Resolution adopted by the 55th IFLA Council and General Conference in Paris, France, 1989

The Council of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) meeting in Paris on 25 August 1989,

Recalling its resolution adopted in Munich in 1983 on behalf of librarians who are victims of violation of human rights and,

Whereas Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) proclaims that: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression: includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers", and is recognized as an uncontested principle of international customary law, that all States, particularly members of the United Nations, must respect, and

Whereas respect of these freedoms is guaranteed, especially by the relevant concepts, which are enforceable, of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (1966) of the United Nations (article 19) of universal applicability, and also by regional treaties: the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950), article 10; The American Convention on Human Rights (1969), article 13; the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981), article 9; and reaffirmed by the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference (1975), chapter 1 a VII; text signed or ratified by a large majority of the States of the world; and

Whereas librarians are particularly well informed about attempts to censor ideas and information which may effect them directly, and as information on censorship must be represented at the international level when national recourse is impossible, illusory or failing to provide positive results, in a reasonable time;

Encourages librarians and their associations globally to support the enforcement of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to exchange information on the abuse of restrictions of freedom of expression which concern them and, when necessary, to refer the matter to the President of IFLA and if applicable to other competent international organizations, non-governmental or intergovernmental;

Instructs the President of IFLA, when such problem is legitimately and correctly submitted to him, and after having studied and certified the data, when possible, to intervene in the most appropriate way with relevant authorities about freedom of expression and to cooperate, if necessary and to this end, with other international organizations.