ÿWPCƒ :ovÖÉÙ/‚[žûOK'YB§’‚Ú2…œˆJ—©6 >¡ßóƒkz/hã¹§°rj”\v^)/4Ù0 4«ÍÒ~P°ÖB…£ÆL )3ye×N…ð¾Kƒw˱´òYhP²‰v!vñƒnÊ^SH¨QÒ…Û6 OBµ· Ž9 ¸x»6¢ (~Í-×ç¹°9Þz\Öãf{ÚpÇÇè>ˆ+kâ ˜ˆ(-SRø*öÈ_ÓŠ¸á‰“€Œ-áFTãÅûˆyù‚ÿ— ©9Eãã(“ÄÆÓÂS<1œÃQË(¼æ÷ŒÚ‰p¤ÿ]NÝ5FÞ$5zÅ&ëSàîÇ«eÜìž=•¨8 ñN¿‚€¶g·¢<'gÔz̸ 0µ„ 0<9 0Yu 0_Î 0i- 0P–Ææ 0ᬠ0( D+µ AMà - 0Æ= #Á UNÄ %M(ND^ FwR4Vj mlô\  `‹&Times New Roman' Leo R- Hertzberg, Uit Mansson, Astrid Nikula and Marko and Tuovi Putkonen, represented by 4onen, represented by "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ÿÿ4Heading 3Ô S ÔÓ p^SÓÔ€£££Ôò òÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔó óÓ p^SÓ<ÿÿ:Default Para6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ0ÿÿ.Strongò òÔ  Ôó óÔ  Ô Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(¹29P$££Ý ƒUÉ!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X|ïXXXÔÔ€X|ïXXX|ïÔÔÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(žUÉ$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XbSXXXÔÔ€XbSXXXbSÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - StandardÈÐððÈÐ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXc", tQ+c(„³CorelÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒUÉ!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X|ïXXXÔÔ€X|ïXXX|ïÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔHertzbergÔ_Ô€et€al.€v.€FinlandóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€R.14/61Ð H˜ ÐÌ2€April€Ô_Ô1982Ô_ÔÐ  d ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Æ   ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€Ô_Ôby:óóLeoÔ_Ô€R„€Ô_ÔHertzbergÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔUitÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔManssonÔ_Ô,€Astrid€Ô_ÔNikulaÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔMarkoÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔTuoviÔ_ÔÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔPutkonenÔ_Ô,€represented€by€SETA€(Organization€for€Sexual€Equality)€òòÐ ^®  ÐÌAlleged€victims:€óóThe€persons€mentioned€above€Ð *z  ÐÌòòState€party€concerned:€óóFinland€òòÐ öF ÐÌDate€of€communication:€óó7€August€1979€(date€of€initial€letter)€òòÐ Â ÐÌDate€of€decision€on€admissibility:€óó25€July€l980€óóÐ ŽÞ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ @ ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð &v ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€2€April€1982,€Ð òB ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€R.14/61,€submitted€to€theÐ ¾ ÐCommittee€by€SETA€(Organization€for€Sexual€Equality),€Finland,€under€the€OptionalÐ ¤ô ÐProtocol€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð Š Ú ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€authors€of€theÐ V"¦! Ðcommunication€and€by€the€State€party€concerned,€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€Ð %X $ ÐÓÓÓÌÌÓ  Óò òòòViews€under€article€5€(4)€of€the€Optional€Protocolóóó ó€Ð º' #' ÐÓäÓÌÌÓ  Ó1.€The€authors€of€this€communication€(initial€letter€dated€7€August€1979)€are€five€individuals,Ð l*¼%* Ðwho€are€represented€By€a€Finnish€organization,€SETA€(Organization€for€Sexual€Equality).€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ2.1€The€facts€of€the€five€cases€are€essentially€undisputed.€The€parties€only€disagree€as€to€theirÐ -n(- ÐÔ_Ôevaluation.