<div dir="ltr">Dear all (apologies for cross posting),<div><br></div><div>The 25th session of the Human Rights Council opens on Monday, 3 March. Please find below and attached a <a href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/-/docs/HRC25_BriefingNote_20130228.pdf">briefing note</a> prepared by Joy Liddicoat, Shawna Finnegan, and myself on internet rights issues that will be on this session's agenda. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to write me, Joy, or Shawna (copied).</div><div><br></div><div>All the best, <br>Deborah </div><div><br></div><div><div><a href="https://www.accessnow.org/page/-/docs/HRC25_BriefingNote_20130228.pdf" target="_blank" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">https://www.accessnow.org/page/-/docs/HRC25_BriefingNote_20130228.pdf</a></div>
<div>
<h1 class=""><font color="#000000"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Briefing
note: Human Rights Council 25th</span></b></font><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight:normal"><span style="background-color:transparent">
</span></span></font><font color="#000000"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">session</span></b></font></h1>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><i><span style="background-color:transparent">By
Deborah Brown (Access), Joy Liddicoat and Shawna Finnegan
(Association for Progressive Communications)</span></i></font></font></font></p>
<h2 class="">Introduction:</h2>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">The
25th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will take place in
Geneva from March 3rd to 28th. This note provides information on
internet related human rights issues in the upcoming session of the
HRC. Overall, we can see the continuing trend of the HRC addressing
internet and human rights issues in increasingly diverse aspects of
its work. This is the Council's 25</span></font><font color="#000000"><sup><span style="background-color:transparent">th</span></sup></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
session and will see internet issues considered across a broad range
of topics, including in the context of peaceful protest, good
governance, freedom of region and belief, the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography, human rights defenders, cultural
rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities to education. We
continue to see more special procedures mandate holders (or Special
Rapporteurs) referring to the internet, and internet issues continue
to be raised on a country-specific basis, through for example the
issues of content blocking and censorship in the Universal Periodic
Review (UPR)<a class="" name="sdfootnote1anc" href="#sdfootnote1sym"><sup>1</sup></a>
processes relating to Pakistan and Malaysia. </span></font></font></font>
</p>
<h2 class="">Surveillance and Human Rights:</h2>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">The
right to privacy in age of mass government surveillance is
increasingly on the Council’s agenda. On the heels of a </span></font></font></font><a href="https://www.accessnow.org/blog/2013/11/26/un-general-assembly-takes-critical-step-to-address-privacy-amid-surveillanc">historic
resolution</a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the Right to Privacy in the
Digital Age (</span></font></font></font><a href="http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/68/167">A/RES/68/167</a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">),
an </span></font></font></font><a href="http://www.genf.diplo.de/Vertretung/genf/en/__pr/Aktuelles-2014-en/2014-02-19-seminar-privatsphaere-en.html">expert
seminar</a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
was held just ahead of HRC25 for the purpose of </span></font></font></font><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">identifying
ways forward to ensure the protection of human rights in an
increasingly interconnected world. Organized by the co-sponsors of
the UNGA resolution Brazil and Germany together with Austria,
Liechtenstein, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland, the seminar sought to
specifically address the question of whether and how surveillance
undertaken domestically or extraterritorially may infringe on human
rights.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">Among
the many distinguished speakers was the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights Navi Pillay, who opened the meeting. In her opening
</span></font></font></font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14276&LangID=E">remarks</a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
she acknowledged that wide gaps between current legal frameworks and
technological developments have led to a blurring of lines between
public and private spheres; a lack of accountability and oversight in
current practices; and the need for clarity on the role and
obligation of companies. Pillay also highlighted the issue of
surveillance in the digital age in her annual report to the Council,
which will be presented at HRC25 (see below for more information).
The High Commissioner's office will be writing a report dedicated to
this issue, which should be completed in July and considered at both
the HRC's 27</span></font></font></font><font color="#000000"><sup><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">th</span></font></font></sup></font><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
session in September and the 69</span></font></font></font><font color="#000000"><sup><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">th</span></font></font></sup></font><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
session of the General Assembly soon after. Her office has issued an
</span></font></font></font><a href="https://docs.google.com/a/accessnow.org/file/d/0B6XUJ0SW4C68MllEWktTR0FLMGc/edit">open
call</a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
for inputing into the report and creating a dedicated section on the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' website for the
material submitted.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">The
seminar also provided the sponsoring states with an opportunity to
hear form the experts on what steps the Council should take to
advance efforts to protect the right to privacy in the digital age.
