Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1956-1973 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
6 sub-series and 87 files.
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Matters relating to freedom of information have been discussed by the Commission on Human Rights, the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly. Roughly speaking, discussions in the UN organs on freedom of information fell into two broad categories: 1) Freedom of information as a human right, its substance and scope and its limitation; and 2) Development of media of information in under-developed countries.
During the period covered by these records, a draft Convention on Freedom of Information was under consideration by the General Assembly. This draft Convention was originally prepared by the United Nations Conference on Freedom of Information in 1948. There was considerable divergence of opinion among states with regard to the limitation of freedom of information by such considerations as national security and public order as well as issues of state or private monopoly.
In order to draft and adopt a Convention and Declaration on Freedom of Information the General Assembly decided to convene an international conference of plenipotentiaries to undertake this task in 1963. The series includes the records of the work of the conference on the draft Convention and Declaration.
As regards technical assistance in under-developed countries, a concrete program had not yet been formulated. UNESCO completed in 1961 a survey of media of information, including possible technical assistance. Several files of this series cover cooperation and coordination between the Division and UNESCO in the formulation of this approach.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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Numeric file code.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Archive Employee
Restricted
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- French
- Spanish
- zz
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Microfilm reference number: ARR 1157/Reels 71 - 74, 118
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
UN NY Archives has the records for the period 1946 - 1956, SOA 111 and SOA 112 [Branch Registries - 1948 - 1954 (Consolidated Files), Freedom of Information and of the Press.]
Protection period to: 1993-12-31
Alternative identifier(s)
Scope ID
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Rules and/or conventions used
Status
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
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Sources
Archivist's note
Protection period duration: 20
Archivist's note
Protection period note:
Archivist's note
Permission:
Archivist's note
Physical usability: Without limits
Archivist's note
Term of protection: UN Classified (20)