A/HRC/14/23 The Special Rapporteur addressed the issue of freedom of expression and communication skills at the event, which was organized by the United Nations Information Centre OHCHR, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNESCO and the United Nations Population Fund. 19. From 8 to 9 December, he participated in a regional consultation in Washington D.C. entitled “Enhancing Cooperation between Regional and International Mechanisms for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights”. The event was organized by OHCHR in coordination with other organizations. C. Country visits 20. The Special Rapporteur notes that country visits will remain central to the activities of his mandate. Visits undertaken by the former Special Rapporteur, along with requests made to Governments for official country visits and the trends that emerge from an analysis of communications on freedom of expression and opinion, form the basis of requests sent to Governments for an invitation to visit their countries. Requests for invitations to visit a number of countries have been sent by the Special Rapporteur, taking into consideration the importance of achieving a geographical balance. The Special Rapporteur hopes that visit requests will be favourably received by the Governments concerned. 1. Upcoming missions 21. For 2010, the Special Rapporteur has received invitations from the following Governments: the Republic of Korea (visit scheduled for 6 to 14 May); Mexico (visit scheduled from 10 to 21 August, to be made in conjunction with the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Ms. Catalina Botero); and Israel (visit scheduled for September). 22. The Special Rapporteur would also like to thank the Italian Government for inviting him to visit the country. The dates of the visit have yet to be agreed upon. 2. Pending requests 23. As of March 2010, the following requests from the Special Rapporteur were pending: the Islamic Republic of Iran (request made in February 2010), Sri Lanka (request made in June 2009), Tunisia (requested in 2009), and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (requests made in 2003 and in 2009). III. Main themes A. General considerations on the right to freedom of opinion and expression 24. As provided for in article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the right to freedom of opinion and expression comprises three different elements: (a) the right to hold opinions without interference; (b) the right to seek and receive information and the right of access to information; and (c) the right to impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of one’s choice. 25. The right to freedom of opinion and expression, like all rights, imposes legal obligations upon Governments: (a) to respect that right, or to refrain from interfering with the enjoyment of that right; (b) to protect that right or to exercise due diligence in order to GE.10-13049 5