€According€to€the€contentions€of€the€authors€of€the€communication,€FinnishÐ ° Ðauthorities,€including€organs€of€the€State„controlled€Finnish€Broadcasting€Company€(FBC),Ð –æ Ðhave€interfered€with€their€right€of€freedom€of€expression€and€information,€as€laid€down€inÐ |Ì Ðarticle€19€of€the€Covenant,€by€imposing€sanctions€against€participants€in,€or€censuring,€radioÐ b² Ðand€TV€programmes€dealing€with€sanctions€against€participants€in,€or€censuring,€radio€andÐ H˜ ÐTV€programmes€dealing€with€homosexuality.€At€the€heart€of€the€dispute€is€paragraph€9€ofÐ . ~ Ðchapter€20€of€the€Finnish€Penal€Code€which€sets€forth€the€following:€Ð  d ÐÌ"If€someone€publicly€engages€in€an€act€violating€sexual€morality,€thereby€giving€offense,€heÐ à 0 Ðshall€be€sentenced€for€publicly€violating€sexual€morality€to€imprisonment€for€at€most€sixÐ Æ   Ðmonths€or€to€a€fine.€Ð ¬ ü  ÐÌ"Anyone€who€publicly€encourages€indecent€behaviour€between€persons€of€the€same€sex€shallÐ xÈ  Ðbe€sentenced€for€encouragement€to€indecent€behaviour€between€members€of€the€same€sexÐ ^®  Ðas€decreed€in€subsection€1."€Ð D”  ÐÌ2.2€In€September€1976,€Leo€Rafael€Hertzberg,€a€lawyer,€was€interviewed€for€the€purposesÐ ` Ðof€a€radio€programme€entitled€òò"Arbetsmarknadens€uteslutna"€óó("The€Outcasts€of€the€LabourÐ öF ÐMarket").€In€the€interview,€he€asserted€on€the€strength€of€his€knowledge€as€an€expert€thatÐ Ü, Ðthere€exists€job€discrimination€in€Finland€on€the€ground€of€sexual€orientation,€in€particular,Ð Â Ðto€the€detriment€of€homosexuals.€Because€of€this€programme€criminal€charges€were€broughtÐ ¨ø Ðagainst€the€editor€(not€Mr.€Hertzberg)€before€the€Helsinki€Municipal€Court€and,Ð ŽÞ Ðsubsequently,€before€the€Helsinki€Court€of€Appeals.€Although€the€editor€was€acquitted,€Mr.Ð tÄ ÐHertzberg€claims€that€through€those€penal€proceedings€his€right€to€seek,€receive€and€impartÐ Zª Ðinformation€was€curtailed.€In€his€view,€the€Court€of€Appeals€(decision€No.€2825€of€27Ð @ ÐFebruary€1979)€has€exceeded€the€limits€of€reasonable€interpretation€by€construing€paragraphÐ &v Ð9€(2)€of€chapter€20€of€the€Penal€Code€as€implying€that€the€mere€"praising€of€homosexualÐ  \ Ðrelationships"€constituted€an€offence€under€that€provision.€Ð òB ÐÌ2.3€Astrid€Nikula€prepared€a€radio€programme€conceived€as€part€of€a€young€listeners€seriesÐ ¾ Ðin€December€1978.€This€programme€included€a€review€of€the€book,€òò"Pojkar€skall€inte€grata"Ð ¤ô Ðóó("Boys€must€not€cry")€and€an€interview€with€a€homosexual€about€the€identity€of€a€youngÐ Š Ú Ðhomosexual€and€about€life€as€a€homosexual€in€Finland.€When€it€was€ready€for€broadcasting,Ð p!À  Ðit€was€censored€by€the€responsible€director€of€FBC€against€the€opposition€of€the€editorialÐ V"¦! Ðteam€of€the€series.€The€author€claims€that€no€remedy€against€the€censorship€decision€wasÐ <#Œ" Ðavailable€to€her.€Ð "$r# ÐÌ2.4€Uit€Mansson€participated€in€a€discussion€about€the€situation€of€the€young€homosexualÐ î%>!% Ðdepicted€in€Mrs.€Nikula's€production.€The€discussion€was€designed€to€form€part€of€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðbroadcast.€Like€Mrs.€Nikula,€the€author€states€that€no€remedy€was€available€to€him€toÐ º' #' Ðchallenge€the€censorship€decision.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ2.5€In€1978,€Marko€and€Tuovi€Putkonen,€together€with€a€third€person,€prepared€a€TV€seriesÐ l*¼%* Ðon€different€marginal€groups€of€society€such€as€Jews,€gypsies€and€homosexuals.