ARTICLE 19, along with Amnesty International, the International Service for Human Rights, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, and Reporters without Borders have developed a checklist that sets out the requirements prospective candidates should meet for the position of UN Special Rapporteur on the protection and promotion of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The position will open up in July 2014, after Frank La Rue from Guatemala leaves office after two terms of three years.
This mandate has existed since 1993, and continues to be crucial in protecting freedom of expression and information wherever it is most at threat. The mandate has given attention to the worst abuses of the right to freedom of expression, and also been the avenue through which victims of violations can have their voice heard on the international stage.
The checklist has been submitted as a written statement for the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council and was also co-signed by Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies; Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance; Asian Legal Resource Centre; East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, and Africa Freedom of Information Centre.
Together, we hope to ensure that an individual is appointed to continue the mandate on equally strong terms, and is ready to meet the mounting global challenges that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is currently facing.
Applications must be submitted by 23 April through an online system, which is available here: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/HRC26.aspx