(ARTICLE 19/WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a 26 September 2003 open letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan from the WSIS Media Caucus/ARTICLE 19, the WPFC and the European Broadcasting Union: Kofi Annan Secretary General of the United Nations New York, NY 10017, USA Dear Secretary General, The Media Caucus of the World Summit […]
(ARTICLE 19/WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a 26 September 2003 open letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan from the WSIS Media Caucus/ARTICLE 19, the WPFC and the European Broadcasting Union:
Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations
New York, NY 10017, USA
Dear Secretary General,
The Media Caucus of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) wishes at the conclusion of the third Preparatory Meeting, to express its concern that fundamental, agreed principles on independent, pluralistic media are at risk.
The Media Caucus affirms that agreed principles already accepted by the international community must be preserved in the WSIS process. We are deeply concerned that the government delegations at PrepCom3 have been unable to agree on re-committing themselves to the universally accepted principles of freedom of expression and to the place of media as a major stakeholder in the Information Society.
As the world moves into an information-based society, with unprecedented potential for social inclusion, we affirm our belief that the human, social and cultural potential of ICTs can be achieved only if the media play a full part in the development process. We see this as an integral part of the global communications vision that WSIS is building in pursuit of the Millennium Declaration goals.
The Media Caucus draws attention to the text of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, also supported by regional declarations on the media. These texts, developed under the aegis of UNESCO and the UN, are seen by the Media Caucus as the basis to formulate the vision of the place of the media ? in both traditional and new forms ? in the Information Society. Written by journalists from the five regions, these declarations were unanimously endorsed by the member states of UNESCO ? virtually the same body of States that participate in WSIS. The Media Caucus expects that the WSIS will recognise the principles adopted in the following texts:
– The Windhoek Declaration on the Promotion of Free and Pluralistic African Press, 1991
– The Declaration of Alma Ata on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Asian Media, 1992
– The Declaration of Santiago de Chile on Promoting the Independent and Pluralistic Media, 1994
– The Declaration of Sana?a on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Arab Media, 1996
– The Sofia Declaration on Promoting European Pluralistic and Independent Media, 1997
These declarations were adopted by the UNESCO General Conferences in 1995 and 1997.
These documents seen as a whole are remarkable for their consistency in terms of the fundamental principles of freedom, independence and pluralism of the media and for their reflection of regional nuances and diversity.
Given the recognition in these texts of the need for media pluralism and diversity as well as the central position of the media in all forms in the Information Society, the Media Caucus respectfully calls upon you, Mr Secretary General, as the patron of the WSIS, firstly to remind the States of their existing commitments to fundamental values enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and, secondly, to engage the broader spectrum of United Nations agencies in the debate on the role of the UN system in the Information Society.
The Media Caucus consists of leading world and regional media freedom and other journalistic and media organisations representing all forms of media, also including their labour and management, who have taken part in the WSIS preparatory meetings.
The Caucus has given steady input to governments in the WSIS preparatory process on language that would contribute to showing the Summit’s commitment to free speech and free press. We attach the Media Caucus proposal, which illustrates our contributions.
Yours sincerely,
Ms Tracey Naughton
Chair, WSIS Media Caucus
Jacques Briquemont
European Broadcasting Union
Vice-Chair, WSIS Media Caucus
Ronald Koven
World Press Freedom Committee
Vice-Chair, WSIS Media Caucus
cc. Mr Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary General, ITU
Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO
Mr Shashi Tharoor, United Nations Under Secretary for Communications and Public Information
Mr Nitin Desai, Under Secretary General, United Nations
Attachment: Media Caucus Input to PrepCom3 of WSIS
PrepcomIII
Media Caucus Proposal for Text to be included
In the WSIS Declaration
Freedom of expression, media freedom and editorial independence are central to any conception of an information society.
The overriding principle of WSIS on freedom of expression and media freedom should be Article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Article 19 needs to be implemented, for all media regardless of the technologies used.
Security and other considerations should not be allowed to compromise freedom of expression and media freedom.
New information and communication technologies will strengthen the important role of traditional media, such as broadcasting and the print press.
Legislation to ensure the participation of all in the information society should:
a. promote and defend the existence and development of free and independent media,
b. encourage pluralism and diversity of media ownership and avoid excessive media concentration,
c. recognize the specific and crucial role of public service broadcasting and community media,
d. Transform state-controlled media into editorially independent organizations.
International standards of labour rights and social protections must apply to all media workers.
Formulation of professional and ethical standards in journalism is the responsibility of media professionals themselves.
16.9.2003
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