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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Hi Max and all<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Thanks for your interest in what we’re doing. I’m
equally interested in your work and in exploring potentials for
collaboration. Maybe we could start a ‘research ideas’ and ‘research
in progress’ page on the bill of rights wiki?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Apologies in advance for the length of this email – those who
aren’t interested can delete email or go into skim-read mode now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The research we’re doing is as part of the ongoing Freedom
of Expression Project. I think I’ve mentioned before that we’re
working with 6 key partner organizations in different countries to develop
policy principles that, if adhered to, would shape a global communications environment
that would support human rights and a ‘public interest’ communications
environment. They address issues spanning infrastructure, code and
content. The latest draft of the principles is available and open for
comment at <a
href="http://www.freedomofexpression.org.uk/resources/public+interest+principles+for+the+networked+communications+environment">http://www.freedomofexpression.org.uk/resources/public+interest+principles+for+the+networked+communications+environment</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The principles and values that they express are purposefully
broad so that they can be tailored to specific contexts. The idea is for
them to provide an overarching framework for policy discussion and advocacy at
different scales. For example, our project partners are currently working
to elaborate what they might mean in different country contexts, and this in
turn will provide the foundations for policy work. A major aim is to
identify spaces where different stakeholders can agree that they share certain
values and principles, and work to shape policy accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>We have been working to base all of our work so far in international
human rights standards, in particular freedom of expression, the right to
culture and the right to participation in government. We’ve taken
an expansive definition of freedom of expression that many (but not all) human
rights institutions and lawyers around the world take. This includes
positive dimensions of freedom of expression, including the notion that
governments are responsible for putting the necessary structures/infrastructures
in place for the right to be realized. Incidentally, that’s why I don’t
believe that we need to be advocating for new rights such as the right to the
internet or to communication. The sentiments and demands expressed by
these ‘new’ rights are already contained within the human rights
system. In my opinion, our energy should be focused on further developing
and upholding what we have already, for example, further embedding expansive
definitions of freedom of expression in rights and policy institutions. And,
as Anriette and Milton importantly pointed out, in furthering/developing understanding
about what international rights standards and compliance with them actually
means in practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The research that I referred to before is intended to contribute
to this effort, illustrating how an expansive definition of freedom of
expression is being supported in contemporary legal and philosophical thought
and case law, and identifying areas where further work needs to be done. It
is taking our policy principles framework as a starting point, ensuring that it
is firmly rooted in the international human rights system. In this way, if
the framework was used as a basis for policy discussion, human rights standards
would effectively be ‘mainstreamed’ within the discussions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Whilst I’m sure some would make the argument that these
aren’t IG issues, we hope that we’re making a positive contribution
towards ensuring that the ‘shared norms and principles that shape the use
and evolution of the internet’ are rooted in human rights standards.
These are the most widely accepted and acknowledged ethical standards in the world,
which (in reference to earlier conversations) is why it makes sense to us to
work with them and build on them, rather than try to reinvent or disregard them.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I’ll leave it there for now, but I’m interested to
hear anybody’s thoughts on the work we’re doing, and am keen
to explore opportunities to collaborate on further research on any of these
issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Many thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Lisa<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
bill-of-rights-bounces@ipjustice.org [mailto:bill-of-rights-bounces@ipjustice.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Max Senges<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 06 August 2008 17:36<br>
<b>To:</b> governance@lists.cpsr.org; Anriette Esterhuysen;
bill-of-rights@ipjustice.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Bill-of-Rights] Rights in IG research<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>dear lisa and all<br>
<br>
Lisa wrote:<br>
> We've just commissioned some research into how policy principles based<br>
> around notions such as net neutrality, interoperability, universal<br>
> access and content diversity can be rooted in the international human<br>
> rights system which will hopefully yield some interesting insights...<br>
<br>
that sounds very interesting. Stanford lawschool's Center for Internet and
Society has offered to collaborate by contributing research and i agreed to
frame research opportunities/themes for student projects to be taken up in the
fall. <br>
<br>
It would be great to team up or at least be aware of all the other research
undertaken to better understand a Rights based approach to IG.<br>
<br>
Lisa could you share a bit more info about Global Partners research? <br>
<br>
Everybody else doing research work in this area is very much invited to get in
touch so we can ensure we complement, share and avoid duplication <br>
<br>
best<br>
max<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>On Wed, Aug 6, 2008 at 5:37 AM, Anriette Esterhuysen <<a
href="mailto:anriette@apc.org">anriette@apc.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Hallo all<br>
<br>
Lisa, you are correct in that the SA Human Rights Commission is the appropriate<br>
institution to deal with this. In fact they deal with hate speech issues quite
often.<br>
<br>
They are under-resourced, but they do do excellent work. Here is their
URL<br>
<a href="http://www.sahrc.org.za/sahrc_cms/publish/cat_index_26.shtml"
target="_blank">http://www.sahrc.org.za/sahrc_cms/publish/cat_index_26.shtml</a><br>
<br>
Draft hate speech legislation has been before parlaiment a few times here in
South<br>
Africa. I am not sure what the status is. If I remember correctly the
draft bill was badly<br>
not well conceived and very controversial.<br>
<br>
I certainly think that making a formal complaint to the HRC (human rights<br>
commission) would the way to start if the intension is to create public
awareness of<br>
the issue.<br>
<br>
It will also drive lots of traffic to the site.... which is less desirable.
