29 Feb 2012

GENEVA / HRC INTERNET FREEDOM

Addressing a panel on freedom of expression on the Internet at the Human Rights Council today, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that the Internet has transformed human rights movements but expressed concern that websites continue to be blocked in many countries. OHCHR

Posted at: February 29, 2012 4:13 pm

Duration: 02:50

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: GENEVA / INTERNET FREEDOM 
TRT: 2:50
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 FEBRUARY 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RECENT

SHOTLIST:

RECENT

1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nation

29 FEBRUARY 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, Human Rights Council 
3. Med shot, Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:  
"The Internet has transformed human rights movements. States can no longer exercise control based on the notion of a monopoly over information. We have also witnessed how courageous individuals strategically used the Internet to mobilise and support others in demanding their human rights. " 
4. Cutaway, delegate
5. SOUNDBITE (English) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:  
"I'm concerned that websites continue to be blocked in many countries either permanently or through the use of "just in time" blocking during specific periods of political significance."
6. Wide shot, HRC
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Bilt, Foreign Affairs Minister, Sweden: 
"As the world is moving on line very fast big time, then the freedoms and human rights that we cherish in the offline world must be protected in the online world. Because if that doesn't happen, what will happen is that as we switch onto the world that means that we switch off the freedoms. That's the fundamentals of it.  So it is the consequences of a profound technological shift in the world, affecting all of our societies and affects the way in which we can protect human rights and freedoms. I mean, freedom on the net the fight for freedom on the net, is the new frontline fight for freedom throughout the world."
8. Cutaway, delegates 
9. Cutaway, moderator 
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression:  
"We do not need new standards of human rights. The other standards exist, article 19 and 20 of the ICCPR are very clear and all the other standards of human rights doctrines and human rights principles apply online as they do offline."
11. Wide shot HRC
12. SOUNDBITE (English) William Echikson, Head of Free Expression, External Relations, Communications and Public Affairs, Google:
"Overall 40 countries censos the net in some form of fashion up from only four a decade ago.  And at Google we operate in about 150 countries and in 25 of them our products are either banned, blocked or regulations imposed that really don't allow us to carry out that mission of making information accessible to all."
13. Med shot, HRC
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Anriette Esterhuysen, Association for Progressive Communications in South Africa:
"I think what really important is that States don't opt for cheap alternatives. And I would say that restriction is in effect a cheap alternative and not a sustainable one. In the long term you do need rule in law and good law enforcement."
15. Wide shot, HRC

STORYLINE:

Addressing a panel on Freedom of Expression on the Internet at the Human Rights Council today, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that the Internet has transformed human rights movements but expressed concern that websites continue to be blocked in many countries. 
SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:  
"The Internet has transformed human rights movements. States can no longer exercise control based on the notion of a monopoly over information. We have also witnessed how courageous individuals strategically used the Internet to mobilise and support others in demanding their human rights. "

Pillay expressed concern over internet restrictions.

SOUNDBITE (English) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:  
"I am concerned that websites continue to be blocked in many countries either permanently or through the use of just in time blocking, during specific periods of political significance.

She added that sufficient safeguards must be put in place to ensure that no restriction on accessing on line content is arbitrary or excessive.

Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt said that freedom and human rights must be protected both on and off the Internet.

SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Bilt, Foreign Affairs Minister, Sweden: 
"As the world is moving on line very fast big time, then the freedoms and human rights that we cherish in the offline world must be protected in the online world. Because if that does not happen, what will happen is that as we switch onto the world that means that we switch off the freedoms.  That is the fundamentals of it.  So it is the consequences of a profound technological shift in the world, affecting all of our societies and affects the way in which we can protect human rights and freedoms.  Freedom on the net is the fight front line of freedom of the world."

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Frank La Rue said the internet has to be seen as a necessary element for other rights and it does not need to be governed by new standards.

SOUNDBITE (English) Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression:  
"We do not need new standards of human rights the other standards exist, article 19 and 20 of the ICCPR are clear and all the other standards of human rights doctrines and human rights principles apply online as they do offline."

La Rue stressed that the internet has to be seen as a necessary element for right other rights for example access to information, education, freedom of assembly to development, citing that it will be a necessary to facilitate free flow of ideas and enhance peace.

The Panel also heard of the challenges facing the internet.  Google's head of Free Expression, External Relations, Communications and Public Affairs, William Echikson cited that the challenges are mounting to keep freedom.

SOUNDBITE (English) William Echikson, Google:
"More freedom more development, everyone of us has a voice, but challenges , 40 censors we operate in 25 there is a ban opposed accessible to all."

Describing restriction of the internet as a cheap alternative, a panellist at the event, Anriette Esterhuysen, from the Association for Progressive Communications in South Africa, called for States to refrain from using methods adding that this was not sustainable one.