UN Says: 'Internet Access Is A Human Right'

The internet has become such an important part of a person's everyday life that the United Nations announced that it is a violation of human rights to take it away.

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently passed a non-binding resolution in June condemning countries that interfere with a citizen's right to access the Internet intentionally, under article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Five countries, most a member of the BRICS, opposed the resolution. Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and India contended against the passage condemning "unequivocally measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to our dissemination of information online."

The resolution was supported by over 70 nations according to British freedom of expression and information organization, Article 19.

"We are disappointed that democracies like South Africa, Indonesia, and India voted in favor of these hostile amendments to weaken protections for freedom of expression online," said Article 19 executive director Thomas Hughes. "A human rights based approach to providing and expanding Internet access, based on states' existing international human rights obligations, is essential to achieving the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and no state should be seeking to slow this down."

The resolution supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which states that the increased use of technology has a "great potential to accelerate human progress."

Admittedly, it has become quite difficult to live without the internet where you can get almost any information from job hunting to credit card statements, so the resolution comes as a reinforcement to the importance of the open access of the internet, while recognizing the importance of online privacy.

Some important points in the resolution include:

• Ensuring "freedom and security in the Internet,"
• Accountability for human rights violations and abuses while exercising their right,
• Importance on online privacy,
• The importance of educating women and girls in the field of technology

As the UN cannot legally enforce resolutions, the most they can do is issue guidelines for its member nations and put pressure on countries that refuse to follow those guidelines.

What is important is the part that countries play in reinforcing the resolutions. It is the nations' role to craft local laws on the freedom of expression and its potential abuse, and protecting their citzens' privacy in the digital realm.