Joint Declaration on Politicians and Public Officials and Freedom of Expression [1]
On October 20, 2021, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, issued a Joint Declaration [3] on politicians, public officials, and freedom of expression. According to an OAS press release [4], the Declaration denounces hateful public statements by politicians and public officials. It recommends that states ensure journalistic freedom, media freedom, and the compliance of restrictions on freedom of expression with international law. It also suggests that states repeal defamation laws that “provide for greater penalties for statements directed at heads of State or government, politicians or officials”; and combat hate speech and intolerance. The Declaration advises political parties, politicians, and senior public officials to address speech that promotes discrimination and hatred, and to not to make false statements regarding journalists, the media, or human rights defenders. It advises social media companies to ensure that their content moderation rules, systems, and practices respect international human rights standards and due process principles. Finally, it recommends that the media ensure the existence of accessible complaint systems, and put in place clear policies regarding the way they report politicians’ statements and adopted policies.