Compulsory Membership in an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism

Abstract

Human rights — Freedom of expression — Nature of right — Whether absolute or qualified — Restrictions upon — Public interest — American Convention on Human Rights, 1969 — Articles 13 and 29 — Interpretation — Restrictions on freedom of expression imposed in public interest — Public order — Meaning — Importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society — Restrictions on freedom of expression to be narrowly construed — Restrictions must be designed to serve legitimate needs of a democratic society — Freedom of the press — Requirement that journalists be members of a professional association — Whether compatible with freedom of expression — Costa Rican Law on journalism — Compatibility with Convention

Treaties — Interpretation — Human rights treaties — Regional agreement — Comparison with provisions of other human rights agreements — Whether an aid to interpretation — Whether regional human rights agreement should be interpreted as no more extensive than agreement of universal application

Human rights — Procedure for enforcement — American Convention on Human Rights, 1969 — Jurisdiction of Inter-American Court of Human Rights to give advisory opinion — Admissibility of request for advisory opinion on matter which could have been subject of a contentious case — Relationship between State’s request for advisory opinion and individual petition — Parallel system of enforcement

International tribunals — Admissibility — Request for advisory opinion — Inter-American Court of Human Rights