November 2004, Role and place of Media in the Information Society in Africa and the Arab States, Marrakech from 22th to 24th of November

Alain Modoux, Louis Balme, Guillaume Cheneviere present ISAS BC 9001 & ISAS P 9001

OPENING PLENARY 

Conference on Media in Africa and the Arab World
Marrakech, 22-24th November 2004
Opening Plenary on the Media and the WSIS

Whose Information Society? A civil society perspective on WSIS

Steve Buckley, President, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters

Mr Chairman, colleagues and friends. I would like to congratulate Orbicom on their foresight in organising this conference, in Marrakech, on the theme of the Media in Africa and the Arab World. It is timely and I believe it will be one of the most important thematic conferences in the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

In January 2002 the United Nations General Assembly confirmed its intention to sponsor the WSIS. In doing so the General Assembly stressed the urgent need to put knowledge and technology “at the service of development for all”.

In the same month, a civil society coalition, the campaign on Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS) was launched at the second World Social Forum. The aim of the CRIS campaign was to broaden and deepen the debate on the information society, to promote democratization of access to communications and to strengthen commitments to communications in the service of sustainable development.

AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters was one of the founding members and continues to support the efforts of this campaign. AMARC is an international non-governmental organization which groups together more than 3000 community radios worldwide. Radios which are run by and for communities themselves giving a voice to those most often excluded from the mainstream media.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to welcome, particularly, the commitments made this morning by the Moroccan Minister of Communications in which he indicated the readiness of Morocco to introduce provision for community radio early next year.

The call for “communication rights” is not a juridical quest. Rather it is a social demand for a fairer communications environment. A demand articulated by marginalised communities worldwide and by civil society groups concerned as much by the rise of private media concentrations and new unaccountable multinational communications gatekeepers as by the more familiar problem of authoritarian governments.

The growth of community media is one manifestation of that demand but I want to take a wider civil society perspective here today. To understand community media you have understand that community media are media through which civil society speaks.

Civil society activists working in the communication environment have long recognized the social importance of access to and the effective use of communications tools. But equally there is well-founded skepticism about a narrowly drawn “Information Society” in which the key technologies are taken to mean telecommunications and the Internet.

In the narrow vision of the Information Society the solution to the "digital divide" is simple. It is essentially a matter of rolling out the network infrastructure so that everyone in the world can have access to the Internet. This vision was explicit in the G8 Okinawa Charter on the Global Information Society adopted in July 2000 at the G8 Summit. It is a political-economic perspective which underpins the early WSIS texts and which in effect gives priority to building the infrastructure and the consumer base for global e-commerce over the public interest in communications for development. It does so by claiming that the former will lead to the latter without providing supporting evidence for its case.

The CRIS campaign and other civil society participants in WSIS rejected this perspective as the basis for negotiation arguing instead for a people centred approach, based on human rights principles and sustainable development priorities. By the completion of the Geneva Phase of the WSIS many of the concerns expressed by the CRIS campaign and others civil society groups had been adopted in the WSIS Declaration of Principles. The WSIS Action plan, however, remains largely framed in the narrow perspective.

Rejection of the narrow vision of the Information Society and its assumption that ICT networks and access to information will automatically lead to the alleviation of poverty creates a serious dilemma for WSIS but one which remained unresolved at the conclusions of the Geneva Summit. This is the necessity, if WSIS is to fulfil its mandate, that there be sufficient analysis of the proposed actions to reasonably conclude (1) that they would indeed make a net positive contribution to the agreed development goals; and (2) that the resources deployed could be not be more effectively used elsewhere.

During the Geneva phase civil society’s role has been to bring critical and independent voices to the debate and where those voices have themselves been able to find a common position through their own dialogue, to articulate that collectively to those in government. The main focus of the Geneva phase was clear – the political process leading to the intergovernmental Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action.

For the Tunis phase the extent and the nature of civil society engagement is likely to be significantly different. The focus of the Tunis phase is more diffuse. Governments have agreed the Tunis Summit should lead to a “political and operational statement” to reaffirm and enhance the commitments undertaken in the Geneva phase but there is unwillingness to re-open the terms of the Declaration or the Plan of Action.

Having formally rejected the intergovernmental texts from the Geneva Phase and with fundamental differences with governments on the framing of the Plan of Action, civil society actors who have played a lead role in the Geneva phase are not in a position now to “reaffirm” governmental commitments which they have never fully endorsed.

At the same time there is wide expectation that Tunis will provide a less supportive environment for civil society. Several civil society actors have drawn attention to serious human rights violations in Tunisia and media groups have been particularly concerned with Tunisia’s poor record on freedom of expression including systematic blocking by government-owned ISP’s of Internet sites critical of the Tunisian government.

