Sir, The legal action against the Italian Insider by the United Nations Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a crass, cruel and outrageous attack on the freedom of the press which the world body is sworn to uphold.

 The agency’s decision is crass because the U.N. system has given itself an almost impenetrable shield against all legal claims. At its very first session in 1946,  the United Nations granted itself legal immunity through a treaty endorsed by member states. This makes it impossible to sue the UN.

 Yet at the same 1946 session, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/59 upholding the right to freedom of opinion, and expression, press freedom, and access to information. This right has since been refined as a human right.

 That The Insider has been heavily fined by an Italian court for its reporting on the FAO is cruel because the huge fine can force this important newspaper to close and put its journalists out of business. Italy is a signatory to the both legal immunity clause of the UN and the press freedom resolution.

 “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights,” says the office of the United Nations Human Rights which depends on funding from governments including Italy. In its latest statement on its website, it adds: “However, there are governments and individuals in positions of power around the globe that threaten this right.” 

 This is why the action by FAO officials against this newspaper is so outrageous , especially in a great democracy like Italy.  

 Indeed, freedom of the press is under attack in many places around the world says the UN’s own human rights office because of its “essential role in ensuring transparency and accountability for public and government authorities”. The Italian Insider is to be commended for its role in holding a publicly funded UN agency to account. 

 It goes without saying that the legal action against this newspaper should be stopped immediately. If readers of this newspaper agree, they can put the matter in writing directly to the UN spokesman in New York, Mr. Stéfane Dujarric by emailing dujarric@un.org and copying his deputy, Mr. Farhan Haq haqf@un.org . They can also bring it to the attention of UN Secretary General, by contacting his Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Earle Courtenay Rattray. His email address is rattray@un.org. All should be told to order an immediate stop to all action against the Insider by current and former FAO officials

 The louder the noise we make to uphold the right to freedom of expression of this important newspaper, the better, and the safer our world in these uncertain times.

 Roman Rollnick

 - former United Nations Habitat editor & speech writer

 rollnick27@icloud.com