In a digital age where most of us are constantly connected to the Internet, those at the UN they decided that we have the right to access the internet and to express ourselves freely within its "borders". During a meeting that took place last week, those from the UN decided to transform the right to free expression on the Internet and the right to have access to the Internet into fundamental human rights, saying that all the governments of the world should make it a priority from the ease of internet access for its citizens.
Taking note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, submitted to the Human Rights Council at its seventeenth session, and to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session, on freedom of expression on the Internet,
- Affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of borders and through any media of one's choice, in accordance with articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
- Recognizes the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in accelerating progress towards development in its various forms;
- Calls upon all States to promote and facilitate access to the Internet and international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information and communications facilities in all countries;
- Encourages special procedures to take these issues into account within their existing mandates, as applicable;
- Decides to continue its consideration of the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, on the Internet and in other technologies, as well as of how the Internet can be an important tool for development and for exercising human rights, in accordance with its program of work
The decision of the UN you can access it in its entirety here. Having said that, was such a statement needed, are there more important things in this world, or has internet access now become a necessity and not a luxury?
