UN Human Rights Council Resolution on the Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet (2012)

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GE. 12 -15325
Human Rights Council
Twentieth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil ,
political, economic, social and cu ltural rights,
including the right to development
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council 
20 /8.
The promotion, protecti on and enjoyment of human rights on the
Internet
The Human Rights Council ,
Guided by the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international human rights treaties, including the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
Recalling all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the
Human Rights Cou ncil on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in particular
Council resolution 12/16 of 2 October 2009, and also recalling General Assembly
resolution 66/184 of 22 December 2011 ,
Noting that the exercise of human rights, in particular the right t o freedom of
expression, on the Internet is an issue of increasing interest and importance as the rapid
pace of technological development enables individuals all over the world to use new
information and communication s technologies,
Taking note of the repo rts of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection
of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, submitted to the Human Rights Council
at its seventeenth session, 1 and to the General Assembly at its sixty -sixth session, 2 on
freedom of expre ssion on the Internet,

 The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of
the Council on its twentieth session (A/HRC/20/2), chap. I.
1 A/HRC/17/27.
2 A/66/290.
United Nations A /HRC/ RES/ 20 /8

General Assembly Distr.: General
16 July 2012

Original: English

A/HRC/ RES/ 20/ 8
2
1. Affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected
online , in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and
through any media of one ’s choice, in accordance with articl es 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
2. Recognizes the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in
accelerating progress toward s development in its various forms;
3. Calls upon all States to promote and facilitate access to the Internet and
international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information and
communication s facilities in all countries;
4. Encourages the special procedures to take these is sues into account within
their existing mandates, as applicable;
5. Decides to continue its consideration of the promotion, protection and
enjoyment of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, on the Internet
and in other technologies, a s well as of how the Internet can be an important tool for
development and for exercising human rights, in accordance with its programme of work.
31st meeting
5 July 2012
[Adopted without a vote .]