UN appoints Leopoldo Maldonado as special rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression

Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez has been appointed as the new special rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression by the UN Human Rights Council. The decision was made during the council's 62nd session and officially announced through the organization's channels.

Maldonado, who currently serves as the regional director for Mexico and Central America at Article 19, an organization dedicated to defending freedom of expression and access to information, will now take on a key international role. The special rapporteur's mandate includes monitoring the global state of free expression, conducting country visits, issuing recommendations to states, and submitting reports to international bodies.

This appointment arrives at a critical juncture, with growing international apprehension regarding the numerous challenges faced by freedom of expression across various regions. Journalists, human rights defenders, and media outlets are particularly vulnerable to these risks. Maldonado's new position places him at the forefront of efforts to protect and promote this fundamental right on a global scale, succeeding the previous rapporteur.