A Right to Media? Lorie M. Graham - Columbia Law School

448 COLUMBIA HUMAN RIGHTS LAW REVIEW [41:429
being and physical and mental health.” 68 In order to achieve these
ends, the state shall:
(a) Encourage the mass media to disseminate information
and material of social and cultural benefit to the
child . . . (b) Encourage international co-operation in the
production, exchange and dissemination of such
information and material from a diversity of cultural,
national and international sources; (c) Encourage the
production and dissemination of children’s books; and (d)
Encourage the mass media to have particular regard to the
linguistic needs of the child who belongs to a minority
group or who is indigenous. 69
Similar to the Children’s Convention, the International
Labour Organization Convention No. 169 speaks to the use of “mass
communications” to ensure that indigenous peoples are made aware
of their rights under the Convention. 70 The U.N. Commission on the
Status of Women has also addressed media issues as they relate to
women’s full enjoyment of freedom of expression, equal access to
media, balanced and diverse portrayals by the media of women and
their multiple roles, and media information aimed at eliminating all
forms of violence against women. 71 The Commission noted in
particular the importance of media education in raising awareness
concerning stereotyping and equality issues. 72
In addition to U.N. human rights instruments and treaty
bodies, a number of other U.N. bodies have explored the linkages
between media and freedom of expression and information.
For instance, in recognition of media’s many benefits, UNICEF has
created an entire program dedicated to the creation of youth-oriented
media. The Voices of Youth website utilizes new forms of media to
foster media awareness and participation by young people
everywhere. 73 The voices of children from rural and indigenous
68. Id.
69. Id.
70. Indigenous Convention, supra note 39, art. 30 (calling for governments
to adopt measures appropriate to the traditions and cultures of the peoples
concerned and if necessary, to use written translations and mass communications
in the languages of these people to do so).
71. ECOSOC, Comm’n on the Status of Women, Report of the Forty-Fifth
Session, p. 12–13, 18, 20, U.N. Doc. E/2001/27, E/CN.6/2001/14 (2001).
72. Id. at 20.
73. UNICEF, Voices of Youth, http://www.unicef.org/voy/index.php (last
visited Feb. 5, 2010).