[A DRAFT] STATEMENT ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FOR THE COMMONWEALTH

Freedom of expression is a universal human right. Freedom of expression is enshrined in many international and regional instruments, most notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Respect for freedom of expression inheres in the Commonwealth as an organisation and is implicit in the Harare Declaration of 1991 which recognises democracy, just and honest government and human rights as fundamental political values of the Commonwealth. The constitutions of many democratic states contain formally entrenched protection for freedom of expression.