UNESCO Training manual for judges on international standards on freedom of opinion and expression

This Toolkit originally designed for the Judiciary in Jordan is designed primarily to accompany a training course for judges. It consists of six modules focusing on different freedom of expression issues, followed by a list of common questions and answers, exercises and a list of sources for further reading.

Module 1 introduces the right to freedom of expression as it is guaranteed in international human rights law, including in human rights treaties, as further elaborated upon by other sources of international law.

Module 2 outlines the legitimate limits to freedom of expression and the three-part test.

The third module addresses the challenge of attacks which aim to silence those exercising their right to freedom of expression, sometimes referred to as “censorship by killing”. It focuses on States’ obligations to prevent such attacks by private parties, to provide protection to those who are at risk of being attacked and to ensure that, where attacks do occur, those responsible are brought to justice.

Module 4 explores the right to access information held by the government (public authorities).

Module 5 outlines the principles governing the regulation of the media.

The last module explores new challenges to protecting freedom of expression in the digital age. All modules are transferable to other European Justice systems.