Tunisia: Treaty ratification must be accompanied by freedom of expression reforms
ARTICLE 19 has welcomed the announcement by the new Tunisian government of the endorsement of major international commitments relating to human rights and calls on the government to swiftly proceed with these plans. 'We urge the Tunisian government to change their domestic legislation to create an enabling environment for media and civil society, in compliance with international legal standards on freedom of expression,' says Dr Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director. 'ARTICLE 19 stands ready to provide support in making such reforms a reality.'
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release – 10 February 2011
Tunisia: Treaty Ratification Must Be Accompanied By Freedom Of Expression Reforms
London 10.02.11: ARTICLE 19 welcomes the announcement by the new Tunisian government of the endorsement of major international commitments relating to human rights and calls on the government to swiftly proceed with these plans.
“We urge the Tunisian government to change their domestic legislation to create an enabling environment for media and civil society, in compliance with international legal standards on freedom of expression,” says Dr Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director. “ARTICLE 19 stands ready to provide support in making such reforms a reality.”
The announcement of the country's forthcoming accession to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to the International Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court, and the Optional Protocol to the International Convention against Torture, as well as other international treaties, represents a major milestone for Tunisia and serves as a model for the region.
Tunisia will be the first country in the region to abolish the death penalty, which is the subject of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
By announcing its forthcoming accession to these human right instruments, Tunisia affirms its determination to combat serious human rights violations, to put an end to impunity, to cooperate fully with the United Nations organs that monitor the implementation of the treaties, and to authorise them to examine people’s complaints.
ARTICLE 19 welcomes civil society’s major role in calling for these changes and urges the government to continue working with civil society organisations in drafting and implementing necessary reforms.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- For more information please contact: please contact Barbora Bukovska, Senior Director for Law and Programmes, at [email][email protected] or +44 20 7324 2500.