ARTICLE 19,
OF UNESCO, WAS INTENDED TO PROTECT BLOGGERS, PARTICULARLY, AGAINST THE STATE’S ENCROACHMENT,
ON THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
In 2003, from September 29 to October 27, at its 32 session, the
United Nations, through one of its governing bodies, UNESCO, implemented Article
19, to protect Bloggers, from unwarranted persecution and other limitations, to
their expression in the electronic media. Usually, through social media.
Article 19, was
then formally launched in June of 2011, after its third session.
On September
26, 2017, new guidelines were put in place, which is supposed to guarantee, the
protection of journalists and among them, Bloggers, who are also reporting, on
the ongoing (actions), of governments around the world. The new guidelines set
out the commitment that States have, to prevent and protect against, and
prosecute attacks in UN Human Rights Council resolution, under resolution 11/2.
It says nothing about if those actions, such as persecution, is also directed by the
State, against a journalist, or blogger. And as is often the case in a country that
does not respect freedom of speech, because of its own mandate to hide its
actions. The guidelines also sets out how UN human rights mechanisms, should be used,
to ensure the safety of all of those who reports on what is happening, in those countries.
For Bloggers
in Canada, who report on human rights abuse in that country, like myself, that
article is very important, in getting the other world governances, to take our
complaints seriously, when it comes to the protection of our freedom of speech,
in reporting on human rights abuse in Canada.
About
Article 19, of the Convention, and Its Objective: The Exchange, Analysis and Dissemination, of Information. (A short synopsis, or in a
nutshell). It is intended to “facilitate,
through the use of existing mechanism within the Secretariat, the collection,
analysis and dissemination of all relevant information, statistics and best
practices”. And further to that, “ to
ensure the relevance, and to the extent possible, the comparability of
information, statistics and best practices, to be collected, analyzed and disseminated..”
And one of
its main focus is on cultural expression. And that’s a term that can be used
broadly, here. It should be taken as, reflecting, on a particular society, or
State, within the confines of the UNESCO Convention, as far as the
implementation of Article 19. Meaning,
that Article 19, is hereby calling for the freedom of expression of “anyone”
within that culture, to be free to collect, analyzed and disseminate, information
about that society, or culture. And also within a State. Article 19, as far as its interpretation is also intricately linked, to Article 9, on information sharing and transparency. And that is where the
protection of Bloggers, come into force, under Article 19.
Under the
section, “Contribution of Civil Society”, under Article 19, it gets more
specific, in regards to who is protected. And the answer is almost anyone,
really. But here is what it says, specifically, under section 10, of Article 19. “
Civil society actors should be involved as information and data producers as
well as distributers”. Although I do not
like the word ‘actors’ in the wording of that provision, it would mean that
Bloggers too, should be able to get involved in the information gathering and data
producing, as well as in the distributing of that information, about the society
that they live in. Whether the State likes it or not.
And websites
such as Blogger.com, which is a popular site for bloggers who have expressed their opinions,
and also without having to worry about if their contents will be censored, or actually
removed, i.e. shut down by the host site. So far, Blogger.com, is pretty
lenient and somewhat liberal about its views, in allowing for freedom of expression, via blogging, on its website. And unless you are breaking the law, it will not shut you down. In some countries though, it does not matter which site is used, and the mere attempt by anyone, and usually bloggers, to exposed it actions, mean that it will take measures to persecute you. And the means of carrying that out, can either be overt, or covert. Or both.
The whole purpose of any article that is written, by either a blogger, or a regular journalist, is to educate the public. At least that is what it should be about. But we know, also, that some countries also regulate, very stringently, what is written, or said, about its actions. The regular media also cooperate with the country's position, on such important issues, as the dissemination of information, which also reflected the "official" position of the government, it is reporting on. A blogger has no allegiance to any government, but only to the public. So bloggers will report on the actions of some governments, that they would rather that information, did not get out to the public. When a blogger does that, she will be persecuted and for most bloggers, they also do not have any protection from the kind of persecution, that a particular country, or government, is also willing to carry out against them, for exposing their actions.
In my opinion, it remains to be seen how much teeth, Article 19 actually has, as far as the protection of bloggers, in particular. Why?. Because it should also be challenged by Bloggers, everywhere. And I intend to follow up on the provisions, that are also supposed to be made available to bloggers and to all journalists, as far as the safety measures that are offered to them, under the UNESCO Convention, and Article 19. Including, contacting the UN, if any of those measures are also not being implemented, which are to protect my rights as a blogger. According to Article 19, civil society actors (meaning anyone), should be involved in the information process, as data producers and distributers. Article 19, also ties in with Article 9, on information sharing and transparency. And that is one of the most accurate description of a blogger, that exist.
The whole purpose of any article that is written, by either a blogger, or a regular journalist, is to educate the public. At least that is what it should be about. But we know, also, that some countries also regulate, very stringently, what is written, or said, about its actions. The regular media also cooperate with the country's position, on such important issues, as the dissemination of information, which also reflected the "official" position of the government, it is reporting on. A blogger has no allegiance to any government, but only to the public. So bloggers will report on the actions of some governments, that they would rather that information, did not get out to the public. When a blogger does that, she will be persecuted and for most bloggers, they also do not have any protection from the kind of persecution, that a particular country, or government, is also willing to carry out against them, for exposing their actions.
In my opinion, it remains to be seen how much teeth, Article 19 actually has, as far as the protection of bloggers, in particular. Why?. Because it should also be challenged by Bloggers, everywhere. And I intend to follow up on the provisions, that are also supposed to be made available to bloggers and to all journalists, as far as the safety measures that are offered to them, under the UNESCO Convention, and Article 19. Including, contacting the UN, if any of those measures are also not being implemented, which are to protect my rights as a blogger. According to Article 19, civil society actors (meaning anyone), should be involved in the information process, as data producers and distributers. Article 19, also ties in with Article 9, on information sharing and transparency. And that is one of the most accurate description of a blogger, that exist.