€Their€mainÐ R+¢&+ Ðintention€was€to€provide€factual€information€and€thereby€to€remove€prejudices€against€thoseÐ 8,ˆ', Ðgroups.€The€responsible€programme€director,€however,€order€that€all€references€toÐ -n(- Ðhomosexuals€be€cut€from€the€production,€indicating€that€its€transmission€in€full€would€entailÐ ° Ðlegal€action€against€FBC€under€paragraph€9€(2)€of€chapter€20€of€the€Penal€Code.€Ð –æ ÐÌ2.6€The€authors€claim€that€their€case€is€an€illustration€of€the€adverse€effects€of€the€wideÐ b² Ðinterpretation€given€to€that€provision,€which€does€not€permit€an€objective€description€ofÐ H˜ Ðhomosexuality.€According€to€their€allegations,€it€is€extremely€difficult,€if€not€impossible,€forÐ . ~ Ða€journalist€to€start€preparing€a€programme€in€which€homosexuals€are€portrayed€as€anythingÐ  d Ðelse€than€sick,€disturbed,€criminal€or€wanting€to€change€their€sex.€They€contend€that€severalÐ ú J Ðof€such€programmes€have€been€broadcast€by€FBC€in€the€recent€past.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ2.7€The€authors€state€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€submitted€for€examination€underÐ ¬ ü  Ðanother€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ3.€By€its€decision€of€28€March€1980,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€transmitted€theÐ ^®  Ðcommunication€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure€to€the€state€party,Ð D”  Ðrequesting€information€and€observations€relevant€to€the€quest€on€of€admissibility.€Ð *z  ÐÌ4.€By€a€note€dated€9€June€1980,€the€State€party,€while€rejecting€the€allegation€that€theÐ öF ÐGovernment€of€Finland€was€in€breach€of€article€19€of€the€Covenant,€confirmed€that€thereÐ Ü, Ðwere€no€further€domestic€remedies€available€to€the€alleged€victims€in€the€sense€of€article€5Ð Â Ð(2)€(b)€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€The€State€party€argued€that€the€authors€of€theÐ ¨ø Ðcommunication€appeared€to€give€to€the€concept€of€freedom€of€speech,€protected€by€articleÐ ŽÞ Ð19€of€the€Covenant,€a€content€different€from€that€generally€used€by€maintaining€that€it€wouldÐ tÄ Ðrestrict€the€right€of€the€owner€of€a€means€of€communication€to€decide€what€material€will€beÐ Zª Ðpublished.€The€State€party€expressed€Its€expectation€that€the€Committee€would€focus€itsÐ @ Ðattention€on€this€issue€when€considering€the€question€of€admissibility€of€the€communicationÐ &v Ðin€the€light€of€the€provisions€of€article€3€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð  \ ÐÌ5.€By€decision€of€25€July€1980€and€on€the€basis€of€the€information€before€it,€the€CommitteeÐ Ø( Ðconcluded:€Ð ¾ ÐÌ(a)€That€the€communication€was€admissible;€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ(b)€That,€in€accordance€with€article€4€(2)€of€the€optional€Protocol,€the€State€party€beÐ V"¦! Ðrequested€to€submit€to€the€Committee,€within€six€months€of€the€date€of€the€transmittal€to€itÐ <#Œ" Ðof€this€decision,€written€explanations€or€statement€clarifying€the€matter€and€the€remedy,€ifÐ "$r# Ðany,€that€may€nave€been€taken€by€lt.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ6.1€In€its€submission€under€article€4€(2)€of€the€optional€Protocol,€dated€25€February€1981,Ð Ô&$"& Ðthe€State€party€refutes€the€allegation€that€there€has€been€a€violation€of€the€Covenant€on€CivilÐ º' #' Ðand€Political€Rights€in€Finland.