Defending the Right to Speak: Freedom of Expression in a Changing World

By Comr. Uchenna Umez

Published on August 1, 2025

Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage. - Winston Churchill

What Is Freedom of Expression?
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

This means we all have the right to express ourselves — through speech, writing, art, protest, and online platforms — without fear of censorship, punishment, or violence. It also means we have the right to access information, to question, to dissent, and to challenge authority.

But how free are we, really?

In every movement for justice, progress, and truth, one freedom has always stood at the center — the right to speak freely. Whether it's a journalist reporting on corruption, a student raising a question in class, or a protester demanding change in the streets, freedom of expression is the cornerstone of any democratic and just society.