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U.N. conference on "hate sites" on the Internet
[I've attached the conference agenda below. --Declan]
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Experts tell U.N. conference 'hate' sites on Internet may be here to
stay
Reuters
GENEVA (November 11, 1997 2:47 p.m. EST http://www.nando.net) -
Internet hate sites, such as one urging "Aryan brothers and sisters
... to combat racially inferior
parasites," are unlikely to be stamped out because this would limit
freedom of speech, experts said Tuesday.
The need to respect free speech, as well as the sheer size of the
task, emerged at a United Nations seminar as the two main obstacles
to eradicating such material.
The issue has become more pressing as the number of online hate sites
soars and racism, neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism, find new niches on
the Internet, speakers at the meeting said.
But there is no easy answer to the question: who decides what is
offensive on the Internet?
"In Europe, it would be racist to say, 'I don't like Arabs.' In the
United States, we can say 'I don't like Arabs, I don't like pink
people.' Under freedom of expression, it's not against the law," said
Debra Guzman, executive director of the U.S.-based Human Rights
Information Network.
"You can't ban this in the United States," she told a news
conference.
One problem is that Internet technology itself cannot distinguish
between the offensive and the non-offensive, said Eric Lee, public
policy director at the U.S. Commercial Internet Exchange.
[...]
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Dear Madam/Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that within the framework of the
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to
Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, in pursuance of General
Assembly resolution 51/81, the High Commissioner for Human Rights will
organize a seminar on "The role of Internet with regard to the
provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all
Forms of Racial Discrimination".
The purpose of the Seminar which will take place in Geneva from 10
to 14 November 1997 and bring together experts on the subject matter,
representatives of governments, Internet Service Providers, and
representatives of non-governmental organizations, is to find ways and
means to ensure a responsible use of the Internet in the light of the
International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial
Discrimination.
The draft agenda of the meeting reads as follows:
(a) Racism and Racial Discrimination on Internet
(b) Technical Aspects of screening racist propaganda on
Internet:
1. National Measures
2. International Measures
(c) Prohibition of racist propaganda on the Internet. Juridical
Aspects:
1. National Measures
2. International Measures
(d) Elements for an eventual Code of Conduct and good practice
for displaying material on Internet
(e) Recommendations.
/...
#012#
I am very pleased, on behalf of the Secretary-General, to invite
your Organization to send an observer to the seminar. In order that
the necessary arrangements concerning conference facilities may be
made in advance, I would be grateful to receive his or her name by 30
October 1997 at the latest. Under existing arrangements, your
Organization would be expected to bear the costs of its
representative.
I am attaching to this letter, for your
convenience, a briefing note relating to the seminar.
Yours sincerely,
John Pace
Chief
Research and Right to
Development Branch
______________________________________________________________________
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION
FOR THE THIRD DECADE TO COMBAT RACISM
AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
SEMINAR ON THE ROLE OF INTERNET WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISIONS
OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION
OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Geneva, Palais des Nations
10-14 November 1997
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
Monday 10 November
Morning
10:00 - 13:00 Opening of the Seminar
- Welcome address by High Commissioner for
Human
Rights
- Election of the Bureau (Chairperson,
Vice-Chairperson, Rapporteur)
- Adoption of the agenda
- Organisation of work
Afternoon Working session I
15:00 - 18:00 Item I: Racism and Racial Discrimination on Internet
- Keynote address by Ms. Debra Guzman,
Executive Director
The Human Rights Information Network
- General discussion
- Conclusion
#012#
Tuesday 11 November
Morning Working session II.a
10:00 - 13:00 Item II: Technical Aspects of screening racist
propaganda on Internet: National measures
- Keynote address by Mr. Timothy L. Jenkins,
Chairman of Unlimited Visions
- General discussion
- Conclusion
Afternoon Working session II.b
15:00 - 18:00 Item III: Technical Aspects of screening racist
propaganda on Internet: international measures
- Keynote address by Mr. Eric Lee,
Commercial Internet Exchange
- General discussion
- Conclusion
Wednesday 12 November
Morning Working session III.a
10:00 -13:00 Item IV: Prohibition of Racist Propaganda on the
Internet: Juridical Aspects, National Measures
- Keynote address by an expert of the
Department
of Justice, USA
- General discussion
- Conclusion
Afternoon Working session III.b
15:00 - 18:00 Item V: Prohibition of Racist Propaganda on the
Internet: Juridical Aspects, International Measures
- Keynote address by Mr. Agha Shahi, member
of the
Commitee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- General discussion
- Conclusion
#012#
Thursday 13 November
Morning Working session IV.a
10:00 - 13:00 Item VI: Elements for an eventual Code of Conduct and
good practice for displaying material on Internet
- Keynotes address by:
Ms. Maya Sooka, Association for
Progressive Communication, Johannesburg
- General Discussion
- Conclusion
Afternoon Working session IV.b
15:00 - 18:00 Item VI: Elements for an eventual Code of Conduct and
good practice for displaying material on Internet
- Keynotes address by:
Mr. Tony Rutkowsky, former senior ITU
executive
- General Discussion
- Conclusion
Friday 14 November
Morning Free Time
Afternoon
15:00 - 18:00 Conclusions and Recommendations
Closing of the Seminar
- Statement of the Chairperson
- Final statement of the High Commissioner
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