€It€affirms€that€the€Finnish€legislation€in€force,€including€theÐ  (ð#( ÐFinnish€Penal€Code,€was€scrutinized€in€connection€with€the€process€of€ratifying€the€CovenantÐ †)Ö$) Ðand€found€to€be€in€conformity€with€it.€It€stresses€that€the€purpose€of€the€prohibition€of€publicÐ l*¼%* Ðencouragement€to€indecent€behavior€between€members€of€the€same€sex€is€to€reflect€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðprevailing€moral€conceptions€in€Finland€as€interpreted€by€the€Parliament€and€by€large€groupsÐ 8,ˆ', Ðof€the€population.€It€further€contends€that€discussion€in€the€Parliament€indicates€that€the€wordÐ -n(- Ð"encouragement"€is€to€he€interpreted€in€a€narrow€sense.€Moreover,€the€LegislativeÐ ° ÐCommittee€of€the€Parliament€expressly€provided€that€the€law€shall€not€hinder€theÐ –æ Ðpresentation€of€factual€information€on€homosexuality.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ6.2€The€State€points€out€that€there€has€not€been€any€case€where€any€person€was€convictedÐ H˜ Ðunder€paragraph€9€(2)€of€Chapter€20€of€the€Penal€Code€and€concludes€that€'the€applicationÐ . ~ Ðof€the€paragraph€in€question€shows€no€indication€of€an€interpretation€of€the€term€in€such€aÐ  d Ðlarge€sense€that€might€be€considered€to€unduly€limit€the€freedom€of€expression".€Ð ú J ÐÌ6.3€While€admitting€that€paragraph€9€(2)€constitutes€a€certain€restriction€on€freedom€ofÐ Æ   Ðexpression,€the€State€specifically€refers€to€article€19€(3)€of€the€Covenant,€which€states€thatÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€exercise€of€the€rights€provided€for€in€article€19€(2)€may€be€subject€to€certain€restrictions,Ð ’â  Ðin€so€far€as€these€are€provided€by€law€and€are€necessary€for€the€protection€of€public€order,Ð xÈ  Ðor€of€public€health€or€morals.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ6.4€Yet,€the€State€contends€that€the€decision€of€the€Finnish€Broadcasting€CompanyÐ *z  Ðconcerning€the€programmes€referred€to€by€the€submitting€organization€did€not€involve€theÐ ` Ðapplication€of€censorship€but€were€based€on€"general€considerations€or€programme€policyÐ öF Ðin€accordance€with€the€internal€rules€oi€the€Company".€Ð Ü, ÐÌ7.€On€7€May€1981,€the€authors€presented€an€additional€submission€in€which€they€discuss€inÐ ¨ø Ðgeneral€terms€the€impact€of€paragraph€9€(2)€of€chapter€20€or€the€Penal€Code€on€journalisticÐ ŽÞ Ðfreedom.€They€argue€that€article€19€in€connection€with€article€2€(1)€of€the€Covenant€requiresÐ tÄ ÐFinland€"to€ensure€that€FBC€not€only€deals€with€the€subject€or€homosexuality€in€itsÐ Zª Ðprogrammes€but€also€that€it€affords€a€reasonable€and,€in€so€far€as€is€possible,€an€impartialÐ @ Ðcoverage€of€information€and€ideas€on€the€subject,€in€accordance€with€its€own€programmingÐ &v Ðregulations."€On€this€basis€they€challenge,€in€particular,€the€relevant€programme€directiveÐ  \ Ðof€FBC€or€30€October€1975,€still€in€force€today,€which€states,€òòinter€aliaóó,"€All€personsÐ òB Ðresponsible€for€programmes€are€requested€to€observe€maximum€strictness€and€carefulness,Ð Ø( Ðeven€when€tactual€information€about€homosexuality€is€given",€drawing€attention€at€the€sameÐ ¾ Ðtime€to€the€fact€that€on€the€same€Gay€a€written€warning€had€been€issued€to€the€head€of€theÐ ¤ô Ðfilm€service€of€FBC€to€reject€any€production€which€gave€a€"positive€picture€ofÐ Š Ú Ðhomosexuality".€In€addition,€they€dispute€the€State€party's€contention€that€the€decisions€takenÐ p!