OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media concludes official visit to Canada, attends conference on Internet jurisdiction

OTTAWA, 1 March 2018 - OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir yesterday concluded a visit to Canada in which he held meetings on the state of freedom of expression and media freedom in the country with a broad range of state officials. He also participated in an international conference on Internet jurisdiction in Ottawa.

“Canada has a strong record of protecting freedom of expression and media freedom – both at home and abroad. In this regard, I note Canada’s leadership on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity in multilateral fora, including the OSCE,” said Désir. 

Désir met with representatives of the Global Affairs Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Justice Canada, Public Safety Canada, the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). 

During his meetings, the Representative discussed a number of media freedom issues including protection of sources of journalists, access to information, law on defamation and current challenges concerning the dissemination of “fake news” and disinformation online, Internet regulation on broader issues, harmful speech and media pluralism.

The Representative noted that improvements are possible in several areas. 

"I encourage the Canadian authorities to ensure that the recently amended law on the protection of journalistic sources will offer all needed protection for journalists in line with international human rights standards.”

Désir took part in the Global Internet Jurisdiction Conference, which gathered representatives from governments, international organizations, Internet companies and experts to develop policy solutions to the challenges of Internet governance and regulation.

The Representative recommended that “an inclusive, transparent, multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance and policy development is necessary, and must be reinforced.”

He said that the international human rights principles, based on Articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – especially legality, legitimacy and necessity – must be the starting point for securing free and safe digital space.

“The role of intergovernmental mechanisms – specifically the  United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization of American States Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, as well as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media – are critical for global policy development because these institutions are based on the will of states and have common commitments to international rule of law,” said Désir.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.