States have a duty to promote a favourable environment for freedom of expression. On the one hand, this means avoiding taking actions which harm or interfere with the exercise of the right (\u201cnegative obligations\u201d). On the other, it also encompasses positive obligations to promote and protect freedom of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International human rights treaties generally impose obligations on State Parties to adopt laws or other measures necessary to give effect to the rights in the Covenant. These may include \u201clegislative, judicial, administrative, educative and other appropriate measures\u201d.[footnote]Human Rights Committee, \u2018General Comment No. 31\u2019 (2004), para. 7.[\/footnote] States also have certain obligations to protect people from acts by private parties which harm their enjoyment of human rights. States are not fully responsible for the acts of third parties, but they must not fail to respond appropriately in the face of rights violations, including to \u201cexercise due diligence to prevent, punish, investigate or redress the harm caused by such acts by private persons or entities.\u201d[footnote]Id. <\/em>at para. 8.[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n