[IRP] Sign on letter for freedom of expression

[Max Senges]

Hi everybody, Hi steering committee

I just learned that the attached letter will be submitted to the Ad Hoc
Committee tomorrow. So if we want to co-sign it we need to do so fast.

Please express your doubts or endorsement ASAP.

And yes we should gear up for elections of a new steering committe @ the
IGF!

Thanks
Max



On Sat, Oct 17, 2009 at 3:18 PM, Max Senges <maxsenges at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Robert
>
> Thanks for sending this. I think it is a good and important statement and I
> would like to propose to the Internet Rights and Principles community to
> co-sign it if this is possible?
>
> Naturally the statement implicitly includes freedom of expression on the
> internet, but is there a chance to add one sentence specifically
> highlighting how important it is not to curtail freedom of expression at the
> moment when the internet enables one global heterogenous trans-cultural
> public (discourse/media) sphere?
>
> Best
> Max
>
> On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 9:41 PM, Internet Freedom <
> freedom4internet at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I wanted to forward  a letter that we are trying to get signatures on?some
>> explanation is below:
>>
>> The letter is aimed at an upcoming meeting in Geneva of the ?Ad Hoc
>> Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards,? chaired by
>> Algeria, that is examining potential gaps within the existing International
>> Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
>> (ICERD).  This committee was set up as a follow on to the Durban process.
>> States have already been asked to submit brief documents outlining their
>> views on the issue of the ICERD and the compilation of those submissions is
>> attached. The submissions of the Africa Group (pp. 29-32) and the OIC (pp.
>> 39-41) contain extremely troubling language.  In particular, note the vision
>> of the OIC regarding this new legal mechanism, which is pasted below.  There
>> is a real danger that these groups will succeed in creating an international
>> legal mechanism that requires states to place legal restrictions on language
>> and speech deemed ?defamatory? or insulting to religions.
>>
>> Our thinking is to submit a joint statement that includes major freedom of
>> expression groups, including IFEX members, which opposes the efforts to
>> create new international law criminalizing defamation of religions.  The
>> letter will be sent to all members of the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as to
>> Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
>>
>> The Ad Hoc Committee Meeting will convene in Geneva for two weeks (October
>> 19-30).  According to the Program of Work, the discussion of issues related
>> to religious defamation will begin on Wednesday, October 21.  For this
>> reason, we are putting the deadline for signatures on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.
>> (noon) EST.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Robert Guerra
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> IRP mailing list
>> IRP at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
>>
>> http://lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org/listinfo.cgi/irp-internetrightsandprinciples.org
>>
>>
>
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