(c) To benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests
resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the
author.
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to
achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for the
conservation, the development and the diffusion of science and culture.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to respect the
freedom indispensable for scientific research and creative activity.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the benefits to be
derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts
and co-operation
in the scientific and cultural fields.
The right to freedom of expression under article 19 (2) of (ICCPR) includes the
freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds ‘in
writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice’.
In General Comment No. 34 concerning Article 19, the United Nations Human
Rights Committee (herein UNHRC) elaborated on the nature of state obligations
regarding freedom of expression and provided for a spectrum of ideas and/or
information that is covered and therefore protected by Article 19 as follows:74
“Paragraph 2 requires States Parties to guarantee the right to freedom
of
expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information
ideas of all kinds regardless of frontiers. This right
and receipt
includes
the
and
expression
of communications of every form of idea and opinion capable of
transmission to others, subject to the provisions in article 19,
and article 20. It
paragraph 3,
includes political discourse, commentary on one’s own and
on public affairs, canvassing, and discussion of human
rights,
cultural and artistic expression, teaching, and
religious
may also include
scope
commercial
embraces even expression that
such expression may be
advertising.
The
of
journalism,
discourse.
paragraph
It
2
may be regarded as deeply offensive, although
restricted in accordance
with
the
provisions
of
article 19, paragraph 3 and article 20”. (emphasis added).
74
General Comment No, 34, para. 15.
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