Neglecting the ‘Right on Which All Other Rights Depend’: Press Freedom in the International Human Rights Discourse

Liberal theory regards a free press as vital not only to political processes, but also to the development and maintenance of personal autonomy and the right to self-determination. Yet, press freedom receives very little attention in the wider debate on international human rights and in the academic literature on the subject. This paper submits that press freedom matters in its own right and not merely as a means to secure other human rights like free speech and freedom of information. Moreover, it presents a case study on the post-Cold War treatment of press freedom at the United Nations, arguing that press freedom has not become part of the established human rights discourse. Promoting the Fourth Estate is not in states’ interest, since the status of the press as a political player interferes with their own objectives of sustaining their own power and influence. Consequently, states try to undermine press freedoms at home, and do not pay much attention or resources to promoting a free press internationally. This project will place press freedom at the center of how we think about democracy and human rights promotion. Furthermore, it will offer a useful addition to those concerned with policy prescriptions for the human rights community. If the goal is to promote Western liberal ideals, press freedom should be the centerpiece of human rights advocacy and democracy promotion in international relations, not merely a side note to freedom of expression or freedom of information