[IRP] Sign on letter for freedom of expression

[shaila mistry]

Yes I support this 
Shaila

 
Life is too short ....challenge the rules
Forgive quickly ... love truly ...and tenderly
Laugh constantly.....and never stop dreaming! 
 





________________________________
From: Max Senges <maxsenges at gmail.com>
To: Marco Pancini <pancini at google.com>; Jaco Aizenman <skorpio at gmail.com>; shaila mistry <shailam at yahoo.com>; Robin Gross <robin at ipjustice.org>; Vittorio Bertola <vb at bertola.eu>; Robert Guerra <guerra at freedomhouse.org>; Carlos Affonso Pereira de Souza <caffsouza at gmail.com>; rafik dammak <rafik.dammak at gmail.com>; anja at cis-india.org; Graciela Selaimen <graciela at rits.org.br>; Lee W McKnight <lmcknigh at syr.edu>; Sylvia Caras <sylvia.caras at gmail.com>; rudi.vansnick <rudi.vansnick at isoc.be>; Jac sm Kee <jac at apcwomen.org>
Cc: Irp at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
Sent: Tue, October 20, 2009 6:36:41 AM
Subject: Re: [IRP] Sign on letter for freedom of expression

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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