privacy & HR language emerging from the Canadian CS communiqué

[Robert Guerra <rguerra@lists.privaterra.org>]

I would like to share the following four sections from the communiqué  
that is being developed in the current DRAFT Canadian civil society  
Communiqué. These are the sections that contain references to Human  
Rights and/or Privacy.

I would appreciate any comments people might have. Please email them  
to me directly.

Once the document is finalized, i will post on plenary and other wsis  
lists.



regards



Robert

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Source: https://group.lpi.org/cgi-bin/publicwiki/view/CSWSIS/ 
WinnipegcommuniqueENshort



Preamble/opening

This consensus statement was adopted by Canadian civil society groups  
representing a diverse range of peoples, backgrounds, expertise, and  
perspectives. The group met in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on 13-15  
May 2005 at a meeting organized by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO  
with the support of Foreign Affairs Canada, Industry Canada, Canadian  
Heritage, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the  
International Development Research Centre, and the Canada Council for  
the Arts. The purpose of the meeting was to canvass the views of the  
civil society organizations in Canada on the Plan of Action that  
emerged from Phase I in Geneva and the prospects for Phase II in Tunis.

Civil society represented at this conference affirmed Canadian values  
of human rights, freedom of expression, gender equality,  
multiculturalism, cultural and linguistic diversity, privacy, and  
inclusion regardless of age, ability, socioeconomic status and  
geographical location.

Democracy is reliant on an informed citizenry and civil society that  
has access to the data, information, knowledge and technology  
necessary to keep governments accountable. Participation,  
consultation and partnerships in action are fundamental to our  
Canada’s role in the national and global information society.
Human rights and freedom of expression

Participants underlined the importance of the provisions of the  
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, in particular, Article 19:  
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this  
right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to  
seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and  
regardless of frontiers.

A first and essential step towards building an information society  
that enhances human development would be to put an end to the  
widespread violation of free expression that now occurs in so many  
nation states. Nothing in the action plan for building a just  
information society shall impair, restrict, or contradict this right.

We believe this principle must be applied to the WSIS process itself,  
including the conduct of the second phase of the WSIS Summit.  
Governments should not harass, threaten, or imprison individuals who  
exercise their fundamental right to freedom of expression.  
Individuals and organizations who defend human rights should have  
access to Summit activities, the right to speak, and unfettered  
access to the Internet.

Laws and practices that restrict freedom of expression have been  
denounced in several reports produced by, among others, organizations  
such as IFEX, Rights and Democracy and the International Federation  
of Human Rights. Participants recalled the importance of both the  
recommendations contained in these reports, and their implementation.
... [snipped] ....

Privacy

Strengthening privacy rights is a prerequisite for the development of  
the Information Society and for building awareness and confidence  
among users of ICTs. This includes protecting vulnerable groups from  
exploitation and harassment. Data protection as well as the threats  
and vulnerabilities of ICTs need to be addressed in cooperation with  
all stakeholders. Surveillance and security measures should be kept  
to the minimum necessary for the maintenance of a free and democratic  
society.

Post-9/11, many countries are expanding personal identification  
measures and requirements, including biometrics. These schemes are  
poorly understood, are unlikely to achieve their claimed objectives,  
pose significant privacy and other civil liberties issues and have  
not yet received adequate expert and public scrutiny.

The personal communications aspects of the Internet must be given  
full privacy protections

Individuals have the right to be protected online from unwanted  
solicitation, the incurring of financial applications without  
consent, the invasion of their privacy without informed consent or  
operation of law, and the speedy and equitable resolution of disputes  
online.
... [snipped] ....



Internet Governance

New approaches to internet governance should allow better cooperation  
on Internet management and not be a pretext to regulate Internet  
content of news or opinion. In particular, security considerations  
and the demands of the battle against crime including terrorism  
should not imperil freedom of expression and press freedom. The  
Internet and other new media forms should be afforded AT LEAST the  
same freedom and protections as traditional media.

Public consultation and engagement should be an integral part of the  
development of ICT-related public policy.

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