Among the options discussed were a new special procedures mandate
focused specifically on this issue; a new General Comment from the
</span></font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/ccpr/pages/ccprindex.aspx">Human
Rights Committee</a><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">;
a new Optional Protocol to the </span></font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx">International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights</a><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">;
and an advisory opinion from the </span></font><a href="http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/index.php?lang=en">International
Court of Justice</a><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
on the extraterritorial application of human rights obligations in
the context of communications technology. Each option offers a
different set of tools, ranging from advancing norms to oversight and
regular reporting.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">It
is unlikely for the HRC to address the substance of this issue until
the report is considered in September, however HRC25 will likely see
a procedural resolution calling for a panel to discuss the High
Commissioner's report at its 27</span></font><font color="#000000"><sup><span style="background-color:transparent">th</span></sup></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
session. Nonetheless, one could expect surveillance and
whistle-blowers to come up various ways during this session, in
particular during the High Level Segment at the beginning of the
session when ministers and other high-level officials address the
Council and in Agenda item 3 (</span></font><font color="#000000"><i><span style="background-color:transparent">Promotion
and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic,
social and cultural rights, including the right to development)</span></i></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Additionally,
during the same time as HRC25, the U.S. will be </span></font><a href="http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=625&Lang=en">under
review</a><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
at another human rights body in Geneva- the Human Rights Committee.
The Committee is an expert body that reviews government compliance
with treaty obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR). From the afternoon<a class="" name="sdfootnote2anc" href="#sdfootnote2sym"><sup>2</sup></a>
of Thursday, 13 March through Friday, 14 March, the U.S. will stand
before the Committee and be </span></font><a href="http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR/C/USA/Q/4&Lang=en">questioned</a><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
on a range of human rights issues, including its policies on
</span></font><a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/human-rights-national-security/un-review-nsa-privacy-violations-among-other-us-rights-abuses">surveillance</a><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
in the context of Article 17 of the ICCPR. A number of civil society
organizations have submitted shadow reports on the issue and there
will be events in Geneva to raise awareness and pressure (see more
information in the “side events” section below).</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">Plenary
sessions will be live streamed and archived at:
</span></font></font></font><a href="http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/c/un-human-rights-council.html"><font color="#1155cc"><span style="text-decoration:none"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/c/un-human-rights-council.html</span></font></font></span></font></a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">All
documents for HRC25 including the reports referenced below can be
found <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session25/Pages/ListReports.aspx">here</a>.
</span></font></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">The
twitter hashtag for the session is #HRC25</span></font></font></font></p>
<h2 class="">HRC 25 Agenda items relevant to internet rights</h2>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><i><span style="background-color:transparent">Item
2. Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the
Secretary-General</span></i></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Annual
report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(A/HRC/25/19)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">40.
OHCHR continued to address other complex legal and policy challenges,
including </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">issues
relating to mass surveillance and the right to privacy in the digital
age. While modern communications technology provides a powerful tool
for democracy, it has also contributed to a blurring of lines between
the public and the private spheres, and has generated unprecedented
levels of interference with the right to privacy.</span></u></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><i style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);line-height:114%"><span style="background-color:transparent">Agenda
Items 2 and 3: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human</span></i><br></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><i><span style="background-color:transparent">Rights
and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the
Secretary-General and Promotion and protection of all human rights,
civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the
right to development</span></i></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the
deliberations held during the seminar on effective measures and best
practices to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in
the context of peaceful protests (A/HRC/25/32)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">5.
</span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">The
High Commissioner noted that protests were better organized and more
innovative than ever, aided by new means of communication, including
social media, thus raising more publicity and awareness about
underlying causes.</span></u></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
She expressed regret that in too many situations, peaceful protests
were met with brutal repression, including excessive use of force,
arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and even
summary executions or extrajudicial killings. Restrictive laws were
passed, limiting the space for peaceful protest, non-violent acts
were criminalized and those exercising their rights were prosecuted
and subjected to unfair trials. </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">In
addition, journalists, Internet users and human rights defenders were
threatened, intimidated and harassed because of their role in
documenting and denouncing human rights violations committed in the
context of peaceful protests.</span></u></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">16,
</span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">Finally,
the important role of social media in peaceful protest was
acknowledged by participants. New information and communications
technologies enabled and facilitated the enjoyment of the rights to
freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. Therefore,
panellists observed, the use of social media and the Internet should
be protected and facilitated in the context of peaceful protests.</span></u></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the role
of the public service as an essential component of good governance in
the promotion and protection of human rights (A/HRC/25/27)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">Assessing
public service employees</font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">59.
