A/HRC/7/14
Page 25
73.
Licensing should only be used when strictly necessary, as a technical tool to
administer the scarcity of the airwaves. Licensing for abundant media, such as the
Internet and the print media, is not a legitimate policy tool and violates the right to
freedom of opinion and expression. Licensing should only be administered by an
independent body that is insulated from government pressure and should not be used
subjectively to ban or suspend independent media outlets, particularly television and
radio channels.
On Internet governance
74.
The Special Rapporteur invites Governments to consider the possibility of
establishing an international organization with a specific mandate to improve
governance of the Internet. The mandate of the organization would be to develop norms
and principles of conduct to guarantee that the Internet will continue to be a democratic
medium of expression in full compliance with human rights principles. The Special
Rapporteur vigorously emphasizes that any new intergovernmental body administering,
partially or totally, Internet governance must ensure freedom of opinion and expression
and promote it in the light of article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On the safety and protection of media professionals
75.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that Governments take the necessary
measures to increase the safety and protection of journalists and other media workers,
regardless of their professional and political affiliation. Protection must be ensured at
all times, and particularly during armed conflicts, states of emergency and public
disorder and electoral processes. Governments should also ensure the protection of
other categories at risk, such as trade unionists, social workers, students and teachers,
writers and artists. Eliminating impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against media
professionals will function as an important deterrent against the repetition of these
crimes.
76.
Governments and State institutions should, as appropriate, envisage the creation
of ad hoc protection schemes, which would allow journalists to continue their activities
with an acceptable level of security, while maintaining their independence. Media
enterprises should also consider covering the expenses of flexible protection for
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