Defence of the freedom of opinion and expression in European countries
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly Debate on 2nd February 1968 (20th Sitting) (see Poc. 2349,Poc. 2349, report of the Political Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2nd February 1968 (20th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering that the defence of freedom of opinion and expression is one of the fundamental aims of the Council of Europe in accordance with the statement of human rights contained in the Human Rights Convention ;
2. Considering that the Assembly has the right and the duty to bring to notice the seriousness of any encroachments or violations of those freedoms in all European countries, whether or not Members of the Council of Europe ;
3. Aware of the recent series of trials of writers and intellectuals in the Soviet Union ;
4. Taking note of the fact that similar instances occur also in other Eastern and in certain Western countries,
5. Expresses the wish that, with a view to developing the détente between East and West and drawing the European peoples closer together, all European States should respect the elementary human need for intellectual freedom, especially in connection with judicial proceedings of a political character.