À  Ðby€the€Finnish€Broadcasting€Company€with€respect€to€radio€and€television€programmesÐ V"¦! Ðdealing€with€homosexuality€were€based€on€general€considerations€of€programme€policy€andÐ <#Œ" Ðdid€not€constitute€censorship€measures€taken€in€pursuance€of€paragraph€9€(2)€of€chapter€20Ð "$r# Ðof€the€Penal€Code.€Ð %X $ ÐÌ8.€The€Committee,€considering€the€present€communication€in€the€light€of€all€informationÐ Ô&$"& Ðmade€available€to€it€by€the€parties€as€provided€for€in€article€5€(1)€of€the€Optional€Protocol,Ð º' #' Ðhereby€decides€to€base€its€views€on€the€facts€as€submitted€by€the€parties,€which€are€not€inÐ  (ð#( Ðdispute.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ9.1€In€considering€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€startsÐ R+¢&+ Ðfrom€the€premise€that€the€State€party€is€responsible€rot€actions€of€the€Finnish€BroadcastingÐ 8,ˆ', ÐCompany€(FBC),€in€which€the€State€holds€a€dominant€stake€(90€per€cent)€and€which€is€placedÐ -n(- Ðunder€specific€government€control.€Ð ° ÐÌ9.2€The€Committee€wishes€further€to€point€out€that€it€is€not€called€upon€to€review€theÐ |Ì Ðinterpretation€of€paragraph€9€(2)€of€chapter€20€of€the€Finnish€Penal€Code.€The€authors€of€theÐ b² Ðcommunication€have€advanced€no€valid€argument€which€could€indicate€that€the€constructionÐ H˜ Ðplaced€upon€this€provision€by€the€Finnish€tribunals€was€not€made€òòbona€fideóó.€Accordingly,Ð . ~ Ðthe€Committee's€task€is€confined€to€clarifying€whether€the€restrictions€applied€against€theÐ  d Ðalleged€victims,€irrespective€of€the€scope€of€penal€prohibitions€under€Finnish€penal€law,Ð ú J Ðdisclose€a€breach€of€any€of€the€rights€under€the€Covenant.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ9.3€In€addition,€the€Committee€wishes€to€stress€that€it€has€only€been€entrusted€with€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðmandate€of€examining€whether€an€individual€has€suffered€an€actual€violation€of€his€rights.Ð ’â  ÐIt€cannot€review€in€the€abstract€whether€national€legislation€contravenes€the€Covenant,Ð xÈ  Ðalthough€such€legislation€may,€in€particular€circumstances,€produce€adverse€effects€whichÐ ^®  Ðdirectly€affect€the€individual,€making€him€thus€a€victim€in€the€sense€contemplated€by€articlesÐ D”  Ð1€and€2€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€The€Committee€refers€in€this€connection€to€its€earlier€viewsÐ *z  Ðon€communication€No.€R.9/35€(S.€Aumeeruddy„Cziffra€and€19€other€Mauritian€women€v.Ð ` ÐMauritius).€Ð öF ÐÌ10.1€Concerning€Leo€Rafael€Hertzberg,€the€Committee€observes€that€he€cannot€validly€claimÐ Â Ðto€be€a€victim€or€a€breach€by€the€State€party€of€his€right€under€article€19€(2)€of€the€Covenant.Ð ¨ø ÐThe€programme€in€which€he€took€part€was€actually€broadcast€in€1976.€No€sanctions€wereÐ ŽÞ Ðimposed€against€him.€Nor€has€the€author€claimed€that€the€programme€restrictions€as€appliedÐ tÄ Ðby€FBC€would€in€any€way€personally€affect€him.€The€sole€fact€that€the€author€takes€aÐ Zª Ðpersonal€interest€in€the€dissemination€of€information€about€homosexuality€does€not€makeÐ @ Ðhim€a€victim€in€the€sense€required€by€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð &v ÐÌ10.2€With€regard€to€the€two€censored€programmes€of€Mrs.€Nikula€and€of€Marko€and€TuoviÐ òB ÐPutkonen,€the€Committee€accepts€the€contention€of€the€authors€that€their€rights€under€articleÐ Ø( Ð19€(2).