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Annually, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is required to submit a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly covering the activities relating to the mandate, containing recommendations to Member States and other stakeholders, and providing suggestions on ways and means to better promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression in all its manifestations.

The table below lists all thematic reports by dates. Thematic issues addressed in these reports can also be viewed by theme on the ‘Issues in Focus’ page.

Special Rapporteur reports to the Human Rights Council (HRC) and the General Assembly (GA)

YearSymbol numberSubject
2024A/HRC/56/53Journalists in exile
Statement to the Human Rights Council
2023A/HRC/53/25Sustainable development and freedom of expression
Statement to the Human Rights Council
 A/78/288Gendered disinformation and its implications for the right to freedom of expression
2022A/HRC/50/29Reinforcing media freedom and safety of journalists in the digital age
 A/77/288Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression during armed conflicts
2021A/HRC/47/25Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression
Statement delivered to the Human Rights Council
 A/76/258Gender justice and freedom of opinion and expression
Statement delivered to the Human Rights Council
2020A/75/261Academic freedom 
Statement delivered to the General Assembly
 A/HRC/44/49Disease pandemics and the freedom of opinion and expression
 A/HRC/44/49/Add.2Artistic Freedom of Expression
2019A/74/486Online hate speech
 A/HRC/41/35Surveillance and human rights
 A/HRC/41/35/Add.3Overview of submissions received
 A/HRC/41/35/Add.4Summary of an expert's consultation
2018A/73/348Artificial Intelligence technologies and implications for the information environment
 A/HRC/38/35Online content regulation
 A/HRC/38/35/Add.1Supplementary annex accompanying the thematic report
2017A/72/350Access to information in international organizations
Statement delivered to the General Assembly
 A/HRC/35/22The role of digital access providers
 A/HRC/35/22/Add.4Supplementary material accompanying the thematic report
2016A/71/373Contemporary challenges to freedom of expression
 A/HRC/32/38Freedom of expression, states and the private sector in the digital age
States and civil society submissions
2015A/70/361
View report page
The protection of sources and whistleblowers
States and civil society submissions
 A/HRC/29/32The use of encryption and anonymity to exercise the rights to freedom of opinion and expression in the digital age
States and civil society submissions
2014A/69/335The right of the child to freedom of expression
 A/HRC/26/30The right to freedom of expression in electoral contexts
2013A/68/362The right to access information
 A/HRC/23/40The implications ofStates’ surveillance of communications on the exercise of the human rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and expression
 A/HRC/23/40/Corr.1Corrigendum
2012A/67/357Hate speech and incitement to hatred
 A/HRC/20/17The protection of journalists and media freedom
2011A/66/290The right to freedom of opinion and expression exercised through the Internet
 A/HRC/17/27Key trends and challenges to the right of all individuals to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through the Internet
 A/HRC/17/27/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
 A/HRC/17/27/Add.1/Corr.1Corrigendum
2010A/HRC/14/23Groups in need of attention, limitations to the right to freedom of expression, and protection of journalists
 A/HRC/14/23/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
 A/HRC/14/23/Add.2Tenth anniversary joint declaration: Ten key challenges to freedom of expression in the next decade
2009A/HRC/11/4Limitations to the right to freedom of expression, safety and protection of journalists and media professionals in conflict zones, and right of access to information in situations of extreme poverty
 A/HRC/11/4/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2008A/HRC/7/14Access to information, safety and protection of journalists and media professionals, legal restrictions on freedom of expression, and freedom of opinion and expression and the realization of other human rights
 A/HRC/7/14/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2007A/HRC/4/27Thematic visit to Denmark, Internet governance and digital democracy, decriminalization of defamation offences, and security and protection of media professionals
 A/HRC/4/27/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2006E/CN.4/2006/55Internet governance and human rights, freedom of expression and defamation, and security and protection of media professionals
 E/CN.4/2006/55/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2005E/CN.4/2005/64implementing the right of access to information and protection and security of media professionals
 E/CN.4/2005/64/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2004E/CN.4/2004/62Implementing the right to access to information, access to information for purposes of education on and prevention of HIV/AIDS, and the right to freedom of expression and counter-terrorism measures
 E/CN.4/2004/62/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2003E/CN.4/2003/67Access to information for the purposes of education on and prevention of HIV and the right to freedom of expression and counter-terrorism measures
 E/CN.4/2003/67/Add.1Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2002E/CN.4/2002/75World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, events of 11 September, broadcasting, and the Internet
 E/CN.4/2002/75/Add.2Summary of cases transmitted to Governments and replies received
2001E/CN.4/2001/64Non-State actors, new technologies, and women
2000E/CN.4/2000/63Access to information, criminal libel and defamation, the police and the criminal justice system, and new technologies
1999E/CN.4/1999/64The right to seek and receive information, national security laws, criminal libel, new information technologies, and women and freedom of expression
1998E/CN.4/1998/40The right to seek and receive information, the media in countries of transition and in elections, the impact of new information technologies, national security, and women and freedom of expression
1997E/CN.4/1997/31Terms of reference, activities, and country situations
1996E/CN.4/1996/39Terms of reference, activities, and country situations
1995E/CN.4/1995/32The nature and scope of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and restrictions and limitations to the right to freedom of expression
1994E/CN.4/1994/33Terms of reference, methods of work, and resources