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Have a nice day
Claude
*****
international federation of library associations and institutions
fédération internationale des associations de bibliothécaires et des
bibliothèques
internationaler verband der bibliothekarischen vereine und institutionen
federacíon internacional de asociaciones de bibliotecarios y bibliotecas
международная федерация библиотечных ассоциаций и учреждений
Press release 26 September 2005
IFLA, WSIS and intellectual freedom in Tunisia
On the occasion of the launch of the IFLA/FAIFE and the International
Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG)
reports on the current state of intellectual freedom in Tunisia:
* IFLA restates its strong commitment to the fundamental human
rights to know, learn and communicate without restriction.
* IFLA opposes any form of censorship and violations of these
rights, and consequently we look upon the human rights situation in
Tunisia with deep concern.
* IFLA confirms its wholehearted commitment to the success of the
WSIS process and expresses its concern that the policy positions of the
host nation might undermine the credibility of the process. We therefore
urge the Tunisian government to remove barriers to open access to
information for all its citizens that are imposed by its policies.
As a participant in the WSIS process IFLA has successfully put libraries
on the agenda. The aim is to promote a fair and just knowledge and
information society which is vitally supported by libraries and
information services. Libraries are essential to a transparent,
accountable, and democratic Information Society in which they help to
create a well-informed citizenry and lay a basis for good governance.
IFLA shares the common vision of an Information Society for All adopted
by the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in November
2003. That vision promotes an inclusive society in which everyone will
be able to create, access, use and share information and knowledge. This
means providing the opportunity for people to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas without restriction, in
accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Furthermore, IFLA regards libraries as a living expression of this
principle and therefore:
* IFLA looks forward to outcomes from WSIS that fully endorse the
principle of intellectual freedom and recognise the importance of
libraries as instruments of this freedom.
* IFLA urges national, regional and local governments as well as
international organisations to invest in library and information
services as vital elements of their Information Society strategies.
To achieve this goal, IFLA stresses the importance of removing barriers
to open access to information for all, whether these barriers are
social, structural, economic or legal, and seeks to draw attention to the
politico-legal and extra-judicial impediments imposed by governments.
Consequently,
* IFLA urges the Government of Tunisia to remove the impediments
to freedom of access to information, freedom of expression and freedom
of association before, during and after the meeting of the World Summit
on the Information Society in Tunis in November 2005.
The full IFLA/FAIFE report on the mission to Tunisia can be requested
via email from the FAIFE Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
It will soon be available from IFLA's website: www.ifla.org
The official mission report, produced by the IFEX-TMG is available from
IFEX's website: http://campaigns.ifex.org/tmg/TMGSept2005Report.doc
Contacts:
* Chair of the IFLA/FAIFE Committee, Professor Paul Sturges
Loughborough University, the UK, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
* Director of the IFLA/FAIFE Office, Susanne Seidelin, email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Background
On the 6th to the 11th of September IFLA/FAIFE joined a mission to
Tunisia organised by the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) a volunteer
group of 14 members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange
(IFEX). The aim of the mission was to assess the human rights situation
in the country prior
to the WSIS PrepCom III meeting in Geneva 19-30 September, and to the
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) itself to be held in
Tunisia 16-18 November. FAIFE's role was to assess the situation
concerning freedom of access to information and freedom of expression
and the role of libraries in the country.
IFLA and IFLA/FAIFE
IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and
Institutions (www.ifla.org ), founded in 1927, is the leading
international body representing the interests of library and information
services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and
information profession.
IFLA is an independent, international, non-governmental, not-for-profit
organization. Our aims are to promote high standards of provision and
delivery of library and information services, encourage widespread
understanding of the value of good library & information services, and
represent the interests of our members throughout the world
In pursuing these aims IFLA embraces the following core values:
* We believe that people, communities and organizations need for
their physical, mental, democratic and economic well-being, free access
to information, ideas and works of imagination
* We believe that the provision and delivery of high quality
library and information services help guarantee that access
* We are committed to enabling library associations and
institutions throughout the world, and their staff, to participate in
the work of the Federation regardless of geographical location
* We support and promote the principles of freedom of access to
information ideas and works of imagination embodied in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
* We recognize the rights of all members to engage in, and
benefit from, its activities without regard to citizenship, ethnic
origin, gender, language, political philosophy, race or religion.
IFLA/FAIFE (Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression,
(www.ifla.org/faife ) is a core activity within IFLA to defend and
promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United
Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The IFLA/FAIFE Committee and Office furthers free access to information
and freedom of expression in all aspects, directly or indirectly,
related to libraries and librarianship. IFLA/FAIFE monitors the state of
intellectual freedom within the library community worldwide, supports
IFLA policy development and cooperation with other international human
rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to
information and freedom of expression.
Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both hold and
express opinions and to seek and receive information.
Intellectual freedom is the basis of democracy.
Intellectual freedom is the core of the library concept.
visiting address: ifla headquarters prins willem-alexanderhof 5 postal
address: p.o. box 95312 2509 ch the hague netherlands
telephone: +31 70 3140884 fax: +31 70 3834827 e-mail address:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] www site: http://www.ifla.org
bank accounts: postbank 351460; abn-amro nv, the hague 51 36 38 911;
vat number: nl 0028 70 836 b01
--
Claude Almansi
Castione, Switzerland
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.adisi.ch
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Claude
http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/claude
http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/languages
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