Personally, Rui, I<br>
would just ignore it.<br>
<br>
Lisa, I completely agree with you about the relationship between rights and
internet<br>
governance. Sadly I think that we have lost ground since WSIS. As you say
there is a<br>
lot of work to be done to get beyond rights rhetoric and to work out what the<br>
implementable rights-based public policy principles are that we can work with
on<br>
specific issues, e.g. those you mention, for example net-neutrality. APC
tries to adopt<br>
this approach in our access work.<br>
<br>
I also think that the mainstream human rights movement has not engaged this
terrain<br>
enough, altough there are exceptions.<br>
<br>
Anriette<br>
<br>
<br>
Date sent: Wed, 6 Aug 2008
12:09:58 +0100<br>
From: "Lisa
Horner" <<a href="mailto:lisa@global-partners.co.uk">lisa@global-partners.co.uk</a>><br>
To: <<a
href="mailto:governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a>>,<br>
"Rui Correia" <<a
href="mailto:correia.rui@gmail.com">correia.rui@gmail.com</a>><br>
Subject: RE:
[governance] Taking down a site [was: beijing ticket scam]<br>
Send reply to: <a
href="mailto:governance@lists.cpsr.org">governance@lists.cpsr.org</a>,"Lisa
Horner" <lisa@global-<br>
<a href="http://partners.co.uk" target="_blank">partners.co.uk</a>><br>
<br>
> Echoing Ian, I wonder if it would be worth filing a complaint with the<br>
> South African Human Rights Commission? The SA bill of rights states<br>
> that freedom of expression doesn't extend to "advocacy of hatred that<br>
> is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes<br>
> incitement to cause harm." Is this supported by any other legislation<br>
> in SA?<br>
><br>
> So many of our discussions around internet governance issues can be<br>
> approached from a rights perspective, but human rights lawyers and<br>
> institutions are usually absent from the debate. Human rights and<br>
> their associated tools and mechanisms are arguably one of the only<br>
> global governance institutions that is 'thickening' in the current age<br>
> of 'globalisation'. Human rights approaches also have an inbuilt<br>
> framework for balancing out tensions between different rights and<br>
> responsibilities. However, there's still a lot of work to be done in<br>
> bringing them up to date and ensuring that they're capable of dealing<br>
> with new issues, including those relating to freedom of expression and<br>
> the internet. I wonder if engaging directly with national human<br>
> rights institutions is one way of starting that process?<br>
><br>
> In a way, this is linked to Anriette's comment that many new campaigns<br>
> around rights are a-historical. Similarly, I think that they should<br>
> be rooted in, or at least have a firm understanding of, existing human<br>
> rights institutions, both formal and informal and at all scales.<br>
> We've just commissioned some research into how policy principles based<br>
> around notions such as net neutrality, interoperability, universal<br>
> access and content diversity can be rooted in the international human<br>
> rights system which will hopefully yield some interesting insights...<br>
><br>
> Any thoughts?<br>
><br>
> Thanks,<br>
> Lisa<br>
<br>
------------------------------------------------------<br>
Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director<br>
Association for Progressive Communications<br>
<a href="mailto:anriette@apc.org">anriette@apc.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.apc.org" target="_blank">http://www.apc.org</a><br>
PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109<br>
Tel. 27 11 726 1692<br>
Fax 27 11 726 1692<br>
<br>
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<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
-------------------------------------------------<br>
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The
credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by
the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short
again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and
spends himself in a worthy cause; ... so that his place shall never be with
those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."<br>
- THEODORE ROOSEVELT <br>
(Paris Sorbonne,1910) <br>
<br>
-------------------------------------------------<br>
Dr. Max Senges<br>
Stanford Post-Doc Visiting Scholar<br>
UOC Research Associate <br>
Freelance Consultant<br>
<br>
98 Loyola Ave., Menlo Park, California 94025<br>
<br>
US-Phone: (001) 650 714 9826<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.maxsenges.com">www.maxsenges.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.knowledgeentrepreneur.com">www.knowledgeentrepreneur.com</a><br>
------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p>
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