HRC53: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression

This statement by ARROW was submitted to the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Watch the video statement here.

Distinguished delegates,

My name is Evelynne Gomez and I am making this statement on behalf of the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, ARROW.

We commend the Special Rapporteur for the report on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, particularly in how it highlights the often overlooked interlinkages between the right to information and sustainable development, as well as the need to guarantee the effective participation of youth, women, Indigenous communities, human rights defenders, and civil society actors, amongst other marginalised groups, in order to ensure that no one gets left behind.

Of particular importance, and as noted in the report, “Some Governments and private actors restrict access to information on reproductive and sexual health and rights, including safe abortion, in contravention of international human rights law.” At the policy level, we see that the stifling of freedom of expression, opinion and information, is carried out via the enactment and implementation of laws from colonial era penal provisions such as sedition, obscenity acts, penal codes, and national security measures in the form of criminal defamation and cyber security legislations. This further impedes the right to freedom of expression and access to information, including on sexuality.

We call on States to take the following actions:

  • Ensure that women, girls, and young people in all their diversities have access to safe and accurate information that is not impeded or restricted, which includes sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • Ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights information does not discriminate against groups such as unmarried women, young people, indigenous, gender non-conforming, persons with disabilities, or any other groups or individuals. It is the core obligation of States to ensure the repeal of laws, policies and practices that criminalise or undermine access to sexual and reproductive health services.
  • Repeal restrictive laws and regulations relating to the expression of sexual orientation and gender identity which have contributed to increased stigma and harassment in healthcare settings.
  • Ensure that defamation and blasphemy is not a criminal offence, and therefore any mention of defamation and blasphemy within the Penal Code must be repealed in their entirety, as well as laws that criminalise people who speak out or protest peacefully.

Thank  you.

Vietnam

  • Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Indonesia

  • Aliansi Satu Visi (ASV);
  • CEDAW Working Group;
  • Hollaback! Jakarta;
  • Institut Kapal Perempuan;
  • Kalyanamitra;
  • Komnas Perempuan;
  • Remaja Independen Papua/Independent Youth
    Forum Papua (FRIP/IYFP);
  • Perkumpulan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia (PKBI);
  • Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta;
  • Perkumpulan Pamflet Generasi;
  • RUTGERS Indonesia;
  • Sanggar SWARA;
  • Women on Web;
  • Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan (YKP); 
  • YIFOS Indonesia

Maldives

  • Hope for Women
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)
HRC53: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression

This statement by ARROW was submitted to the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Watch the video statement here.

Distinguished delegates,

My name is Evelynne Gomez and I am making this statement on behalf of the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, ARROW.

We commend the Special Rapporteur for the report on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, particularly in how it highlights the often overlooked interlinkages between the right to information and sustainable development, as well as the need to guarantee the effective participation of youth, women, Indigenous communities, human rights defenders, and civil society actors, amongst other marginalised groups, in order to ensure that no one gets left behind.

Of particular importance, and as noted in the report, “Some Governments and private actors restrict access to information on reproductive and sexual health and rights, including safe abortion, in contravention of international human rights law.” At the policy level, we see that the stifling of freedom of expression, opinion and information, is carried out via the enactment and implementation of laws from colonial era penal provisions such as sedition, obscenity acts, penal codes, and national security measures in the form of criminal defamation and cyber security legislations. This further impedes the right to freedom of expression and access to information, including on sexuality.

We call on States to take the following actions:

  • Ensure that women, girls, and young people in all their diversities have access to safe and accurate information that is not impeded or restricted, which includes sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • Ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights information does not discriminate against groups such as unmarried women, young people, indigenous, gender non-conforming, persons with disabilities, or any other groups or individuals. It is the core obligation of States to ensure the repeal of laws, policies and practices that criminalise or undermine access to sexual and reproductive health services.
  • Repeal restrictive laws and regulations relating to the expression of sexual orientation and gender identity which have contributed to increased stigma and harassment in healthcare settings.
  • Ensure that defamation and blasphemy is not a criminal offence, and therefore any mention of defamation and blasphemy within the Penal Code must be repealed in their entirety, as well as laws that criminalise people who speak out or protest peacefully.

Thank  you.

Morocco

  • Association Marocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF),
  • Morocco Family Planning Association

India

  • CommonHealth;
  • Love Matters India;
  • Pravah;
  • Rural Women’s Social Education Centre (RUWSEC);
  • SAHAYOG;
  • Sahaj;
  • Sahiyo;
  • SAMA – Resource Group for Women and Health;
  • WeSpeakOut;
  • The YP Foundation (TYPF)

Lao PDR

  • Lao Women’s Union;
  • The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Health
    Sciences (UHS)

Sri Lanka

  • Bakamoono;
  • Women and Media Collective (WMC),
  • Youth Advocacy Network – Sri Lanka (YANSL)

Malaysia

  • Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM);
  • Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG);
  • Justice for Sisters (JFS);
  • Reproductive Health Association of
    Kelantan (ReHAK);
  • Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM);
  • Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Maldives

  • Hope for Women;
  • Society for Health Education (SHE)

Myanmar

  • Colourful Girls Organization;
  • Green Lotus Myanmar

Nepal

  • Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC);
  • Blind Youth Association of Nepal;
  • Blue Diamond Society (BDS);
  • Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA);
  • Visible Impact;
  • Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC);
  • YPEER Nepal;
  • YUWA

Pakistan

  • Aahung, Centre for Social Policy Development (CSPD);
  • Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI);
  • Gravity Development Organization; Green Circle Organization;
  • Indus Resources Center (IRC);
  • Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aaghai (ITA);
  • Rehnuma – Family Planning Association Pakistan;
  • Shelter
    Participatory Organisation;
  • Shirkat Gah;
  • The Enlight Lab

Philippines

  • Democratic Socalist Women of the Philippines (DSWP);
  • Galang;
  • Healthcare Without Harm;
  • Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities;
  • Likhaan Centre for Women’s Health;
  • Nisa UI Haqq Fi Bangsamoro;
  • PATH Foundation Inc. (PFPI);
  • Women’s Global Network for
    Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Singapore

  • End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
  • Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)

Mongolia

  • MONFEMNET National Network