The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is one of the thematic special procedures overseen by the UN Human Rights Council.
In this 2023 report on freedom of expression and sustainable development, the Special Rapporteur, Irene Khan, emphasizes the need for greater access to information to ensure the voices of the most disadvantaged in society are heard.
The report highlights that despite repeated recommendations that states adopt comprehensive whistleblower protection laws, the report confirms whistleblowers continue remain vulnerable to retaliation in many jurisdictions. Given the importance of whistleblowers as key sources of information, it underlines the importance of safeguarding whistleblowers and facilitating access to information as crucial steps towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The report makes a number of recommendations, including that states align national laws on access to information with international human rights standards, in particular maximising disclosure in the public interest and clearly defining any exemptions only where necessary and proportionate.