The Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet

A/HRC/RES/32/13No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 3Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2016.

What other versions does this mandate have?

5 versions · 2012–2021

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/47/16

2021A/HRC/RES/47/16The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the InternetLatestCompare with previous version
2018A/HRC/RES/38/7The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the InternetCompare with previous version
2016A/HRC/RES/32/13The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the InternetCompare with previous version
2014A/HRC/RES/26/13The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the InternetCompare with previous version
2012A/HRC/RES/20/8The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

13 topics

Access to Information Accountability Cybersecurity Development Digital Divide Freedom of Expression Gender Discrimination Human Rights Human Rights Violations Internet Persons with Disabilities Report Preparation Right to Education

What does this mandate say?

15 operative paragraphs

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 article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

Recognizes the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in accelerating progress towards development in its various forms, including in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;

Calls upon all States to promote and facilitate international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information and communications facilities and technology in all countries;

Affirms that quality education plays a decisive role in development, and therefore calls upon all States to promote digital literacy and to facilitate access to information on the Internet, which can be an important tool in facilitating the promotion of the right to education;

Also affirms the importance of applying a comprehensive human rights-based approach in providing and in expanding access to the Internet, and requests all States to make efforts to bridge the many forms of digital divide;

Calls upon all States to bridge the gender digital divide and to enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of all women and girls;

Encourages all States to take appropriate measures to promote, with the participation of persons with disabilities, the design, development, production and distribution of information and communications technology and systems, including assistive and adaptive technologies, that are accessible to persons with disabilities;

Calls upon all States to address security concerns on the Internet in accordance with their international human rights obligations to ensure protection of freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy and other human rights online, including through national democratic, transparent institutions, based on the rule of law, in a way that ensures freedom and security on the Internet so that it can continue to be a vibrant force that generates economic, social and cultural development;

Condemns unequivocally all human rights violations and abuses, such as torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, expulsion, intimidation and harassment, as well as gender-based violence, committed against persons for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms on the Internet, and calls upon all States to ensure accountability in this regard;

Also condemns unequivocally measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online in violation of international human rights law, and calls upon all States to refrain from and cease such measures;

Stresses the importance of combating advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination or violence on the Internet, including by promoting tolerance and dialogue;

Calls upon all States to consider formulating, through transparent and inclusive processes with all stakeholders, and adopting national Internet-related public policies that have the objective of universal access and enjoyment of human rights at their core;

Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on ways to bridge the gender digital divide from a human rights perspective, in consultation with States, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, international organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society, industry, technical community and academia and other stakeholders, and to submit it to the Council at its thirty-fifth session;

Encourages the special procedures to take these issues into account within their existing mandates, as applicable;

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 other information and communications technology, and of how the Internet can be an important tool for fostering citizen and civil society participation, for the realization of development in every community and for exercising human rights, in accordance with its programme of work.

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Who created this mandate?

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What does this mandate say?

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