Communication and Human Rights

[Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org>]

[This message sent to both the WFCR organizing group and the HR caucus 
list]

Hi all,

I'd like to provide you with some information on the situation 
regarding the "Communication and Human Rights" session. I'm afraid 
we're quite late in the organizing process, but, anyhow, here we are:

- First of all, regarding funding and hotel reservation, I'm glad to 
tell you that I've been able to secure this for 5-6 people invited to 
our session. Would be easier if the speakers we invite are from French 
speaking countries, since the Francophonie is the source of our funding.

- Now, most importantly, regarding the proposed programme:
We have a big problem waiting for information from Karen, who is 
coordinating the "Communication, conflicts and peace" session, since 
she planned to address the surveillance and censorship issues in this 
session, and we don't want too much overlapping of both sessions. One 
(bad) possibility would be to merge the two sessions. We will try to 
avoid this.

Here is how we plan the HR session :

1/ Keynote : we're trying to invite Ms Ebadi, recently nominated for 
peace Noble prize. We've tried Mary Robinson first, but she isn't 
available. Ms Ebadi could have problem attending, since she will 
receive the prize in Stockholm on December 10th, the day before WFCR. 
In any case, we're waiting for an answer to our invitation. If you have 
any alternative idea, they would be most welcome.

2/ Testimonies : we would like to have two reports on the probably two 
most emblematic/problematic countries with regards to WSIS and HR, 
which are China and of course Tunisia. Regarding China, Sharon Hom from 
Human Rights in China (based in NY) has been invited. We're waiting for 
her answer. She'll be attending  WSIS anyway, invited by FIDH. 
Regarding Tunisia, I'm not keen on giving names in this message, since 
at least one of the lists is archived. The person I've tried first wont 
be able to make it to come. I'm trying someone else, who would be able 
to speak on media in general (not only Internet) in Tunisia. I'll be 
able to have an answer by the end of the day.

3/ Panel : we would like emphasize the possibly conflicting rights. We 
have first thought to focus on the Internet, but Sean disagrees :-), so 
we'll try to enlarge the issue. Possible participants would be : Art 
McGee (already invited), Deborah Hurley (she wrote the essay on "Human 
Rights in the information society) published by Rights and Democracy 
and launched during PrepCom3 at the HR caucus event. I'm also thinking 
of Stefano Rodota, who has been for long Italian data protection 
commissionner, head of the european group of data protection 
commissionners (see short bio: 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/european_group_ethics/docs/cv_rodota.htm). I 
think he could enlarge the topic to all medias. He's a very good 
speaker. ALternative would be Simon Davies, from Privacy International.

So, here we are. We've had other suggestions too, some through Sean : 
Jean-Paul Marthoz from Human Rights Watch (journalist, good speaker, I 
know him), a representative from Article 19 on their report on 
tanzanian refugee camps (would better fit with the "Communication, 
conflicts and peace session), the special rapporteur on freedom of 
expression from the OAS (organization of American States), etc.

Most of these possible speakers are from the North, I'm afraid, and 
this is a problem. Also, we would like to have a coherent session, with 
a coherent thread.

Regarding the multimedia stuff, a possibility would be background video 
projection (silent images, during the whole session) : videos from 
witness.org. Rik Panganiban from the HR caucus has contacted them, and 
they're interested in participating this way to the WFCR. But noone 
from their organization would be available on December 11th, so they're 
trying to see if they can at least arrange for a screening, and see if 
someone they know can introduce that. As I said, Rik is coordinating 
that, and I don't know what are the last news.

Best regards,
Meryem