[WSIS CS-Plenary] Fwd: TUNISIA: ON EVE OF INFORMATION SUMMIT, UN RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR PRISONER RELEASE

[Joe Baptista]

On Mon, 17 Oct 2005, Rik Panganiban wrote:

> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: "UN News Service" <UNNews at un.org>
> > Date: October 17, 2005 10:00:24 AM EDT
> > To: <news5 at list.un.org>
> > Subject: TUNISIA: ON EVE OF INFORMATION SUMMIT, UN RIGHTS EXPERT
> > CALLS FOR PRISONER RELEASE
> > Reply-To: <UNNews at un.org>

I see the american press is working over time getting the appropriate
consensus in place for the summit.

cheers
joe baptista

Joe Baptista, Official Public-Root Representative and Lobbyist to the
United States Congress and Senate / Tel: +1 (202) 517-1593

Public-Root Disclosure Documents: http://www.cynikal.net/~baptista/P-R/
Public-Root Discussion Forum: http://lair.lionpost.net/mailman/listinfo/pr-=
plan


> >
> >
> > TUNISIA: ON EVE OF INFORMATION SUMMIT, UN RIGHTS EXPERT CALLS FOR
> > PRISONER RELEASE
> > New York, Oct 17 2005 10:00AM
> > Citing reported violations of freedom of opinion and expression in
> > Tunisia as the North African country prepares to host the World
> > Summit on the Information Society next month, a United Nations
> > human rights expert has called on the Government to release
> > unconditionally all press- and opinion-related prisoners.
> >
> > =93I have also been alarmed by the polarization of opinions and the
> > lack of dialogue with the Press, two elements which could seriously
> > jeopardize the progress of media freedom in the country,=94 the
> > Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and
> > expression of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Ambeyi Ligabo,
> > said in a statement, calling on the Government to allow the full
> > exercise of those rights.
> >
> > He noted that recent reported violations included the banning of a
> > =91journalists=92 union congress, the imprisonment of a lawyer for
> > publishing controversial articles and =93smear campaigns=94 against
> > human rights activists, particularly in conjunction with their
> > right to freedom of expression and of association.
> >
> > Mr. Ligabo called on the Government to take effective measures for
> > the promotion of a real pluralism, including action related to the
> > increase of media freedom in the country and to guarantee full
> > access to information for media professionals as well as for the
> > ordinary citizen, in order to expand transparency and public
> > awareness.
> >
> > He also urged it to ensure that all media workers can exercise
> > their profession without any impediment and restriction and to
> > adopt legislation for the decriminalization of defamation and
> > related offences, including norms regarding fair criteria of
> > proportionality in imposing fines.
> >
> > The final phase of the World Summit is to be held in Tunis from 16
> > to 18 November and will be marked by =93a crucial effort to ensure a
> > better future for less developed societies through the exploitation
> > of Internet resources,=94 Mr. Ligabo noted.
> >
> > =93Agreements on Internet governance and its financing will be at the
> > core of decisive discussions and could initiate a new era for
> > freedom of opinion and expression through enhanced dissemination
> > and availability of information,=94 he added.
> >
> > The Summit=92s first phase was held in Geneva in 2003.
> >  2005-10-17 00:00:00.000
> >
> >
> > ________________
> >
> > For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
>
>