Freedom of expression it is the right that allows people to express their opinions without fear of reprisal. Likewise, it authorizes information to be received by various means, independently and without censorship.
In other words, it means the right to express the opinion of a person or a group, always with respect and backed by the veracity of information.
This right is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Freedom of Expression and Media
The relationship between the media and freedom of expression is fundamental, as it brings together the means that expand the possibilities of the most varied manifestations, such as writing and plastic expression.
The right to express oneself does not mean that ethical and moral limits are not imposed. Thus, slander is not allowed, as well as acts of injury, because in this way there are rights that would no longer be preserved.
The preservation of the rights of expression must be ensured in any means of communication, including the Internet.
Informality should not mean total freedom to say what you want and offend people, causing moral damage.
Freedom of Expression and Politics
Restricting the circulation of ideas and prohibiting freedom of expression is a right taken away from people in totalitarian regimes.
The exchange of ideas, discussions and dialogue encourages society to change. Furthermore, freedom of expression limits the abuse of power. In this way, authoritarian regimes are the first to censor the media and watch over places of production of ideas such as universities and schools.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contemplates the right to freedom of expression, considering that it is a fundamental part of the democracy.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right implies the freedom to maintain their own opinions without interference and to seek, receive and spread information and ideas through any means of expression regardless of borders.
Freedom of expression, historically, arises with the political liberalism.
Freedom of Expression in Brazil
In Brazil, freedom of expression was contemplated in the first three constitutions until the granting of the 1937 Constitution. At that time, the period of censorship with Getúlio Vargas began.
However, the following constitution, that of 1946, once again reinforced the individual rights and freedom of citizens.
At 1967 Constitution, democracy once again loses its place to authoritarianism and the centralization of power initiated with the 1964 coup.
The censorship of the media is one of the measures that integrate the AI 5 - Institutional Act No. 5 decreed in 1968.
Finally, in the 1988 Constitution, the right to freedom of expression was reinstated. It was at that time, after the end of the dictatorship, that censorship was banned, as can be read in paragraph 2 of article 220:
“Any and all censorship of a political, ideological and artistic nature is prohibited.”
Phrases about Freedom of Expression
- I may not agree with any of the words you say, but I will defend to the death the right to say them. (Voltaire)
- I know there is only one freedom: that of thought. (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
- People like the ideal of free speech until the moment they start to hear what they don't want to be said about themselves. (Augusto Branco)
- In our country, we have these three indescribable precious things: the freedom of expression, the freedom of conscience and the prudence never to practice any of them. (Mark Twain)
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