Some Member States have a system of assessing employees using key
performance indicators and <u>taking into account the views of online
communities</u>. Latvia has introduced new regulations that allow for
a 360-degree performance evaluation for those working in public
service.</font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">E-technology</font></font></p>
<p class="" align="JUSTIFY"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">60.
</span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">Many
Member States are modernizing their public service systems with the
use of e-technology, given that increasing numbers of people have
access to mobile telephones, even in remote and poor areas of Burkina
Faso and Morocco. Cameroon has a website (and a radio programme) on
public services. Mauritius has introduced a human rights e-portal.</span></u></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Others
maybe of interest (not available yet)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">A/HRC/25/34
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on
combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of,
and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against,
persons based on religion or belief.</span></font></font></font></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">A/HRC/25/30
Rights of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on
persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic
minorities.</span></font></font></font></p></li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><i><span style="background-color:transparent">Agenda
Item 3: Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right
to development</span></i></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner
Bielefeldt</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">In
his annual report (</span></font></font></font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session25/Documents/A-HRC-25-58_en.doc%20"><font color="#1155cc"><span style="text-decoration:none"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">A/HRC/25/58)</span></u></font></font></span></font></a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">,
the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner
Bielefeldt focuses on the need to tackle manifestations of collective
religious hatred, making specific reference to the internet:</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Public
and private media should be encouraged to help overcome religious or
belief-related stereotypes by replacing these with more accurate and
nuanced information. By promoting more balanced representations,
professional journalism, including investigative journalism, can
contribute to a public atmosphere of common sense, realism and
experience, serving as an antidote to conspiracy theories,
misperceptions and public hysteria. </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">As
new social media and the Internet have become major tools for
fostering advocacy of religious hatred and incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence in many countries, specific
efforts should be directed towards understanding and addressing this
phenomenon appropriately</span></u></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">;</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">[To
be debated 11 March, 12:00-15:00 CET]</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the Special Rapporteur on on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography, Najat Maalla M’jid
(A/HRC/25/55)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">49.
Similarly, </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">the
expansion of the Internet and social networking has had an impact on
children’s social norms.</span></u></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
The exposure of children to child pornography inspires and influences
their sexual practices and affects their behaviour. Prevailing
standards and peer pressure has led adolescents to share sexualized
images of themselves, making them vulnerable to abuse and potentially
redefining some of the social limits of acceptability of child
pornography.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">53.
</span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">The
Internet brings tremendous positive opportunities, in particular for
children and young people.</span></u></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
</span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">Although
the Internet may not represent a determinant per se of the sale and
sexual exploitation of children, it does nonetheless operate as an
instrument for offenders, multiplying the possibilities of obtaining,
distributing and selling child abuse material and facilitating access
to children in all parts of the world, and consequently promoting the
growth of this phenomenon.</span></u></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">[To
be debated 12 March, 09:00-12:00 CET]</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders,
Margaret Sekaggya (A/HRC/25/55)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">92.
With regard to youth and student defenders, the Special Rapporteur is
concerned about how youth is perceived in society. Often, their young
age and alleged lack of maturity are used as grounds for not giving
them a say in public affairs. The Special Rapporteur regrets that
there is a trend in many countries of passing legislation that
prohibits young people from participating in public assemblies. </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">Other
legislative moves pertain to the Internet, social media and instant
messaging, which are increasingly subject to control by Governments.</span></u></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">There
are also many references to journalists and media workers in this
report, where internet related issues may arise.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">[To
be debated 10 March, 09:00-12:00 CET]</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Thematic
study on the right of persons with disabilities to education
(A/HRC/25/29)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">45.
There may be numerous support measures based on individual education
plans, ranging from the provision of compensatory aids, special
learning aids, </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">assistive
and information technology and the application of special education
procedures.</span></u></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">
One of the most important measures is the use of a learning support
assistant, either shared or on a one-to-one basis, depending on the
needs of the student. It is important to stress that this
non-exhaustive list is a continuum of support measures reflected in
article 24, paragraph 2 (d) and (e), of the Convention.</span></font></font></font></p><p class=""><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:11pt;line-height:114%">[To
be debated 9 March, 12:00-15:00 CET]</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Farida
Shaheed (A/HRC/25/49) </span></b></font></font></font>
</p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">91.