The first Prepcom of the Tunis phase in Hammamet reinforced these concerns when we saw deliberate attempts by Tunisia government employees and Tunisian government sponsored NGOs to censor civil society debate. Civil society participation in WSIS 2005 inevitably must also put the spotlight on Tunisia’s human rights record. To do otherwise would make acceptable the systematic violation of the right to freedom of expression.

In the Tunis phase we are called to reaffirm and enhance the commitments made in the Geneva phase. Let me remind you that at the Geneva Summit the governments adopted a Declaration and a Plan of Action but civil society adopted its own Declaration called “Shaping Information Societies for Human Needs”. The civil society Declaration is a strong text articulating human rights principles and sustainable development priorities, representing a very broad consensus and tabled at the final intergovernmental plenary

To reaffirm and enhance the civil society commitments made in Geneva means to build an alternative agenda to the WSIS. This is not to say that civil society does not share many of the goals articulated in the Geneva Declaration, nor is it to say that we should not work with governments and other stakeholders. Rather it is say that we have a different perspective and a different role to play. One part of that role is to question and to hold to account the actions of governments and corporations. Another is to continue to articulate our own vision and demands based on human needs and human rights.

So let me finish by reminding you of some core civil society concerns and priorities.

1. The market driven development of the information and communications infrastructure is characterized by gross asymmetry in access to information and in information flow resulting from but also reinforcing existing social and economic inequality. A more equitable access to information is essential if global social and economic inequalities are to be reduced rather than maintained or increased. This must not become a pretext for restrictions on the freedom of expression or the free flow of information but requires positive action to ensure inclusive access and to defend and promote cultural diversity

2. Universal access to communication services and networks is essential for the realisation of communication rights but will not be delivered, within the foreseeable future, by providing everyone with domestic access to the Internet. Access for all to the global communications environment requires investment not only in public access centers but also in traditional communication technologies such as community radio and television. Community media should be encouraged and supported including legal and regulatory reforms where there are legislative or regulatory barriers to establishment.

3. Literacy is an essential pre-requisite to access and use of the Internet. Media literacy and practical communications skills have become an essential component of a basic education and are necessary for the effective realization of communication rights. Free and universal access to basic education must be ensured and supported.

4. The Internet is not intrinsically a guarantor of freedom of opinion and expression. States and new corporate gatekeepers have increasingly developed policies and technologies of control which go beyond the legitimate and include the arbitrary and the indiscriminate. Commercial technologies to control the Internet are also increasingly being used by governments to introduce new forms of censorship. Freedom of expression on the Internet must be protected, as elsewhere, by the rule of law. There must be no prior censorship, arbitrary control or unjustified constraints on the content, transmissions and dissemination of information.

5. The right to privacy faces new challenges and must be protected. Every person must have the right to decide freely whether and in what manner he or she wishes to receive information or to communicate with others including the right to communicate anonymously. The collection, retention, processing, use and disclosure of personal data, no matter by whom, should remain under the control of the person concerned. Powers of the private sector and of governments to access personal data risk abuse of privacy and must be kept to a legally acceptable minimum and subject to public accountability.

6. The Internet provides enormous scope for the sharing and development of the common pool of human knowledge but this potential is increasingly held back by the reinforcement of private information property regimes in the Internet environment. There is a need for fundamental review of the international instruments governing copyright, patents and trademarks to incentivise development of the public domain of global knowledge, to ensure the right of access to information and the right to creative reuse and to adaptation of information, and to accelerate the social and economic benefits of freely available information including free and open source software.

The reaffirmation and enhancement of principles and priorities articulated by civil society in the Geneva phase will need a commitment to sustained partnership after the completion of the Tunis phase of the WSIS. We might call this the Communication Rights Agenda. Its focus would be on building civil society knowledge, networks and advocacy for a more people-centred communications landscape based on human rights and social justice.

It may not be immediately apparent but, when we look back at the WSIS process, possibly the most significant outcome will be the extent to which the process has brought together different civil society actors into the beginnings of a movement for a better communications environment that could equal the movement for a better natural environment that emerged in the closing decades of the last millennium.

That is the size of the challenge we face and it is the context in which civil society engagement in WSIS must now be assessed.

Steve Buckley, Marrakech
22 November 2004
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WORKSHOP REPORT

Community Media for Sustainable Development Roundtable issues declaration

Montreal, November 22, 2004. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) has released today the Declaration of Marrakesh, a document elaborated by participants to the first Roundtable on Community Media for Sustainable Development held on November 21, in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The purpose of the Roundtable was to facilitate an open dialogue among key stakeholders in the communications and development sectors concerning the achievement and monitoring of the Millennium Development Goals. Discussions focused on Community Radio in Africa, with contributions and insights from Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. AMARC's initiative to create a Task Force leading to the constitution of a Development Fund for Community Radio in Africa was one of the main topics examined during the meeting.

