Human Rights Caucus Concerned About WSIS Outcome

More than forty human rights organizations operating under the Human Rights Caucus express their concerns ahead of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, supported by UNESCO. In a statement, they declare that "there is a lack of political will to effectively implement human rights standards at this summit. It even seems that there is difficulty in referencing the most basic human rights document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted 55 years ago." The HRC states in its press release dated December 7, 2003: "For the past 18 months, we have actively participated in preparatory meetings to ensure that human rights remain on the WSIS agenda. Unfortunately, it appears that the WSIS is completely retreating from previously established human rights provisions." The statement continues: "Another concern is that the second phase of the summit will be held in Tunisia in 2005, a country where blatant human rights violations continue unabated. We are pleased with the conditional release of webmaster Zouhair Yahyaoui and hope that other Tunisian prisoners will be freed and protected from government harassment." The Human Rights Caucus will be active throughout the summit in Geneva, co-sponsoring the World Forum on Communication Rights in the Information Society on December 11 at Palexpo, featuring prominent human rights leaders from countries with strict controls over information society.