<div dir="ltr">Fouad,<div><br></div><div>Thanks for the speech.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 21 June 2011 17:28, Fouad Bajwa <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:fouadbajwa@gmail.com">fouadbajwa@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">This may be of interest if you have not read it earlier:<br>
<br>
SPEECH<br>
Human Rights Council 17th session 10 June 2011<br>
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs<br>
(Jan Knutsson, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Sweden in Geneva)<br>
Freedom of Expression on the Internet Cross-regional Statement<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/14194/a/170566" target="_blank">http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/14194/a/170566</a><br>
<br>
Freedom of Expression on the Internet Cross-regional Statement<br>
Check against delivery.<br>
<br>
Mr President,<br>
I have the honor of addressing the Human Rights Council on behalf of<br>
<br>
Austria, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia,<br>
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Guatemala, India, Indonesia,<br>
Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, fmr Yugoslav Rep of Macedonia,<br>
Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, the<br>
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Senegal,<br>
South Africa, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine,<br>
the United States, Uruguay<br>
<br>
Mr President,<br>
The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action asserted that all human<br>
rights are interdependent and interrelated. The positive potential in<br>
that statement has been amply demonstrated by the incredible spread<br>
and use of modern communication technologies. As was stated also in<br>
this general debate in the Human Rights Council one year ago, these<br>
technologies have enabled ordinary citizens in all corners of the<br>
world, to disseminate their views and to communicate with others on a<br>
scale that was quite unimaginable not long ago. Internet, social<br>
media, and mobile phone technology have played, and should continue to<br>
play, a crucial role as instruments for participation, transparency<br>
and engagement in socio-economic, cultural and political development.<br>
<br>
For us, one principle is very basic: The same rights that people have<br>
offline - freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek<br>
information, freedom of assembly and association, amongst others -<br>
must also be protected online.<br>
<br>
We were pleased to see the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression<br>
endorse that same principle in his most recent report. That report,<br>
based on wide-ranging global consultations, including two expert<br>
meetings in Stockholm, is a timely contribution. But it will now be up<br>
to us, as member states, to translate several of its key<br>
recommendations into practical steps that will make a difference, as<br>
part of our work in this field.<br>
<br>
The Internet should not be used as a platform for activities<br>
prohibited in human rights law. However, we believe, as does the<br>
Special Rapporteur, that there should be as little restriction as<br>
possible to the flow of information on the Internet. Only in a few<br>
exceptional and limited circumstances can restrictions on content be<br>
acceptable. Such restrictions must comply with international human<br>
rights law, notably article 19 of the ICCPR. We consider<br>
Government-initiated closing down of the Internet, or major parts<br>
thereof, for purposes of suppressing free speech, to be in violation<br>
of freedom of expression. In addition, Governments should not mandate<br>
a more restrictive standard for intermediaries than is the case with<br>
traditional media regarding freedom of expression or hold<br>
intermediaries liable for content that they transmit or disseminate.<br>
<br>
We call on all states to ensure strong protection of freedom of<br>
expression online in accordance with international human rights law.<br>
<br>
We also underscore the importance of privacy protection, which goes<br>
hand in hand with freedom of expression in the use of new<br>
technologies. Arbitrary or unlawful interference with anyone's<br>
privacy, family, home or correspondence as well as unlawful attacks on<br>
people's honor and reputation can undermine freedoms of expression,<br>
association and assembly. This right to privacy also applies to online<br>
communication and activities. With limited exceptions, individuals<br>
should be able to express themselves anonymously on the Internet.<br>
<br>
Recognizing the global nature of the Internet, we share the key<br>
objective of universal access. Internet is a formidable force in<br>
generating development and promoting economic, social and cultural<br>
rights, and the present digital divide must be bridged to enable<br>
participation of all.<br>
<br>
We also want to preserve and promote diversity on the Internet, both<br>
cultural and linguistic, and to promote local culture, regardless of<br>
language or script.<br>
<br>
All users, including persons with disabilities, should have greatest<br>
possible access to Internet-based content, applications and services,<br>
whether or not they are offered free of charge. In this context,<br>
network neutrality and openness are important objectives. Cutting off<br>
users from access to the Internet is generally not a proportionate<br>
sanction.<br>
<br>
Decisions on Internet governance and policy issues, at global as well<br>
as regional levels, should be consistent with international human<br>
rights law, including protections for freedom of expression and the<br>
right to privacy, and reached in multilateral, transparent and<br>
democratic environments. In such environments, it is important that<br>
the multistakeholder principle is respected and that governments, the<br>
private sector, civil society, academic community and the entire<br>
Internet technical community work together to build greater trust in<br>
the ICT networks, including necessary cross-border co-operation.<br>
<br>
As governments, we should encourage cooperative efforts by the private<br>
sector to promote respect for human rights online. Such efforts can<br>
address human rights impacts of action taken by the private sector and<br>
can encourage respect for human rights. Yet, while adherence to human<br>
rights principles by businesses has become essential to ensure online<br>
freedom of expression, it cannot be a substitute for the<br>
responsibility of governments to uphold human rights and the rule of<br>
law in all Internet and telecommunication policy and regulation.<br>
<br>
Mr President,<br>
<br>
The Internet has expanded the reach of freedom of expression for<br>
hundreds of millions of people around the world. We wish to join the<br>
efforts to protect these advances, while also working to make access<br>
to the new technologies affordable and universal.<br>
<br>
We welcome all other states to associate themselves to this statement.<br>
<br>
Thank you.<br>
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<br>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Asif Kabani<br>Email: <a href="mailto:kabani.asif@gmail.com" target="_blank">kabani.asif@gmail.com</a><br><br><br>“The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979<br>
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