The Roundtable also served as a preparation meeting for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to be held on November 2005, in Tunisia.
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Closing Declaration of the Round Table on Community Media and Sustainable Development

Marrakesh, 21 November 2004

We, community media practitioners and stakeholders, meeting in Marrakesh, the 21 November 2004, at the first Round Table on Community Media and Sustainable Development;

Recognising that Community Media, that is media which are independent, community-driven and civil society based, have a particular role to play in enabling access and participation for all to information and communications, especially the poorest and most marginalized
communities;

Noting growing recognition of the crucial contribution that community media can make to the achievement of the goals of the Millennium Declaration and that Community Media can be vital enablers of information,
voice, and capacities for dialogue;

Recognising that legal, regulatory and policy frameworks that protect and enhance community media are especially critical for ensuring vulnerable groups access to information;

Call on Governments to ensure that legal frameworks for community media are non-discriminatory and provide for equitable allocation of frequencies through transparent and accountable mechanisms;

Call for targets to be established for the opening up of broadcast licensing to allow for the operation of community broadcasting where this is not currently permitted;

Insist that spectrum planning and regulation should ensure sufficient spectrum and channel capacity, and appropriate technical standards, for community media to develop in both the analogue and digital environment;

Call for a donor-civil society partnership to invest in and support community-driven information and communication initiatives, using traditional media and new ICTs including projects that make provision for the poorest communities, for cultural and linguistic diversity and for the equal participation of women and girls;

Propose that this should include:

• Engagement of community media expertise in planning for media and ICT investment around development,
• inclusion of a community media element in all ICT investment,
• establishment of a Development Fund for Community Radio in Africa,
• encouragement of national level funds for community media support;

And agree to establish a Task Force on Funding and Resourcing Community Media to take forward these proposals and to evaluate their implementation.
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Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
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 THE MARRAKECH DECLARATION

(Adopted in Marrakech on November 24, 2004)

We, the participants in the conference on the follow-up of the World Information Society Summit (WSIS) on "The Role and Place of the Media in the Information Society in Africa and the Arab Region", organized in Marrakech (Morocco), from 22 to 24 November, 2004, by the Kingdom of Morocco (the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Economic and General Affairs) and ORBICOM, the International Network of UNESCO Chairs in Communications
Consider that Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an essential foundation of the Information Society: "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".
Reaffirm the principles contained in the Declarations of Windhoek (1991) and of Sana’a (1996) on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media in Africa and the Arab States, as well as those related to media in the Declaration of Principles adopted by the Geneva WSIS, on December 2003.
Declare that
The time has come to move from the promise of Article 19 to its universal implementation.
Freedom of expression and press freedom are at the core of construction of the Information Society in Africa, the Arab region, and throughout the world.
Everyone, everywhere should have the opportunity to participate in the Information Society and to take advantage of its benefits. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) as well as media must be a fulcrum for equitable access to sustainable development.
The Internet and other new media forms should be afforded the same freedom of expression protections as traditional media.
The international debate on "Internet Governance" should allow better cooperation on Internet management. It should not be a pretext to regulate Internet content in an improper way. In particular, security considerations and the demands of the battle against crime including terrorism should not imperil freedom of expression and press freedom. Internet Service Providers should not be held liable for the content of the messages they carry.
Representatives of the media must be involved as full partners in any future Internet governance system.
Domestic legislation must guarantee the independence and pluralism of the media.

The media’s function in producing, gathering, checking and distributing diverse news and content, including at the local community level, is vital. Legal and regulatory frameworks are needed to encourage community media. To that end, those dispositions should be non-discriminatory and provide for equitable allocation of frequencies through transparent mechanisms.

State-controlled broadcasting outlets must be transformed into public service entities with statutes of editorial independence and where journalists have autonomous professional status.

The Information Society should enable women’s empowerment and their full and equal access to and use of media and information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Cultural diversity should not only be preserved. It must be fostered. Particular attention must be given to the situation of indigenous people for the safeguard of their linguistic and cultural heritages.

Public and private organizations, such as bilateral and multilateral aid agencies as well as foundations, should stress freedom of expression and press freedom when they fund programmes and projects to overcome the digital divide.

All journalists must enjoy the core labor rights, including of freedom of association, as set forth in the conventions of the International Labor Organization. In this regard, a particular attention should be given to media professionals’ training.
A professional approach to journalistic practices is the most effective way to promote press freedom and ethics, so as to safeguard against government restrictions and pressures by interest groups. The creation of ethical norms is the sole responsibility of media professionals themselves.
Disputes involving the media and/or the media professionals in the exercise of their duties should be settled by an independent judicial system. Such disputes, including those involving defamation, should be tried by civil courts not penal or military ones.  