The role of external actors in shaping memorial landscape has been
transformed by the use of information technology. </span></font><font color="#000000"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">The
Internet has led to the internationalization of memory processes, an
evolution epitomized by the memorialization of the Gulag</span></u></font><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">[To
be debated 12 March, 09:00-12:00 CET]</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><i><span style="background-color:transparent">Agenda
Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s
attention</span></i></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Report
of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (A/HRC/25/63)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p class=""><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">30.
<u>Strengthening market forces and advancements in information
technology have allowed greater access to information from outside
the country as information and media from the Republic of Korea and
China increasingly enter the country. </u>The State’s monopoly on
information is therefore being challenged by the increasing flow of
outside information into the country and the ensuing curiosity of the
people for “truths” other than those provided by State
propaganda. Authorities seek to preserve their monopoly on
information by carrying out regular crackdowns and enforcing harsh
punishments.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">[To
be debated 17 March 10:00-13:00 CET]</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Others
maybe of interest (not available yet)</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">A/HRC/25/26
Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in
the Islamic Republic of Iran [To be debated 18 March 14:00-18:00
CET]</span></font></font></font></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">A/HRC/25/64
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana [To be debated 18 March 14:00-18:00
CET]</span></font></font></font></p></li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Special
Procedures Appointments</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">The
25th</span></font></font></font><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">
</span></font></font></font><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">session
of the Human Rights Council will also include appointments of</span></font></font></font><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/HRC25.aspx%20"><font color="#1155cc"><span style="text-decoration:none"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">
</span></u></font></font></span></font></a><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/HRC25.aspx%20"><font color="#1155cc"><span style="text-decoration:none"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><span style="background-color:transparent">mandate
holders</span></u></font></font></span></font></a><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">,
including Special Rapporteurs on the situation on human rights
defenders, the rights of indigenous peoples and on the sale of
children, child prostitution and child pornography.</span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Panels</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">Civil
society space: creating and maintaining, in law and in practice, a
safe and enabling environment: The Council will hold a panel
discussion to address the importance of the promotion and protection
of civil society space, which will, inter alia, contribute to the
identification of challenges facing States in their efforts to
ensure space for civil society and lessons learned and good
practices in this regard. (11 March, 15:00-18:00 CET)</span></font></font></font></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:transparent">Rights
of persons with disabilities: Annual interactive debate on the
rights of persons with disabilities with a focus on the right of
persons with disabilities to education (19 March, 12:00-15:00 CET)</span></font></font></font></p></li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="background-color:transparent">Side
Events</span></b></font></font></font></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">The
Right to Privacy in the Digital Age (American Civil Liberties
Union), 13 March, 11:00-13:00 CET</span></font></font></font></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:transparent">Adoption
</span></font><font color="#000000">of
Malaysia’s 2</font><font color="#000000"><sup>nd</sup></font><font color="#000000">
UPR Report </font><font color="#212121"><i>Implementing
the Accepted Recommendations: The Challenges Ahead </i></font><font color="#212121">Friday
21 March 12:00-14:00 CET</font></font></font></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;background-color:transparent;line-height:114%">
<br>
</p>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom:0in;border:none;padding:0in">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font><a class="" name="sdfootnote1sym" href="#sdfootnote1anc">1</a>At
its 25th session, the Council will consider and adopt the final
outcome of the review of Belize (A/HRC/25/13), Central African
Republic (A/HRC/25/11), Chad (A/HRC/25/14), China (A/HRC/25/5),
Congo (A/HRC/25/16), Israel (A/HRC/25/15), Jordan (A/HRC/25/9),
Malta (A/HRC/25/17), Malaysia (A/HRC/25/10), Mauritius (A/HRC/25/8),
Mexico (A/HRC/25/7), Monaco (A/HRC/25/12), Nigeria (A/HRC/25/6),
Saudi Arabia (A/HRC/25/3) and Senegal (A/HRC/25/4).</font></font></font></p>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<p class=""><a class="" name="sdfootnote2sym" href="#sdfootnote2anc">2</a>Note:
all times referenced in this briefing note are in Central European
Time (CET/GMT+1)</p>
</div></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font face="garamond, serif">Deborah Brown</font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
<font face="garamond, serif">Senior Policy Analyst</font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font face="garamond, serif">Access | <a href="http://accessnow.org" target="_blank">accessnow.org</a></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font face="garamond, serif"><a href="http://rightscon.org" target="_blank">rightscon.org</a></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
<font face="garamond, serif"><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font face="garamond, serif">@deblebrown</font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">
<font face="garamond, serif">PGP 0x5EB4727D</font></div></div>
</div></div>