Cyber Crime - ARE 5/2013
  • 04/12/2012 – Federal Legal Decree No. 5/2012, amending the 2006 Cybercrime Law - ARE 8/2012

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Republic of Tanzania

  • 16/11/2020 - concerning several provisions of the "Electronic and Postal Communications (online content) Regulations, 2020 - TZA 4/2020
  • 26/10/2018 – Draft amendments to the Statistics Act - TZA 4/2018

United States of America

  • 19/3/2020 - Comments concerning the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies ("EARN IT Act of 2020") Bill - USA 4/2020
  • 8/11/2019 - Preliminary reactions to the draft U.S. Government Guidance for the Export of Hardware, Software and Technology with Surveillance Capabilities and/or parts/know-how - USA 23/2019
  • 14/02/2019 – proposed law "S.1—Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019" – USA 2/2019
  • 18/05/2018 - Department of State proposal to require travellers' social media information - USA 9/2018
  • 24/08/2017 - Federal Communications Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - USA 20/2017
  • 9/05/2017 - Intensified screening of travellers at the US border based on their religious affiliation - USA 6/2017
  • 1/05/2017 - Intensified social media screening of travellers at the US border - USA 7/2016
  • 27/03/2017 - Draft bills on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression - USA 3/2017
  • 30/09/2016 - Proposal to request travellers' social media information on immigration forms - USA 9/2016.
  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement – USA 4/2016

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

  • 29/7/2021 – Comments on the 2021 “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations” Act - UZB 4/2021

Venezuela

  • 1/01/2018 - "Ley contra el Odio, por la Convivencia Pacífica y la Tolerancia" ("Ley contra el Odio") – VEN 9/2017
  • 4/06/2016 - "Decreto No. 2.323 publicado en la Gaceta Oficial No. 6.227 el 13 de Mayo de 2016" - OL VEN 7/2016
  • 20/02/2015- Ministerial Resolution 008610 regulating freedom of association – VEN 1/2015

Viet Nam

  • 20/04/2016 – Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement - VNM 2/2016
  • 01/10/2013 - Decree on the Management, Provision, Use of Internet Services and Information Content Online (known as "Decree 72") - VNM 7/2013

Zambia

  • 20/04/2021 – Comments on the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Law - ZMB 1/2021

All comments sent to private companies since 2011

Apple

  • 4/08/2017 - Removal of VPN applications from Apple Store in China - OTH 16/2017

Facebook

  • 1/05/2019 - Oversight Board for Content Decisions – OTH 24/2019

Facebook Oversight Board

  • 9/9/2021 - Public Comment by UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan on Facebook Oversight Board Case no. 2021-009

ICANN

  • 20/12/2019 - regarding the proposed transfer by the Internet Society (ISOC) of the Public Interest Registry (PIR) and all its assets to a private equity firm, Ethos Capital - OTH 60/2019

NSO Group

  • 20/2/2020 - Preliminary reactions to the Human Rights and Whistleblower policies that NSO Group published in September 2019 - OTH 2/2020
  • 18/10/2019 - Preliminary reactions to the Human Rights and Whistleblower policies that NSO Group published in September 2019 - OTH 52/2019

TikTok

  • 15/5/2020 - TikTok's proposal to create a committee of experts to address the company's content moderation policies - OTH 37/2020

Twitter

  • 10/12/2018 - Action against Twitter users for postings related to Kashmir – OTH 70/2018

All comments sent to international organizations since 2011

Committee on NGOs of the Economic and Social Council

  • 4/01/2018 - Denial of consultative status to non-governmental organization – OTH 29/2017
    ECOSOC reply: 17/01/2018
  • 5/04/2017 - Working methods to grant consultative status to non-governmental organizations - OTH 5/2017
    ECOSOC reply: 24/4/2017

European Union

  • 3/11/2020 - draft Regulation on preventing the dissemination of Terrorism Content Online' – OTH 73/2020
  • 7/12/2018 - Proposal for a Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online – OTH 71/2018
  • 13/06/2018 – draft directive on copyright in the digital single market OTH 41/2018

United Nations Secretary-General

Amicus Curiae

The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression publishes third-party interventions, amicus curiae and expert opinion before domestic, regional and international courts in cases relating to freedom of opinion and expression.

The following list provides third-party interventions sent since 2016 by the UN Special Rapporteur:

European Court of Human Rights

Date: 16 September 2019
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Case: Privacy International and Others v. the United Kingdom, Application no 46259/16
Intervention as filed

Date: 3 June 2019
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Case: Big Brother Watch v. the United Kingdom (Grand Chamber), Applications nos. 58170/13, 62322/14 and 24960/15
Intervention as filed

Date: 21 September 2018
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Case: Emin Huseynov v. Azerbaijan, Application no. 1/16
Intervention as filed

Date: 11 January 2018
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Case(s): OOO Flavus v. Russia, Application no. 12468/15 and four related Applications (nos. 20159/15, 23489/15, 19074/16 and 61919/16)
Intervention as filed

Date: 20 October 2017
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Case(s): Atilla Taş v. Turkey (no. 72/17); Ahmet Hüsrev Altan v. Turkey (no. 13252/17) Mehmet Hasan Altan v. Turkey (no. 13237/17) Ahmet Şık v. Turkey (no. 36493/17); Şahin Alpay v. Turkey (no. 16538/17); Mehmet Murat Sabuncu and others v. Turkey (no. 23199/17) Murat Aksoy v. Turkey (no. 80/17); Ayşe Nazli Ilicak v. Turkey (no. 1210/17); Ali Bulaç v. Turkey (no. 25939/17); Ilker Deniz Yucel v. Turkey (no. 27684/17)
Intervention as filed

Date: 13 January 2016
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Case: Azerbaijan v. Khadija Rovshan Gizi Ismayilova, App No. 30778/15
Intervention as filed

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Date: 9 August 2017
Court: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Case(s): Case of Nelson Carvajal Carvajal vs. Colombia, case no. 12.462
Declaration as filed

Others

Date: 9 May 2017
Court: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Korea
Case(s): Application No. 2016Heonma388
Third party intervention submission as filed (English)
Third party intervention submission as filed (Korean)

Date: 31 October 2016
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Case(s): Kidane v. Ethiopia
Brief of UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, and the situation of human rights defenders as filed
Motion for leave to file brief amici curiae as filed

Date: 18 May 2016
Court: Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Case: Federation of African Journalists et al. v. Gambia, ECW/CCJ/APP/36/15
Affidavit as filed
Special Procedures

About Special Procedures

Submitting complaints

About country visits
​Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and opinion

Overview

Mandate

International standards

Current mandate holder

Annual thematic reports

Country visits

Communications

Comments on legislation and policy

Resources

​Recent thematic reports

Gender justice and freedom of expression (2021)

Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression (2021)

Academic freedom (2020)

Disease pandemics (2020)

Online hate speech (2019)

Surveillance and human rights (2019)

Artificial Intelligence technologies and implications for the information environment (2018)

Online content regulation (2018)

Access to information in international organizations (2017)

The role of digital access providers (2017)

Contemporary challenges to freedom of expression (2016)

Freedom of expression, states and the private sector in the digital age (2016)

The protection of sources and whistleblowers (2015)

The use of encryption and anonymity to exercise the rights to freedom of opinion and expression in the digital age (2015)

​Contact information

Ms. Irene Khan
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneve 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: OHCHR-freedex@un.org

External links

UNESCO and freedom of expression

OSCE The Representative on the Freedom of the media

Organization of American States (OAS). The Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression

Council of Europe, Protecting media freedoms

Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights