[IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions

Tue Feb 1 19:51:46 EET 2011

That's great - thanks. I'll pass it around.

On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 5:50 PM, Dixie Hawtin <Dixie at global-partners.co.uk>wrote:

> It's on the IRP website under "Wiki", and the address is:
> http://internetrightsandprinciples.org/userfiles/file/Call%20for%20freedom%20of%20expression%20online%20in%20Egypt.pdf
>
> Robert has tweeted about it from our IRP account (netrights) will add it to
> the IRP Facebook page now.
>
> Ok, maybe we should find a way to allow people to sign on to it. I'll do
> some research about different ways now, if anyone has any ideas please let
> me know.
> Thanks,
> Dixie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lee W McKnight [mailto:lmcknigh at syr.edu]
> Sent: 01 February 2011 17:44
> To: Lee W McKnight; Dixie Hawtin; Michael Gurstein; Lisa Horner;
> irp at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
> Subject: RE: [IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions
>
> and yeah everyone tweet away, but we should have an online copy of it
> somewhere to point folks to...asap
> ________________________________________
> From: irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org [
> irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org] On Behalf Of Lee W
> McKnight [lmcknigh at syr.edu]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 12:41 PM
> To: Dixie Hawtin; Michael Gurstein; Lisa Horner;
> irp at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
> Subject: Re: [IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions
>
> Dixie,
>
> I suggest your next move is to post it to the Facebook IRP page and make it
> easy for people to sign on and/or 'like' and share the statement...probably
> fastest way to spread it.
>
> I'll forward to some media folks, everyone else who can should do the
> same...
>
> Lee
> ________________________________________
> From: irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org [
> irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org] On Behalf Of Dixie
> Hawtin [Dixie at global-partners.co.uk]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 12:33 PM
> To: Michael Gurstein; Lisa Horner;
> irp at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
> Subject: Re: [IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions
>
> I have sent the statement through to the Governance and Free Expression
> lists. I have also sent it through to the few media contacts I have (Al
> Jazeera, The Wire Report and The Hankyoreh - a South Korean paper). If
> anyone has other contacts to send it to please do.
>
> Thank Mike! I think for now we just want to get it out ASAP but if there is
> interest in gathering signatures etc. we should test the water first to make
> sure that it will make the Statement stronger rather than weaker. What do
> you think?
>
> Dixie
>
> From: irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org [mailto:
> irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org] On Behalf Of Michael
> Gurstein
> Sent: 01 February 2011 16:44
> To: Lisa Horner; irp at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
> Subject: Re: [IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions
>
> Excellent initiative and excellent statement.  I agree with the comments
> made although the role of the Egyptian government in cutting off of the
> Internet seems incontrovertible.
>
> I also agree that there should be a pointer to the draft Charter (and
> perhaps a statement somewhere in there about the interest in receiving
> comments, collaborations, signatories etc.etc.
>
> Mike
> -----Original Message-----
> From: irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org [mailto:
> irp-bounces at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org] On Behalf Of Lisa
> Horner
> Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 3:15 AM
> To: irp at lists.internetrightsandprinciples.org
> Subject: [IRP] Urgent - Statement on Egyptian Internet restrictions
> Importance: High
> Hi all
>
> I'd like to suggest that the IRP coalition issues a statement on the
> Internet cuts and media disruptions in Egypt, in solidarity with the
> protestors there.  Seeing how we've discussed in depth Internet access and
> accessibility as a fundamental component of the Charter and of human rights
> online, I really feel that we should condemn what's going on in Egypt.
>  Dixie and I have 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
> government to end its violation of the Egyptian people's rights to freedom
> of expression and peaceful assembly by lifting restrictions on access to the
> Internet and other Information and Communication Technologies.
>
>
>
> The Egyptian government has cut off all Internet access in the country.
>  Mobile phone networks have also been severely disrupted.  Restrictions have
> also 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
> Egyptian people to freedom of expression and assembly. The right to freedom
> of expression is enshrined in international law in Article 19 of the
> International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Egypt
> has ratified.  The right includes freedom to seek, receive and impart
> information through 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
> unnecessary response to legitimate political protest.  The UN Human Rights
> Council Resolution 12/16 states that it is never permissible for any
> government to restrict peaceful demonstrations and political activities,
> including those 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
> world has brought with it unprecedented opportunities for the fulfilment of
> human rights, social and economic development and democracy. These
> opportunities must not be lost through misguided efforts to control online
> communication.
>
>
>
> The Dynamic Coalition calls on the Egyptian government to restore the right
> to freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt through removing all
> restrictions 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
> media.
>
>
>
> 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
> undertaking a major project to draft a Charter of Human Rights and
> Principles for the Internet.  This applies international human rights
> standards to the Internet environment.  It outlines what human rights people
> have when operating online, and what elements of Internet architecture need
> to be protected in order to realise human rights to the fullest extent
> possible.
>
>
>
> ___________________________________________________________
> Lisa Horner
> Head of Research & Policy  Global Partners and Associates
> 338 City Road, London, EC1V 2PY, UK
> Office: + 44 207 239 8251     Mobile: +44 7867 795859
> LisaH at global-partners.co.uk<mailto:lisah at global-partners.co.uk>
> www.global-partners.co.uk<http://www.global-partners.co.uk/>
>
>
>
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