DÉCLARATION DE MARRAKECH

(adoptée à Marrakech le 24 novembre 2004)

Nous, les participants à la Conférence de suivi du Sommet Mondial de la Société de l’Information (SMSI) sur "Le rôle et la place des médias dans la société de l’information en Afrique et dans les pays arabes", organisée à Marrakech (Maroc), du 22 au 24 novembre 2004, par le Royaume du Maroc (Ministère de la communication et Ministère délégué auprès du Premier Ministre chargé des affaires économiques et générales) et ORBICOM, le réseau international des Chaires UNESCO en communication,

Considérons que l’Article 19 de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme est un fondement essentiel de la Société de l’Information : "Tout individu a droit à la liberté d'opinion et d'expression, ce qui implique le droit de ne pas être inquiété pour ses opinions et celui de chercher, de recevoir et de répandre, sans considérations de frontières, les informations et les idées par quelque moyen d'expression que ce soit"

Réaffirmons les principes contenus dans les Déclarations de Windhoek (1991) et de Sana’a (1996) sur la Promotion de Médias indépendants et pluralistes en Afrique et dans les Etats arabes, ainsi que ceux relatifs aux médias contenus dans la Déclaration de principes adoptée par le SMSI, à Genève, en décembre 2003

Déclarons que :

Le moment est venu d’aller au-delà de l’énoncé de l’Article 19 et d’assurer sa mise en œuvre effective universelle.

La liberté d’expression et la liberté de la presse sont au cœur de la construction de la société de l’information en Afrique, dans la région arabe et partout dans le monde.

Chacun, où qu’il soit, doit pouvoir participer à la Société de l’Information et en bénéficier. Les nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC), ainsi que les médias, doivent constituer un levier important pour permettre un accès équitable au développement durable.

Internet et les autres formes de nouveaux médias doivent bénéficier de la même protection, en matière de liberté d’expression, que les médias traditionnels.

Le débat international au sujet de la "gouvernance d’Internet" doit permettre une meilleure concertation sur la gestion d’Internet et ne doit pas servir de prétexte pour réglementer de manière abusive les contenus d’Internet. En particulier, les considérations de sécurité et les exigences de la lutte contre la criminalité, y compris le terrorisme, ne doivent pas mettre en péril la liberté d’expression et la liberté de la presse, Les fournisseurs de services Internet ne doivent pas être tenus responsables pour le contenu des messages qu’ils véhiculent.

Des représentants des médias doivent être associés sur un plan d’égalité à tout système de gouvernance d’Internet à venir.

Les législations nationales doivent garantir l’indépendance et le pluralisme des médias.

La fonction des médias dans la production, la récolte, le recoupement et la distribution des informations et des contenus est vitale, y compris au niveau des communautés locales. Les cadres juridiques doivent favoriser le développement des médias communautaires. A cette fin, ils doivent être non discriminatoires et permettre une répartition équitable des fréquences à travers des mécanismes transparents.

Les médias audiovisuels sous contrôle étatique doivent être transformés en radios et télévisions de service public jouissant de l’indépendance éditoriale et accordant aux journalistes un statut d’autonomie professionnelle.

La Société de l’Information doit faciliter la participation [empowerment] des femmes et leur permettre un accès et une utilisation pleine et égale des médias et des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC).

La diversité culturelle doit non seulement être préservée, mais elle doit être encouragée. Une attention particulière doit être accordée à la situation des populations autochtones pour la sauvegarde de leur patrimoine linguistique et culturel.

Les organismes publics et privés, tels que les agences d’aide bilatérale et multilatérale, ainsi que les fondations, doivent mettre l’accent sur la liberté d’expression et la liberté de la presse lorsqu’elles financent des programmes et projets visant à réduire la fracture numérique.

Tous les journalistes doivent bénéficier de leurs droits fondamentaux, dont la liberté d’association, conformément aux conventions de l’Organisation internationale du Travail. A cet égard, une attention particulière doit être portée à la formation des professionnels des médias.

Une approche professionnelle des pratiques journalistiques constitue le moyen le plus efficace de promouvoir la liberté de presse et l’éthique, et de prévenir les restrictions gouvernementales et les pressions des groupes d’intérêt. L’établissement des normes éthiques et déontologiques relève de la responsabilité des seuls professionnels des médias.

Les litiges concernant les médias et/ou les professionnels des médias dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions doivent être résolus dans le cadre d’une justice indépendante. Ces litiges, y compris ceux relatifs à la diffamation, doivent être portés devant des juridictions civiles et non pénales ou militaires.