Almost four in five people around the world believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right, a BBC poll of more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries stronly suggests. "The right to communicate cannot be ignored," Dr Hamadoun Toure, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), told BBC. "It is the most powerful source of enlightenment ever created."
Last June 3, 2011, the UN Human Rights Council declared that Internet access a fundamental human right. This confirmed that the Internet is “one of the most powerful instruments of the 21st century for increasing transparency in the conduct of the powerful, access to information, and for facilitating active citizen participation in building democratic societies.”
The UN declaration called on countries that control the digital dialog that: ”there should be as little restriction as possible to the flow of information via the Internet, except in few, exceptional, and limited circumstances prescribed by international human rights law.” The UN stressed, “the full guarantee of the right to freedom of expression must be the norm, and any limitation considered as an exception, and that this principle should never be reversed.”
Likewise, the Report recognized that access to the Internet “facilitated economic development” and hammered home the simple truth that internet access protects other human rights.“ Unlike any other medium,
Last June 3, 2011, the UN Human Rights Council declared that Internet access a fundamental human right. This confirmed that the Internet is “one of the most powerful instruments of the 21st century for increasing transparency in the conduct of the powerful, access to information, and for facilitating active citizen participation in building democratic societies.”
The UN declaration called on countries that control the digital dialog that: ”there should be as little restriction as possible to the flow of information via the Internet, except in few, exceptional, and limited circumstances prescribed by international human rights law.” The UN stressed, “the full guarantee of the right to freedom of expression must be the norm, and any limitation considered as an exception, and that this principle should never be reversed.”
Likewise, the Report recognized that access to the Internet “facilitated economic development” and hammered home the simple truth that internet access protects other human rights.“ Unlike any other medium,
the Internet enables individuals to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds instantaneously and inexpensively across national borders. By vastly expanding the capacity of individuals to enjoy their right to freedom of opinion and expression, which is an “enabler” of other human rights, the Internet boosts economic, social and political development, and contributes to the progress of humankind as a whole.”
The BBC poll also showed that most internet users feel that the internet should not be regulated by governments. More than half (53%) of internet users agreed that “the internet should never be regulated by any level of government anywhere”—including large majorities in South Korea (83%), Nigeria (77%), and Mexico (72%). Forty-four per cent admitted that they did not think they could cope without the internet. Many more felt this way in Japan (84%), Mexico (81%), and Russia (71%), while fewer felt they could not cope without the internet in Pakistan (19%), the Philippines (21%), Turkey (27%), Brazil, and India (both 29%).
This announcement opens tremendous opportunities (and challenges!) to institutions like SMEDAN, bilateral and multilateral donor and funding agencies, development architects and actors. It definitely opens new doors for a site this and for us, trainers and moderators. One development worker told us, "Now there's no reason why training and moderation will be conducted without the benefit of the internet." What does this mean to you as SMEDAN staff?
Sources: http://ahumanright.org/blog/; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8548190.stm; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1vjSWuq4Y4
The BBC poll also showed that most internet users feel that the internet should not be regulated by governments. More than half (53%) of internet users agreed that “the internet should never be regulated by any level of government anywhere”—including large majorities in South Korea (83%), Nigeria (77%), and Mexico (72%). Forty-four per cent admitted that they did not think they could cope without the internet. Many more felt this way in Japan (84%), Mexico (81%), and Russia (71%), while fewer felt they could not cope without the internet in Pakistan (19%), the Philippines (21%), Turkey (27%), Brazil, and India (both 29%).
This announcement opens tremendous opportunities (and challenges!) to institutions like SMEDAN, bilateral and multilateral donor and funding agencies, development architects and actors. It definitely opens new doors for a site this and for us, trainers and moderators. One development worker told us, "Now there's no reason why training and moderation will be conducted without the benefit of the internet." What does this mean to you as SMEDAN staff?
Sources: http://ahumanright.org/blog/; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8548190.stm; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1vjSWuq4Y4
