UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for the first time commented on the situation of former CIA employee Edward Snowden.

She said Snowden’s case has shown the need to protect persons disclosing information on matters that have implications for human rights, as well as the importance of ensuring respect for the right to privacy, OHCHR press office reported.

“Both Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights state that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with one’s privacy, family, home or correspondence, and that everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks,” she added.

“People need to be confident that their private communications are not being unduly scrutinised by the State,” the High Commissioner noted.