[governance] UN Human Rights Council Panel on FX and the Internet

Sun Feb 19 14:25:38 EST 2012

The Swedish Government was also responsible for getting it onto the Agenda:

See: http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/15079/a/176945?setEnableCookies=true

Swedish success in Geneva for freedom of expression on the Internet

On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a decision to
arrange a panel discussion on freedom of expression on the Internet at its
next session in March 2012. The decision was adopted on the initiative of
Sweden, with the support of over fifty states from throughout the world.
This will be the first time that the Council discusses the issue of freedom
of expression on the Internet.

"This is a major success for Sweden, which has pushed for the human rights
issue to apply online as well as offline", says Carl Bildt, Minister for
Foreign Affairs.

Earlier this year, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue,
presented a report on freedom of expression on the Internet. At the UN
Human Rights Council's session in June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl
Bildt gave a speech in support of several of the conclusions presented in
La Rue's report. Sweden's address won the support of a number of
influential countries, including India, Brazil and South Africa.
This is the background to how, at its 18th session which will conclude
today, the Council was able to decide to invite a panel of experts and
representatives of governments, the UN system, the business sector and
civil society to discuss the issue. This means that the issue of freedom of
expression on the Internet will be placed on the agenda of the UN Human
Rights Council for the first time.

On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 6:12 AM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro <
salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> We can also put together a Statement before the 29th February, 2012 and
> use the link that Joy sent us to draw resources from. I also note that
> there has been alot of discussions around this theme specifically over the
> years.
>
> We can capture these thoughts in a statement. Any volunteers to put
> together a first draft for others to comment.
>
> Kind Regards,
> Sala
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 5:55 AM, Shahzad Ahmad <shahzad at bytesforall.pk>wrote:
>
>> Dear Robert,
>>
>> What exactly is the argument against human rights as an IGF theme? Kindly
>> do send a bit of background from the MAG consultation, if possible.
>>
>> Best wishes & regards
>> Shahzad
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 19, 2012, at 10:19 PM, Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Brett,
>> >
>> > In regards to recommendation #3 - that "The Internet Governance Forum
>> should be encouraged to make human rights its central theme", well, that
>> was proposed at the open IGF MAG meeting that took place in Geneva this
>> past week. Unfortunately, there was a lack of consensus on the proposal and
>> it was not accepted.
>> >
>> > As an alternative, many of the Civil Society participants in the
>> meeting have suggested that Human Rights be one of the cross cutting themes
>> at the 2012 IGF. That alternative
>> > is still being discussed.
>> >
>> > Between now and the next open consultation in May a coordinated effort
>> is needed to make sure the existing MAG keeps that option open.
>> >
>> > regards
>> >
>> > Robert
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > R. Guerra
>> > Phone/Cell: +1 202-905-2081
>> > Twitter: twitter.com/netfreedom
>> > Email: rguerra at privaterra.org
>> >
>> > On 2012-02-19, at 12:06 PM, Brett Solomon wrote:
>> >
>> >> Thanks Joy,
>> >>
>> >> Access put in a submission to the Human Rights Council ahead of the
>> High Level Panel on the Right to Freedom of Expression on the Internet (Feb
>> 29).
>> >>
>> >> We decided to focus on digital security as a precursor for the
>> realization of Article 19 online, because without digital security, civil
>> society groups and human rights defenders in particular cannot act with
>> confidence, express their opinions safely or gain online access to the
>> broader constellation of human rights.
>> >>
>> >> For those who are interested, our brief submission and recommendations
>> can be found here:
>> >>
>> >>
>> https://www.accessnow.org/policy-activism/press-blog/access-tells-the-human-rights-council-to-protect-digital-rights
>> >>
>> >> It'd be good to know who else is planning to be in Geneva for the
>> actual Panel.
>> >>
>> >> Brett
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Brett Solomon
>> >> Executive Director | Access
>> >> accessnow.org | rightscon.org
>> >> +1 917 969 6077 | skype: brettsolomon | @accessnow
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 7:50 PM, Joy Liddicoat <joy at apc.org> wrote:
>> >> Dear colleagues,
>> >>
>> >> This is a heads up about a forthcoming event at the UN Human Rights
>> Council (and apologies for any double ups in list postings).
>> >>
>> >> Following on from the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression’s
>> annual report in 2011, an expert panel is being held during HRC 19. The
>> session will take place on Wed 29 Feb and is being organised by the
>> government of Sweden and OHCHR. APC will be attending and participating in
>> the panel event.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> We would like to reach out to others to find out who else might be
>> planning on attending or making submissions (which are due Monday 13 Feb)
>> and, if so, how we might be able to collaborate or support these. If you
>> are making submissions or statements, we would encourage you to draw on and
>> cite www.giswatch.org released in December 2011 which includes 55
>> country reports and other material as well as an introduction from Frank La
>> Rue.
>> >>
>> >> If you are planning other activities, campaigns or events around the
>> panel, please do let us know so that we can support or collaborate if
>> possible.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Kind regards
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Joy Liddicoat
>> >>
>> >> Project Coordinator
>> >>
>> >> Internet Rights are Human Rights
>> >>
>> >> www.apc.org
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>
>
> --
> Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala
>
> Tweeter: @SalanietaT
> Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
> Cell: +679 998 2851
>
>
>
>

-- 
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala

Tweeter: @SalanietaT
Skype:Salanieta.Tamanikaiwaimaro
Cell: +679 998 2851
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