[IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions

Tue Feb 1 14:23:22 EET 2011

Dear all

YES> post/send it....

best
MF

--On 01 February 2011 13:11 +0100 Lorena Jaume-Palasi 
<Lorena.Jaume-Palasi at gsi.uni-muenchen.de> wrote:

>
> Am Di, 1.02.2011, 13:05, schrieb Norbert Bollow:
> Hello Lisa and all,
>>
>> While I'm a very new member of this mailing list and I'm not sure
>> whether that makes me formally a member of the IRP coalition or
>> not,
>
> so do I
>
>  I must say that I've very strongly in favor of making a statement
>> like this, and I think that this is very well drafted.
>>
>
> so do I!
>
> Greetings,
> Lorena
> ___________________________________
> Lorena Jaume-Palas?, M.A.
> Research Associate
> Chair of Political Theory,
> Geschwister-Scholl-Institute
> Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
> Oettingennstr. 67
> 80538 Munich
> Germany
> Phone: +49 (0)89 2180 90 20
> Fax: +49 (0)89 2180 90 22
>> Greetings,
>> Norbert
>>
>>
>> Lisa Horner <LisaH at global-partners.co.uk> wrote:
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>> I'd like to suggest that the IRP coalition issues a statement on the
>>> Intern=
>>> et cuts and media disruptions in Egypt, in solidarity with the
>>> protestors t=
>>> here.  Seeing how we've discussed in depth Internet access and
>>> accessibilit=
>>> y as a fundamental component of the Charter and of human rights online,
>>> I r=
>>> eally feel that we should condemn what's going on in Egypt.  Dixie and I
>>> ha=
>>> ve drafted a statement below.  Please could you respond ASAP (by 15.00
>>> GMT)=
>>>  to say whether you're happy for this to go out.  We can then all send
>>> far =
>>> and wide.
>>>
>>> Thanks and all the best,
>>> Lisa
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> ----= --
>>>
>>>
>>> The Internet Rights and Principles Dynamic Coalition urges the Egyptian
>>> gov=
>>> ernment to end its violation of the Egyptian people's rights to freedom
>>> of =
>>> expression and peaceful assembly by lifting restrictions on access to
>>> the I=
>>> nternet and other Information and Communication Technologies.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Egyptian government has cut off all Internet access in the country.
>>> Mo=
>>> bile phone networks have also been severely disrupted.  Restrictions
>>> have a=
>>> lso been placed on Egyptian and international media, including the
>>> blocking=
>>>  of Al Jazeera's broadcast signal and seizure of its equipment.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> These actions are direct and serious violations of the rights of the
>>> Egypti=
>>> an people to freedom of expression and assembly. The right to freedom of
>>> ex=
>>> pression is enshrined in international law in Article 19 of the
>>> Internation=
>>> al Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Egypt has
>>> ratified=
>>> .  The right includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information
>>> throu=
>>> gh any media, regardless of frontiers.   In modern society, the Internet
>>> is=
>>>  fundamental for the fulfilment of the right to freedom of expression.
>>> It =
>>> is also an essential tool for peaceful assembly, whether online or
>>> offline,=
>>>  as protected by Article 21 of the ICCPR.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> These restrictions on communications access are a disproportionate and
>>> unne=
>>> cessary response to legitimate political protest.  The UN Human Rights
>>> Coun=
>>> cil Resolution 12/16 states that it is never permissible for any
>>> government=
>>>  to restrict peaceful demonstrations and political activities, including
>>> th=
>>> ose for democracy.  It also states that placing restrictions on access
>>> to, =
>>> or use of, information and communication technologies is never
>>> permissible.=
>>>   This includes access to radio, television and the Internet.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The explosion of information and communication technologies across the
>>> worl=
>>> d has brought with it unprecedented opportunities for the fulfilment of
>>> hum=
>>> an rights, social and economic development and democracy. These
>>> opportuniti=
>>> es must not be lost through misguided efforts to control online
>>> communicati=
>>> on.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Dynamic Coalition calls on the Egyptian government to restore the
>>> right=
>>>  to freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt through removing all
>>> restri=
>>> ctions on communication.  All professional and citizen journalists in
>>> Egypt=
>>>  must be free to report on unfolding events through any media platform,
>>> to =
>>> national and international audiences.  All people must have full access
>>> to =
>>> the Internet, to mobile phones and SMS, and to national and
>>> international m=
>>> edia.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> About the Internet Rights and Principles Dynamic Coalition
>>>
>>> The IRP DC is an international network of people who are working to
>>> uphold =
>>> human rights on and through the Internet.  The coalition is currently
>>> under=
>>> taking a major project to draft a Charter of Human Rights and Principles
>>> fo=
>>> r the Internet.  This applies international human rights standards to
>>> the I=
>>> nternet environment.  It outlines what human rights people have when
>>> operat=
>>> ing online, and what elements of Internet architecture need to be
>>> protected=
>>>  in order to realise human rights to the fullest extent possible.
>> _______________________________________________
>> IRP mailing list
>> IRP at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
>> http://lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org/listinfo.cgi/irp-internetri
>> ghtsandprinciples.org
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ________________________________________________
> Lorena Jaume-Palas?, M.A.
> Wissenschaftliche Assistentin
> Lehrstuhl f?r Politische Theorie (Prof. Dr. Karsten Fischer)
> Geschwister-Scholl-Institut
> Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t M?nchen
> Oettingenstra?e 67
> 80538 M?nchen
> Tel.: +49 (0)89 2180 90 20
> Fax: +49 (0)89 2180 90 22
>
