[Chapter-delegates] The Internet and Human Rights

[Cynthia D. Waddell, Juris Doctor]

Dear Marcus,
Perhaps it might be helpful to offer an observation along these lines
regarding one of the newest international instruments created during this
millennium.  These issues involving the Internet and Human Rights are also
of great concern for individuals with disabilities.  In fact, we
explicitly  referenced the Internet in Article 9:Accessibility of the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This Treaty did not create any new human rights because it recognized the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on
Human Rights.  In fact, the purpose of the Convention is to "promote,
protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment  of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote
respect for their inherent dignity."  Article 1.

That said, the Convention contains many references as to the role of ICT
in providing accessibility.  From our perspective, Internet accessibility
involves at least three components: availability, affordability and
accessible design (also known as Universal Design).

ISOC's public policy approach also has relevance to those of us assisting
governments in implementing the Internet accessibility provisions of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  Thank you for
keeping us appraised of ISOC's public policy participation.

The Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (DCAD) continues to
be active at the Internet Governance Forum and we will be speaking on
these issues here in Nairobi.

Best regards,
Cynthia Waddell
IGF DCAD Member
ISOC Disability & Special Needs Chapter

-- 
Cynthia D. Waddell, JD
Executive Director and
Law, Policy & Technology Consultant
International Center for Disability Resources
  on the Internet (ICDRI) Phone:  (408) 691-6921

ICT Accessibility & Government Services Expert
United Nations Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs www.g3ict.com

International Telecommunication Union Accessibility Consultant

> Dear Chapter Delegates and Members,
> In planning our future activities we thought it would be timely to put a
greater emphasis on Human Rights, in particular on freedom of expression
and opinion, the free flow of information, access to information and
knowledge and the right to association.  These rights, as enshrined
recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are very much in
> line with ISOC’s principles.
> Human Rights and the Internet have come to the fore in recent years.
Increased attempts by Governments (in all parts of the world) to control
their citizen's access and use of the global network, and this often in
disregard of basic principles of human rights and/or due process, make it
> more urgent to address these issues. The paper on DNS filtering takes
them
> up from a technical angle and we intend to pursue this also from a
public
> policy perspective. We think that ISIC, thanks to its technical
expertise,
> can add value to this debate.
> The Public Policy team is following the 18th Human Rights Council (HRC),
currently held at the United Nations in Geneva (12-30 September 2011). Of
> particular interest is a proposal by the Swedish Government to set up a
multi-stakeholder Expert Panel on the Promotion and Protection of
Freedom
> of Expression on the Internet. The proposal is expected to be endorsed
next week by the Human Rights Council and the panel will meet to discuss
this theme at the 19th Session of the HRC in March 2012. We have met the
Swedish delegation and expressed ISOC’s interest to be part of this panel.
> We are planning to issue a press release next week welcoming the
creation
> of this expert panel. As we develop further ISOC's engagement and policy
positions on human rights, we welcome your comments and perspectives in
this area.
> Best regards,
> Markus
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