[lac-discuss-es] GENEVA DECLARATION ON INTERNET FREEDOM

[Antonio Medina Gómez]

La siguiente información puede ser de su interés.
Antonio Medina

Fuente: http://www.genevasummit.org/media/20
<http://www.genevasummit.org/media/20>GENEVA DECLARATION ON INTERNET FREEDOM
09 March 2010

*GENEVA** DECLARATION ON INTERNET FREEDOM*

**

*Adopted by the Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society Representatives
assembled
at the 2nd Geneva Summit for Human Rights, Tolerance and
Democracy<http://www.genevasummit.org/>,
March 9, 2010.***

* **Preamble*

We, human rights defenders and representatives of civil society from all
regions of the world, having assembled here at the Second Geneva Summit for
Human Rights, Tolerance and Democracy <http://www.genevasummit.org/>,

*Guided by *the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the right to freedom
of opinion and expression, including the freedom to hold opinions without
interference, and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through
any media and regardless of frontiers,

*Recognizing* that the Internet is a universal space for communication and
the exchange of ideas that can promote freedom and mutual understanding
among all people, regardless of race, religion, geography or economic
status,

*Mindful* that the Internet has become a primary vehicle for communication
in all sectors of life in a globalized economic and civil society, requiring
its transparency and openness to function properly,

*Believing *that the preservation of a free Internet is essential to the
full enjoyment of human rights, civil liberties and a free and democratic
society,

*Alarmed *that the situation of Internet freedom in many regions of the
world is increasingly perilous and under assault,

*Acknowledging *that the intimidation and the use of technologies aimed at
the restriction and monitoring of Internet creates an environment of
repression,

*Affirming* that suppression of independent thought by filtering, monitoring
and censoring of websites, online content, blogs and messaging services
constitutes a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights,

*Recognizing *that all countries have obligations to guarantee Internet
freedom,

*Emphasizing* that countries which enjoy secure and open Internet
technologies are obliged to prevent exported communications technologies
from being used as a vehicle for suppression and censorship, and that
Internet companies should take reasonable steps to avoid complicity with,
and liability for, violations of human rights,

*Recognizing *that the struggle for freedom of expression has today largely
shifted online as the Internet has become the means of choice for political
dissidents, democracy activists, human rights defenders and independent
journalists worldwide,

*Considering *that there are particular countries in which the situation of
Internet freedom is under a grave and gathering threat, with imprisoned
political dissidents, journalists and bloggers who are in urgent need of
protection by the international community,

*Recalling* the proposed 2008 Directive of the European Parliament
concerning the EU Global Online Freedom Act, in particular its finding that
authoritarian states such as Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
and Vietnam censor the internet by blocking websites and filtering search
results and intimidate internet users through cyber police and obliged
registration,

*Deeply concerned* that authorities in China have seized computers,
imprisoned individuals for sharing information online, blocked and deleted
blogs and other online services, and incarcerated journalists and social
activists for online activity,

*Alarmed* that authorities in Iran have acted to suppress the free flow of
information by blockading Internet traffic and suspending email providers
and messaging services, and have created a special police division to hunt
down Internet users suspected of so-called “insults and spreading of lies”
against the regime,

*Deeply disturbed* that authorities in Cuba imposed near-total restrictions
on access through prohibitive user fees, few public access points and slow
connection speeds, and restricted distribution of service to a
state-controlled provider,

*Decide* to hereby adopt this Declaration on Internet Freedom, in Geneva,
Switzerland, on March 9, 2010;

*Urge* the United Nations Human Rights Council, now meeting in its 13th Regular
Session, to endorse this Declaration and support the cause of Internet
freedom in the face of repression;

*Urge* all other relevant United Nations and international bodies to endorse
this Declaration and support the cause of Internet freedom in the face of
repression;

*Urge *all like-minded supporters of freedom, human rights and democracy to
adopt similar declarations, resolutions, or other statements to support the
cause of Internet freedom in the face of repression, and urge that these be
submitted to the United Nations.

*Article 1*
Everyone has the right to equal access to the Internet, regardless of race,
religion, ethnic or geographical origin.

*Article 2*
Everyone has the right to the free flow of information and freedom of
expression without fear of discrimination.

*Article 3*
Everyone has the right to a transparent and open Internet without the
subjection of individual licensing or prohibitive, discriminatory
requirements such as heavy tolls.

*Article 4
*Everyone has the right to preserve and protect their intellectual property,
kept private and confidential from invasion, seizure or monitoring.

*Article 5*
Everyone has a right to protect Internet access, Internet infrastructure and
communication technologies from government seizure.

*Article 6*
Everyone has a right to anonymity and online privacy, free from intrusive
monitoring by the state or third parties.

*Article 7*
Everyone has the right to encrypt or otherwise secure their identities and
the security of their information as it travels across the Internet, to
protect themselves and their information from unwarranted monitoring.

*Article 8*
No one should be allowed to export or sell technologies, equipment or
software that enables the restriction of Internet use or access for the
purpose of violating human rights.

*Article 9*
Internet providers should not be allowed to provide governments,
corporations or third parties any information about their users without
their legal consent.

*Article 10*
Any attempt to restrict or intimidate people from free, uncensored, and
secure access of the Internet constitutes a fundamental abridgement of human
rights and undermines the promotion of peace and world order.

*Article 11*
The rights and freedoms set out in this Declaration are guaranteed subject
only to such reasonable limits, prescribed by law, as can be demonstrably
justified in a free and democratic society. Nothing in this Declaration may
be interpreted as implying for any person any right to engage in any
activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights
and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

*Adopted by consensus, Geneva, March 9, 2010*