International standards on the right to freedom of expression and information 23 # % 2 -% ! 3 " 45 # % 6 7"% 6 8-"9/ 5 ( / 5 : % * 3 : ; % ( ) : ; % <#:% & '*+=% ' 2=% > ?@ ( / 5 : % * 3 : ; % 9 / 5 : % > " (/ 5 : % : A # ="!A * +/ . % ! A B C . % & $+"& Importance of the right to freedom of expression and information Freedom of expression is indispensable to personal development. People who are free to speak their minds feel more secure and respected, and are able to plan their lives more easily, to forge friendships and establish communities. It is essential to good governance: All people must be free to ask questions of the government, to ensure it is acting honestly and to expose the strengths and weaknesses of officials and their policies. In this way, wrongdoings can be exposed and the people and government can find out about and fix problems. This is important for developing effective laws and policies that address the concerns of the people. Freedom of expression is crucial to the protection, promotion and exercise of all other human rights: without freedom of expression, the enjoyment of other human rights becomes impossible. Freedom of information is important for engaging in democratic processes, learning how to vote and informing decisions on who to vote for. It is the basis for organising peaceful assemblies and manifesting one’s religion in community with others. It is also the key to enabling people to make decisions for example on health, education, water and the environment. 23 # % 2 -% ! 3 " 45 # % 6 7"% 6 8-"9/ 5 ( / 5 : % * 3 : ; % ( ) : ; % <#:% & '*+=% ' 2=% > ?@ ( / 5 : % * 3 : ; % '6>&-1-5 A -5Ng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ensored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 9