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Adopted
by the Hemisphere PREAMBLE On the threshold
of a new millennium, the Americas envision a future rooted in democracy.
A political opening has taken hold. Citizens have a heightened awareness
of their rights. More than at any time in our history regular elections,
governments, parliaments, political parties, labor unions, associations
and social groups of every kind reflect the hopes of our people. In this environment
of democratization, several developments engender optimism but also
suggest prudence. Institutional crises, inequalities, backwardness,
unresolvable frustrations, the search for easy solutions, failure
to grasp the nature of democracy and special interest groups constantly
threaten the advancements made. They also represent potential hurdles
to further progress. That is why
we who share this hemisphere, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, must
consolidate the prevailing public freedoms and human rights. Without democracy
and freedom, the results are predictable: Individual and social
life is stunted, group interaction is curtailed, material progress
is distorted, the possibility of change is halted, justice is demeaned
and human advancement becomes mere fiction. Because we
share this conviction, because we have faith in the creative
force of our people and because we are convinced that our principles
and goals must be freedom and democracy, we openly support their
most forthright and robust manifestation: Freedom of expression
and of the press, whatever the medium of communication. The exercise
of democracy can neither exist nor be reproduced without these. We, the signatories
of this declaration, represent different backgrounds and dreams.
We take pride in the plurality and diversity of our cultures, considering
ourselves fortunate that they merge into the one element that nurtures
their growth and creativity: Freedom of expression, the driving
force and basis of mankind’s fundamental rights. A free society
can thrive only through free expression and the exchange of
ideas, the search for and the dissemination of information, the
ability to investigate and question, to propound and react, to agree
and disagree, to converse and confront, to publish and broadcast.
Only by exercising these principles will it be possible to guarantee
individuals and groups their right to receive impartial and timely
information. Only through open discussion and unfettered information
will it be possible to find answers to the great collective problems,
to reach consensus, to have development benefit all sectors, to
practice social justice and to advance the quest for equality. We
therefore vehemently reject assertions which would define freedom
and progress, freedom and order, freedom and stability, freedom
and justice, freedom and the ability to govern as mutually exclusive
values. Without freedom
there can be no true order, stability and justice. And without freedom
of expression there can be no freedom. Freedom of expression and
the seeking, dissemination and collection of information can be
exercised only if freedom of the press exists. We know that
not every statement and item of information can find its way into
the media. We know that the existence of press freedom does not
automatically guarantee unrestricted freedom of expression. But
we also know that a free press favors an environment that nurtures
freedom of expression and thereby benefits all other public freedoms. Without an
independent media, assured of the guarantees to operate freely,
to make decisions and to act on them fully, freedom of expression
cannot be exercised. A free press is synonymous with free expression. Wherever
the media can function unhindered and determine their own direction
and manner of serving the public, there is a blossoming of the ability
to seek information, to disseminate it without restraints, to question
it without fear and to promote the free exchange of ideas and opinions.
But wherever freedom of the press is curtailed, for whatever reasons,
the other freedoms vanish. After a period
when attempts were made to legitimize government control over
news outlets, it is gratifying to be able to work together to defend
freedom. Many men and women worldwide join us in this task. But
opposition remains widespread. Our continents are no exception.
There are still counties whose despotic governments abjure every
freedom, particularly those freedoms related to expression. Criminals,
terrorists and drug traffickers still threaten, attack and murder
journalists. But that is
not the only way to harm a free press and free expression. The temptation
to control and regulate has led to decisions that limit the independent
action of the media, of journalists and of citizens who wish to
seek and disseminate information and opinions. Politicians
who avow their faith in democracy are often intolerant of public
criticism. Various social sectors assign to the press nonexistent
flaws. Judges with limited vision order journalists to reveal sources
that should remain in confidence. Overzealous officials deny citizens
access to public information. Even the constitutions of some democratic
countries contain elements of press restriction. While defending
a free press and rejecting outside interference, we also champion
a press that is responsible and involved, a press aware of the obligations
that the practice of freedom entails. PRINCIPLES A free
press enables societies to resolve their conflicts, promote their
well-being and protect their liberty. No law or act of government
may limit freedom of expression or of the press, whatever the
medium. Because we are fully conscious of this reality and accept it with the deepest conviction, and because of our firm commitment to freedom, we sign this declaration, whose principles follow. 1. No
people or society can be free without freedom of expression and
of the press. The exercise of this freedom is not something authorities
grant, it is an inalienable right of the people. 2. Every
person has the right to seek and receive information, express opinions
and disseminate them freely. No one may restrict or deny these rights. 3. The
authorities must be compelled by law to make available in a timely
and reasonable manner the information generated by the public sector.
No journalist may be forced to reveal his or her sources of information. 4. Freedom
of expression and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism,
kidnapping, intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists,
the destruction of facilities, violence of any kind and impunity
for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated promptly and punished
harshly. 5. Prior
censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the media or dissemination
of their reports, forced publication of information, the imposition
of obstacles to the free flow of news, and restrictions on the activities
and movements of journalists directly contradict freedom of the
press. 6. The
media and journalists should neither be discriminated against nor
favored because of what they write or say. 7. Tariff
and exchange policies, licenses for the importation of paper or
news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television
frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising
may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists. 8. The
membership of journalists in guilds, their affiliation to professional
and trade associations and the affiliation of the media with business
groups must be strictly voluntary. 9. The
credibility of the press is linked to its commitment to truth, to
the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity and to the clear
distinction between news and advertising. The attainment of these
goals and the respect for ethical and professional values may not
be imposed. These are the exclusive responsibility of journalists
and the media. In a free society, it is public opinion that rewards
or punishes. 10. No
news medium nor journalist may be punished for publishing the truth
or criticizing or denouncing the government.
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