International Anti-Corruption Commitments

Title of the document

Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression

(http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/ex...)

Issuing body

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Brief description

The Declaration reaffirms the commitment by countries in Article 13 of the American Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees the right “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, regardless of borders and by any means of communication"

Relevant excerpts

1. Freedom of expression in all its forms and manifestations is a fundamental and inalienable right of all individuals. Additionally, it is an indispensable requirement for the very existence of a democratic society.

2. Every person has the right to seek, receive and impart information and opinions freely under terms set forth in Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights. All people should be afforded equal opportunities to receive, seek and impart information by any means of communication without any discrimination for reasons of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, economic status, birth or any other social condition.

3. Every person has the right to access to information about himself or herself or his/her assets expeditiously and not onerously, whether it be contained in databases or public or private registries, and if necessary to update it, correct it and/or amend it.

4. Access to information held by the state is a fundamental right of every individual. States have the obligation to guarantee the full exercise of this right. This principle allows only exceptional limitations that must be previously established by law in case of a real and imminent danger that threatens national security in democratic societies.