The UN Human Rights Council today adopted a landmark resolution on “the right to privacy in the digital age” that will establish for the first time a UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy.The resolution faced some challenges during negotiations, but was adopted without a vote (i.e. by consensus).
The Rapporteur will be appointed later this year. The Council has invited him or her to include in initial reports to the Council and UN General Assembly, a focus on the challenges to the right of privacy arising from developments in digital and communications technology in “the digital age”. However, the mandate is able to deal with all aspects of the right to privacy.
The initiative has been strongly supported by civil society organisations including the ICJ, including in the form of a joint open letter, and a joint oral statement on behalf of some 92 NGOs from around the world.
The draft resolution, as adopted, may be downloaded here: HRC28-Privacy-DraftRes-2015
