The resolution, which aims to discourage "defamation of religion", asserts that freedom of expression "should be exercised with responsibility and may therefore be subject to limitations as provided by law." While the resolution was proposed by Pakistan and supported by numerous repressive governments, several democratic nations also approved the resolution (Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa) or abstained from the vote (Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Peru, Uruguay).

"We are seriously concerned that this resolution will be relied on by authoritarian governments to suppress freedom of expression on the grounds of religious defamation," the Paris-based WAN and the WEF said in letters to the UN Human Rights Council President, Luis Alfonso de Alba, and to the Presidents and Ambassadors of countries approving or abstaining from the measure.

"It is wholly inappropriate for the Human Rights Council to justify censorship and the stifling of dissenting voices," the letter said.

WAN and WEF called on the members to "take all steps necessary to ensure that international standards of freedom of expression are fully supported by the UN Human Rights Council and not undermined by resolutions such as this."

Read the full letter to the Council here.

The United Nations Human Rights Council, whose stated purpose is to address human rights violations, is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which was often criticised for the high-profile positions it gave to member states that did not guarantee the human rights of their own citizens. International human rights groups have expressed concerned that the Council may be emulating the practices that discredited the Commission on Human Rights.

WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 76 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10 regional and world-wide press groups.

The WEF is the organisation for editors within the World Association of Newspapers (www.worldeditorsforum.org).

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr.