OSCE Meeting on the Relationship between Racist, Xenophobic
and Anti-Semitic Propaganda on the Internet and Hate Crimes, Paris, 16 – 17
June 2004
CONCLUSIONS BY THE CHAIR OF THE OSCE MEETING
(16 and 17 June, Paris)
In the Maastricht Decision on Tolerance and
Non-Discrimination, participating States reaffirmed their commitment to
promote tolerance and non-discrimination and to combat hate crimes, which
may be fuelled by racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda on the
Internet. To further these goals, the participating States held a meeting in
Paris on June 16-17 to initiate a broad debate on the possible link between
racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda on the Internet and hate
crimes.
Those attending included officials from
governments of OSCE participating States, as well as representatives of
non-governmental organizations and the internet industry. During the
Meeting, participants condemned racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic
propaganda, and noted that such propaganda is easily spread on the Internet.
Participants also reaffirmed the importance of fully respecting the rights
to freedom of information and expression, which is vital to democracy and in
fact strengthened by the Internet.
Participants also reiterated their commitment to combat hate crimes and
stressed the importance of promoting tolerance, mutual respect, dialogue,
and understanding, including through the Media and the Internet.
Participants noted that access to the wide array of information and diverse
set of opinions available on the Internet can serve to reduce ignorance and
prejudice.
Participants agreed to strengthen efforts to
use the Internet as a tool for promoting tolerance, mutual respect and
understanding and educating users about hate crimes and all forms of
intolerance. All concurred that such education efforts should especially be
directed toward young people and other targets of groups seeking to
propagate racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic ideas.
Those attending the Meeting also agreed to
promote, where appropriate under existing national legislation, areas of
additional cooperation, particularly voluntary initiatives by NGOs,
religious associations and/or other groups directed toward researching and
monitoring racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda and incitement to
violence on the Internet.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the work done by the office of
the OSCE's Representative on Freedom of the Media in collecting updated data
provided by participating States resulting from a questionnaire launched by
the CiO of the OSCE.
Participants agreed to create opportunities,
including during the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, to
promote sharing of best practices. Equally they agreed to foster exchanges
directed toward identifying effective approaches for addressing the issue of
racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda on the Internet that do not
endanger freedom of information and expression.
Participants also agreed that appropriate
follow up should be considered at the Ministerial Meeting of the OSCE in
Sofia, when planning further OSCE actions oriented toward promoting
tolerance, mutual respect and understanding and combating Racism, Xenophobia
and Anti-Semitism.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Solomon Passy, speaking
to the press,
May 2004. (Photo OSCE/Mikhail Evstafiev)
OSCE Meeting on Racist, Xenophobic and Anti-Semitic Propaganda
on the Internet
OPENING SPEECH
haGalil onLine:
Tension
between freedom of speech and control of incitement
I think it became clear, that
we cannot perceive the internet primarily as a threat, but much more should use
the chance it offers to promote understanding and dialogue in a pluralistic and
global society...
(Soundfile
from Paris RA)
Public and Private Partnership:
The Fight
Against Racism, Xenophobia and anti-Semitism on the Internet
An Introduction by Miklós Haraszti, OSCE-Representative on
Freedom of the Media...
Some arguments by Ms. Karin Spaink:
Why discriminatory speech on the internet
cannot – and should not – be banned
OSCE / FOM Objections pertaining to constitutional rights and
the law...
Technical and political considerations:
Is prohibiting hate-speech
feasible - or desirable?
At the OSCE Paris conference a number of countries / NGOs
appealed to regulate the internet in order to stop hate speech. However, and
contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as 'the internet'...
Security and Transparency:
Online Propaganda and the Commission of Hate
Crimes
by Michael Whine, Chairman of the Community Security Trust,
which provides defence and security services for the Jewish community in the
UK...
Free Speech:
..."Let the bright light of truth expose
their bigotry, so their lies can be unmasked"...
by Stephan M. Minikes, Ambassador, U.S. Mission...
Christian Antijudaism:
Cyberspace is a reflection of
the world-at-large
If we put enough effort in education that promotes respect for differences,
peaceful co-existence and tolerance, the Internet will also become hate-free...
One of the most acute dilemmas facing us at the
outset of the Twenty-First Century:
The
proliferation of hate material on the internet
Mass communication is not anymore on its infancy. With the
Internet, we are dealing with a phenomenon unparalleled in all of History.
Instant communication is possible, to all points on the globe, at minimum
cost...
16./17. Juni - OSZE-Konferenz in Paris:
Fremdenhass und Antisemitismus im Internet
Am kommenden Mittwoch und Donnerstag findet in Paris
eine OSZE-Konferenz statt, die die Zusammenhänge zwischen rassistischer,
fremdenfeindlicher und antisemitischer Propaganda im Internet und Hassdelikten
zum Thema hat...
Antisemitische Propaganda im Internet:
Hass ist das Ende der Welt
Methoden zur Rechtsdurchsetzung und Erfahrungen mit
der strafrechtlichen Verfolgung antisemitischer u./o. rechtsextremistischer
Hetze...
Ein Motivvorrat, der in jeder Epoche wieder
aktualisiert werden kann:
Zum Begriff des Antisemitismus
Die Wortbildung basiert auf
sprachwissenschaftlichen und völkerkundlichen Unterscheidungen des ausgehenden
18. Jahrhunderts, in denen mit dem Begriff des Semitismus der "Geist" der
semitischen Völker im Unterschied zu dem der Indogermanen erfasst und abgewertet
werden sollte...
[ENGLISH]
[FRENCH]
[SoundFile
(English) OSCE Conference Berlin- Session 4 / David Gall] |
hagalil.com
20-06-2004
|