IMS (International Media Support)’s Post

Today, on the UN International Day for Solidarity with the Palestinian People, it is fitting to highlight some of the key findings of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan.   In her recent report “Global threats to freedom of expression arising from the conflict in Gaza”, Khan examines the war’s impact on freedom of expression globally and how it has led to “an extensive pattern of unlawful, discriminatory and disproportionate restrictions on advocacy for the rights of Palestinian people”.   This, according to Khan, has unleashed “a global crisis of freedom of expression” in which Palestinian voices are suppressed in a discriminatory and disproportionate manner.   In her report, the Special Rapporteur calls on states, social media companies and other private actors to “reject double standards on human rights” and makes recommendations for them to uphold the right to freedom of opinion and expression.   For example, states must refrain from blanket prohibitions of demonstrations, slogans, symbols or other forms expression in support of the Palestinian people. As for companies, they should address “the overenforcement of Palestine-related content”. And, with the ICJ’s order from January on the plausibility of an imminent risk of genocide in Gaza in mind, they should “be vigilant about their own liability and ensure appropriate policies and processes to remove content with genocidal intent.”   In addition to her broader perspective on the war’s effect on freedom of expression globally, Khan – just as IMS has done consistently and frequently over the past 14 months – emphasises how the war’s unprecedented level of journalist killings, attacks on media infrastructure and restrictions on foreign media have affected the right to information of people in Gaza and audiences globally.   With Khan’s contention in mind that silencing journalists by killing them is the most egregious form of censorship, we once more call on all responsible actors to demand of Israel that it immediately cease its targeting of journalists and other civilians and allow foreign media into Gaza. Moreover, we call on those same actors to remove any unlawful restrictions on Palestinian voices and perspectives within their own borders. Read the Special Rapporteur's full report here: https://lnkd.in/dj8ECidY Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

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