[WSIS CS-Plenary] Resolution of the Tunisian Independent Civil Society

[Meryem Marzouki]

Dear all,

Here is the English version of the Resolution of the Tunisian 
Independent Civil Society
Both versions can now be found on-line:

- (French): 
http://www.iris.sgdg.org/actions/smsi/hr-wsis/resol-TN-0105-fr.html
- (English): 
http://www.iris.sgdg.org/actions/smsi/hr-wsis/resol-TN-0105-en.html

Meryem Marzouki
==========

Resolution of the Tunisian Independent Civil Society (January 2005)
(Translation by WSIS Human Rights Caucus from the French original 
version)

In the framework of their mobilization related to the World Summit on 
the Information Society (WSIS), organizations of the Tunisian 
Independent Civil Society met at the LTDH (Tunisian Human Rights 
League) headquarters in Tunis on January 18, 2005, to elaborate their 
perspectives of actions regarding WSIS subsequent steps.

The signatory organizations:

- Remind that the intergovernmental Summit of Geneva has adopted a 
Declaration of Principles affirming the centrality of human rights and 
of freedom of expression as fundamental principles of the information 
society.
- Consider that the WSIS will meet in a country where blatant 
undermining of freedoms of expression, of information and of opinion by 
the authorities are denounced by all international human rights 
organizations.
- Remind that Hammamet PrepCom has not occurred in sound conditions: 
attempts to obstruct the work of the NGOs gathered in plenary session 
by turning the meeting into chaos and by bringing people with full 
buses, disinformation, violent verbal aggressiveness, hindrance to the 
dissemination of documents and even to the freedom of expression. They 
hope that this kind of behavior will not occur anymore.
- Consider WSIS as an opportunity to make aware the national and 
international opinion of serious hindrance imposed by the Tunisian 
authorities to the democratic life. Indeed, the censorship constantly 
exercized by the Tunisian authorities forbids the free exercize of 
these rights and freedoms, specially the freedom to communicate. In 
addition, existing independent organizations, active for years, are 
denied the right to participate in their own name to WSIS because the 
Tunisian authorities are denying them their official recognition.
- Intend to coordinate their action and to make profit of this 
opportunity to increase the pressure on the Tunisian government, in 
order to have these obstacles to the full exercize of fundamental 
rights  and freedoms removed.
- Affirm their intention to pursue their action in the framework of the 
preparatory process of WSIS second phase. To this end, the signatory 
organizations agree on the principle of their grouping into a 
Coordination of the Tunisian Independent Civil Society, which 
functioning modalities and bases will be defined soon. This 
Coordination, which is open to the participation of all other 
constituents of the Tunisian Independent Civil Society, has the 
following objectives:
	1. To elaborate a common platform of claims and actions in the 
framework of WSIS preparation,  regarding national and international 
issues.
	2. To establish links with the International Civil Society, specially 
WSIS thematic and regional caucuses, in particular through the 
organization of civil forums or any other initiative they consider 
useful during WSIS meetings to be held in Tunisia.
	3. Each constituent of the Coordination will take care of elaborating 
specific proposals in line with its own concerns, in relation to WSIS.

The Coordination of the Tunisian Independent Civil Society will work in 
common towards the following objectives:

- The recognition of the independent civil society organizations rights 
to act legally and to freely exercize their activities in Tunisia.
- The recognition of all citizens rights to freedom of expression, 
including the freedom to create, publish and disseminate journals using 
any medium.
- The removal of any form of Internet censorship and the respect of 
freedom to browse the Internet, in accordance with international norms.
- The release of the persons put in jail because they exercized their 
right to freedom of expression and association in accordance with 
international conventions, specially the Zarzis Internet users and the 
Ariana  Internet users.
- The assurance that local and international human rights organizations 
and other civil society organizations, as well as local and 
international medias, will freely participate to WSIS, and freely 
publish and disseminate documents without censorship threats or 
intimidations.

The coordination is pleased about Tunisian Independent Civil Society 
actions already or currently being undertaken, like the organization of 
missions to monitor and control the necessary conditions for the good 
course of WSIS.

- National Association of Former Resistance Fighters (Amicale Nationale 
des Anciens Résistants, ANAR)
- Association of Free Writers (Association des Ecrivains Libres, AEL)
- International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners 
(Association Internationale pour le Soutien des Prisonniers Politiques, 
AISPP)
- Association for the Fight against Torture in Tunisia (Association de 
Lutte contre la Torture en Tunisie, ALTT)
- National Council for Freedoms in Tunisia (Conseil National pour les 
Libertés en Tunisie, CNLT)
- French Tunisian Human Rights League (Ligue Tunisienne pour la défense 
des Droits de l'Homme, LTDH)
- Observatory for the Freedom of the Press, Publishing and Creating 
(Observatoire pour la Liberté de  Presse, d'Edition et de Création, 
OLPEC)
- Union for a Development Alternative (Rassemblement pour une 
Alternative de Développement, RAID-Attac Tunisie)
- Tunisian Journalists Trade Union (Syndicat des journalistes 
tunisiens, SJT)