€of€the€Covenant€have€been€restricted€While€not€every€individual€can€be€deemed€toÐ ¾ Ðhold€a€right€to€express€himself€through€a€medium€like€TV,€whose€available€time€is€limited,Ð ¤ô Ðthe€situation€may€be€different€when€a€programme€has€been€produced€for€transmission€withinÐ Š Ú Ðthe€framework€of€a€broadcasting€organization€with€the€general€approval€of€the€responsibleÐ p!À  Ðauthorities.€On€the€other€hand,€article€19€(3)€permits€certain€restrictions€on€the€exercise€ofÐ V"¦! Ðthe€rights€protected€by€article€19€(2),€as€are€provided€by€law€and€are€necessary€for€theÐ <#Œ" Ðprotection€of€public€order€or€of€public€health€or€morals.€In€the€context€of€the€presentÐ "$r# Ðcommunication,€the€Finnish€Government€has€specifically€invoked€public€morals€as€justifyingÐ %X $ Ðthe€actions€complained€of.€The€Committee€has€considered€whether,€in€order€to€assess€theÐ î%>!% Ðnecessity€of€those€actions,€it€should€invite€the€parties€to€submit€the€full€text€of€the€censoredÐ Ô&$"& Ðprogrammes.€In€fact,€only€on€the€basis€of€these€texts€could€it€be€possible€to€determineÐ º' #' Ðwhether€the€censored€programmes€were€mainly€or€exclusively€made€up€of€factualÐ  (ð#( Ðinformation€about€issues€related€to€homosexuality.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ10.3€The€Committee€feels,€however,€that€the€information€before€it€is€sufficient€to€formulateÐ R+¢&+ Ðits€views€on€the€communication.€It€has€to€be€noted,€first,€that€public€morals€differ€widely.Ð 8,ˆ', ÐThere€is€no€universally€applicable€common€standard.€Consequently,€in€this€respect,€a€certainÐ -n(- Ðmargin€of€discretion€oust€be€accorded€to€the€responsible€national€authorities.€Ð ° ÐÌ10.4€The€Committee€finds€that€it€cannot€question€the€decision€of€the€responsible€organs€ofÐ |Ì Ðthe€Finnish€Broadcasting€Corporation€that€radio€and€TV€are€not€the€appropriate€forums€toÐ b² Ðdiscuss€issues€related€to€homosexuality,€as€far€as€a€programme€could€be€judged€asÐ H˜ Ðencouraging€homosexual€behaviour.€According€to€article€19€(3),€the€exercise€of€the€rightsÐ . ~ Ðprovided€for€in€article€19€(2)€carries€with€it€special€duties€and€responsibilities€for€thoseÐ  d Ðorgans.€As€far€as€radio€and€TV€programmes€are€concerned,€the€audience€cannot€beÐ ú J Ðcontrolled,€In€particular,€harmful€effects€on€minors€cannot€be€excluded.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ11.€Accordingly,€the€Human€Rights€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€there€has€been€noÐ ¬ ü  Ðviolation€of€the€rights€of€the€authors€of€the€communication€under€article€19€(2)€of€theÐ ’â  ÐCovenant.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌÌÓVÓÓ  Óòòò òAppendixó óóó€Ð *z  ÐÓ^NÓÓ ÓÌÌòòIndividual€opinion€submitted€by€a€member€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€under€rule€94Ð Ü, Ð(3)€of€the€Committee's€provisional€rules€of€procedureóó€Ð  ÐÌòòCommunication€No.€R.14/61óó€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌIndividual€opinion€appended€to€the€Committee's€views€at€the€request€of€Mr.€Torkel€Opsahl:€Ð Zª ÐÌAlthough€I€agree€with€the€conclusion€of€the€Committee,€I€wish€to€clarity€certain€points.€Ð &v ÐÌThis€conclusion€prejudges€neither€the€right€to€be€different€and€live€accordingly,€protectedÐ òB Ðby€article€17€of€the€Covenant,€nor€the€right€to€have€general€freedom€of€expression€in€thisÐ Ø( Ðrespect,€protected€hy€article€19.