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UN EXPERT: POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS TOOK PRECEDENCE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS AT INFORMATION SOCIETY SUMMIT
15 December 2005
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15 December 2005
The following statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Ambeyi Ligabo:
“The World Summit on the Information Society has been marked by political considerations and commercial perspectives taking precedence over genuine commitment to the respect for human rights, thus marginalizing debate over the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The “Tunis Commitment”, one of the Summit’s main outcomes, did not fully reflect the actual nature of the debate, particularly participation by the civil society, nor provide solutions to the problems of Internet governance.
Access to information, freedom of speech and freedom of expression should be at the heart of any further discussion on the information society. Without these fundamental elements, the building of a global information society and its governance will become an obstacle for the development of human progress and will hamper dissemination of knowledge and education. The bridging of the digital divide is a crucial passageway to fight poverty and to extend economic and social development to future generations. Yet, there will be no fair development without promotion and respect for human rights, and without the opportunity of exercising freedom of opinion and expression, which are among the most vital engines for the growth of democracy and human advancement.
The establishment of an international organization dealing with Internet governance must be thoroughly anchored in international human rights norms and standards. Civil society representatives, including human rights defenders, media professionals and other opinion-leaders should not only be enabled to participate in the debates but also involved in the decision-making process, which should not be left to the exclusive authority of governments’ officials.
Too many governments are still putting obstacles to people’s exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, and particularly media freedom. The intensity of this fight may vary from harassment to indiscriminate killings of journalists, trade unionists, students, human rights defenders and opinion leaders, crimes that are often not adequately punished.
In addition, the final phase of the Summit in Tunisia did not provide an opportunity to address the situation of human rights in that country, especially freedom of media and of association. The Tunisian Government did not provide the adequate environment for debates and meetings on human rights issues and prevented participation from relevant organizations and experts, particularly local human rights organizations. A good occasion to demonstrate openness and respect for freedom of expression was wasted, giving rise to wide concern for the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Tunisia”.
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For use of the information media; not an official record
The following statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Ambeyi Ligabo:
“The World Summit on the Information Society has been marked by political considerations and commercial perspectives taking precedence over genuine commitment to the respect for human rights, thus marginalizing debate over the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The “Tunis Commitment”, one of the Summit’s main outcomes, did not fully reflect the actual nature of the debate, particularly participation by the civil society, nor provide solutions to the problems of Internet governance.
Access to information, freedom of speech and freedom of expression should be at the heart of any further discussion on the information society. Without these fundamental elements, the building of a global information society and its governance will become an obstacle for the development of human progress and will hamper dissemination of knowledge and education. The bridging of the digital divide is a crucial passageway to fight poverty and to extend economic and social development to future generations. Yet, there will be no fair development without promotion and respect for human rights, and without the opportunity of exercising freedom of opinion and expression, which are among the most vital engines for the growth of democracy and human advancement.
The establishment of an international organization dealing with Internet governance must be thoroughly anchored in international human rights norms and standards. Civil society representatives, including human rights defenders, media professionals and other opinion-leaders should not only be enabled to participate in the debates but also involved in the decision-making process, which should not be left to the exclusive authority of governments’ officials.
Too many governments are still putting obstacles to people’s exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, and particularly media freedom. The intensity of this fight may vary from harassment to indiscriminate killings of journalists, trade unionists, students, human rights defenders and opinion leaders, crimes that are often not adequately punished.
In addition, the final phase of the Summit in Tunisia did not provide an opportunity to address the situation of human rights in that country, especially freedom of media and of association. The Tunisian Government did not provide the adequate environment for debates and meetings on human rights issues and prevented participation from relevant organizations and experts, particularly local human rights organizations. A good occasion to demonstrate openness and respect for freedom of expression was wasted, giving rise to wide concern for the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Tunisia”.
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For use of the information media; not an official record