> Lorena Jaume-Palas?, M.A.
> Research Associate
> Chair of Political Theory,
> Geschwister-Scholl-Institute
> Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
> Oettingennstr. 67
> 80538 Munich
> Germany
> Phone: +49 (0)89 2180 90 20
> Fax: +49 (0)89 2180 90 22
>
> Am Di, 1.02.2011, 13:05, schrieb Norbert Bollow:
>> Hello Lisa and all,
>>
>> While I'm a very new member of this mailing list and I'm not sure
>> whether that makes me formally a member of the IRP coalition or
>> not, I must say that I've very strongly in favor of making a statement
>> like this, and I think that this is very well drafted.
>>
>> Greetings,
>> Norbert
>>
>>
>> Lisa Horner <LisaH at global-partners.co.uk> wrote:
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>> I'd like to suggest that the IRP coalition issues a statement on the
>>> Intern=
>>> et cuts and media disruptions in Egypt, in solidarity with the
>>> protestors t=
>>> here.  Seeing how we've discussed in depth Internet access and
>>> accessibilit=
>>> y as a fundamental component of the Charter and of human rights online,
>>> I r=
>>> eally feel that we should condemn what's going on in Egypt.  Dixie and I
>>> ha=
>>> ve drafted a statement below.  Please could you respond ASAP (by 15.00
>>> GMT)=
>>>  to say whether you're happy for this to go out.  We can then all send
>>> far =
>>> and wide.
>>>
>>> Thanks and all the best,
>>> Lisa
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> ----= --
>>>
>>>
>>> The Internet Rights and Principles Dynamic Coalition urges the Egyptian
>>> gov=
>>> ernment to end its violation of the Egyptian people's rights to freedom
>>> of =
>>> expression and peaceful assembly by lifting restrictions on access to
>>> the I=
>>> nternet and other Information and Communication Technologies.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Egyptian government has cut off all Internet access in the country.
>>> Mo=
>>> bile phone networks have also been severely disrupted.  Restrictions
>>> have a=
>>> lso been placed on Egyptian and international media, including the
>>> blocking=
>>>  of Al Jazeera's broadcast signal and seizure of its equipment.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> These actions are direct and serious violations of the rights of the
>>> Egypti=
>>> an people to freedom of expression and assembly. The right to freedom of
>>> ex=
>>> pression is enshrined in international law in Article 19 of the
>>> Internation=
>>> al Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Egypt has
>>> ratified=
>>> .  The right includes freedom to seek, receive and impart information
>>> throu=
>>> gh any media, regardless of frontiers.   In modern society, the Internet
>>> is=
>>>  fundamental for the fulfilment of the right to freedom of expression.
>>> It =
>>> is also an essential tool for peaceful assembly, whether online or
>>> offline,=
>>>  as protected by Article 21 of the ICCPR.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> These restrictions on communications access are a disproportionate and
>>> unne=
>>> cessary response to legitimate political protest.  The UN Human Rights
>>> Coun=
>>> cil Resolution 12/16 states that it is never permissible for any
>>> government=
>>>  to restrict peaceful demonstrations and political activities, including
>>> th=
>>> ose for democracy.  It also states that placing restrictions on access
>>> to, =
>>> or use of, information and communication technologies is never
>>> permissible.=
>>>   This includes access to radio, television and the Internet.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The explosion of information and communication technologies across the
>>> worl=
>>> d has brought with it unprecedented opportunities for the fulfilment of
>>> hum=
>>> an rights, social and economic development and democracy. These
>>> opportuniti=
>>> es must not be lost through misguided efforts to control online
>>> communicati=
>>> on.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The Dynamic Coalition calls on the Egyptian government to restore the
>>> right=
>>>  to freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt through removing all
>>> restri=
>>> ctions on communication.  All professional and citizen journalists in
>>> Egypt=
>>>  must be free to report on unfolding events through any media platform,
>>> to =
>>> national and international audiences.  All people must have full access
>>> to =
>>> the Internet, to mobile phones and SMS, and to national and
>>> international m=
>>> edia.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> About the Internet Rights and Principles Dynamic Coalition
>>>
>>> The IRP DC is an international network of people who are working to
>>> uphold =
>>> human rights on and through the Internet.  The coalition is currently
>>> under=
>>> taking a major project to draft a Charter of Human Rights and Principles
>>> fo=
>>> r the Internet.  This applies international human rights standards to
>>> the I=
>>> nternet environment.  It outlines what human rights people have when
>>> operat=
>>> ing online, and what elements of Internet architecture need to be
>>> protected=
>>>  in order to realise human rights to the fullest extent possible.
>> _______________________________________________
>> IRP mailing list
>> IRP at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
>> http://lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org/listinfo.cgi/irp-internetri
>> ghtsandprinciples.org
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> IRP mailing list
> IRP at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
> http://lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org/listinfo.cgi/irp-internetrig
> htsandprinciples.org

Dr Marianne Franklin
Reader
Convener of the Transnational Communications & Global Media Program
Media & Communications
Goldsmiths
New Cross
London SE14 6NW
United Kingdom
Tel (direct): #44 (0)207 919-7072
Fax: #44 (0) 207 919-7616
email: m.i.franklin at gold.ac.uk
http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/media-communications/staff/franklin.php
http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/pg/ma-transnational-communications-global-media.php

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