€Under€article€19€(2)€and€subject€to€article€19€(3),€everyoneÐ ¾ Ðmust€in€principle€have€the€right€to€impart€information€and€ideas€„€positive€or€negative€„€aboutÐ ¤ô Ðhomosexuality€and€discuss€any€problem€relating€to€it€freely,€through€any€media€of€his€choiceÐ Š Ú Ðand€on€his€own€responsibility.€Ð p!À  ÐÌMoreover,€in€my€view€the€conception€and€contents€of€public€morals"€referred€to€In€articleÐ <#Œ" Ð19€(3)€are€relative€and€changing.€State„imposed€restrictions€on€freedom€of€expression€mustÐ "$r# Ðallow€for€this€fact€and€should€not€De€applied€so€as€to€perpetuate€prejudice€or€promoteÐ %X $ Ðintolerance.€It€,s€of€special€importance€to€protect€freedom€of€expression€as€regards€minorityÐ î%>!% Ðv€jews,€including€those€that€offend,€shock€or€disturb€the€majority.€Therefore,€even€if€suchÐ Ô&$"& Ðlaws€as€paragraph€9€(2)€of€chapter€20€of€the€Finnish€Penal€Code€may€reflect€prevailing€moralÐ º' #' Ðconceptions,€this€is€in€itself€not€sufficient€to€justify€it€under€article€19€(3).€It€must€also€beÐ  (ð#( Ðshown€that€the€application€of€the€restriction€is€"necessary".€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌHowever,€as€the€Committee€has€noted,€this€law€has€not€Men€directly€applied€to€any€of€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðalleged€victims.€The€question€remains€whether€they€have€Men€more€indirectly€affected€byÐ 8,ˆ', Ðit€in€a€way€which€can€be€said€to€interfere€with€their€freedom€of€expression,€and€it€so,€whetherÐ -n(- Ðthe€grounds€were€justifiable.€Ð ° ÐÌIt€is€clear€that€nobody€„€and€in€particular€no€State€„€has€any€duty€under€the€Covenant€toÐ |Ì Ðpromote€publicity€tot€information€and€ideas€of€all€kinds.€Access€to€media€operated€by€othersÐ b² Ðis€always€and€necessarily€more€limited€than€the€general€freedom€of€expression.€It€followsÐ H˜ Ðthat€such€access€may€De€controlled€on€grounds€which€do€not€have€to€be€justified€underÐ . ~ Ðarticle€19€(3).€Ð  d ÐÌIt€is€true€that€self„imposed€restrictions€on€publishing,€or€the€internal€programme€policy€ofÐ à 0 Ðthe€media,€may€threaten€the€spirit€of€freedom€of€expression.€Nevertheless,€it€is€a€matter€ofÐ Æ   Ðcommon€sense€that€such€decisions€either€entirely€escape€control€by€the€Committee€or€mustÐ ¬ ü  Ðbe€accepted€to€a€larger€extent€than€externally€imposed€restrictions€such€as€enforcement€ofÐ ’â  Ðcriminal€law€or€official€censorship,€neither€of€which€took€place€in€the€present€case.€Not€evenÐ xÈ  Ðmedia€controlled€by€the€State€can€under€the€Covenant€be€under€an€obligation€to€publish€allÐ ^®  Ðthat€may€be€published.€It€is€not€possible€to€apply€the€criteria€of€article€19€(3)€to€self„imposedÐ D”  Ðrestrictions:€Quite€apart€from€the€"public€morals'€issue,€one€cannot€require€that€they€shall€beÐ *z  Ðonly€such€as€are€'provided€by€law€and€are€necessary'€for€the€particular€purpose.€Therefore€IÐ ` Ðprefer€not€to€express€any€opinion€on€the€possible€reasons€for€the€decisions€complained€of€inÐ öF Ðthe€present€case.€Ð Ü, ÐÌThe€role€of€mass€media€in€public€debate€depends€on€the€relationship€between€journalists€andÐ ¨ø Ðtheir€superiors€who€decide€what€to€publish.€I€agree€with€the€authors€of€the€communicationÐ ŽÞ Ðthat€the€freedom€of€journalists€is€important,€but€the€issues€arising€here€can€only€partly€beÐ tÄ Ðexamined€under€article€19€of€the€Covenant.€Ð Zª ÐÌThe€following€members€of€the€Committee€associated€themselves€with€the€individual€opinionÐ &v Ðsubmitted€by€Mr.€Opsahl:€Mr.€Rajsoomer€Lallah,€Mr.€Walter€Surma€Tarnopolsky.Ð  \ ÐÓ¤NÓ