université de lausanne the information society and human rights summer university on human rights...

Université de Lausanne

The Information Societyand Human Rights

Summer University on Human Rights 2002Palais des Nations, August 13

Alexander OsterwalderHEC Lausanne

[email protected]+41 21-692.34.20


Agenda

1 Introduction to Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) p

the « Information Society » communication technologies today & tomorrow the Internet

2 Access technologies p the issues the technology

3 Implications for NGO's p the issues e-NGO's

4 ICT and Human Rights p cases


The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 19 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.

[UNHCHR]

"from Abkhaz to Zulu."The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets the

Guinness World Record for Most Translated Document


The « Information Society »

From the « Industrial Society » to the « Information Society » Fundamental change in the structure of production and commerce

(land, labor, capital -> information, knowledge)

« Information Economy » information and knowledge become the primary production factors the reduction in their cost of production and circulation, contribute

to more global and frictionless markets information and knowledge-based economic sectors and products

become dominant

Definition of the « Information Society » « The Information Society is a society where the ability to access,

search, use, create and exchange information is the key for individual and collective well-being. »

[WSIS, 2001]


Communication technologies today

Media Communication pattern Place & time Reach Price

Face-to-face

-

Telefon

Global

Fax & mail

Global

Radio & TV

Local High

Print

Local

Same place same time

Low & high

Different place same time

Medium & high

different place different time

low & medium

Different place same time


Medium & high


Communication technologies tomorrow

Media Communication pattern Place & time Reach Price

e-mail

Global Low

Global Low

WWW

Global Medium

Global

Different place different time

Instant messaging


same time


Interactive TV and radio


Local global

Medium high

Video conferencing

different place same time

Low medium


The Internet, a network of networks

http://www.learnthenet.com/english/web/000www.htm

App

lica

tion

sIn

fras

truc

ture

•e-mail•www•Ftp•VoIP•Messaging

●Computers●ISP's●routers●networks& backbones●servers

Dig

ital

Div

ide

Dig

ital

Div

ide


ICT: main issues

Bandwidth&

connectivity

content&

media literacy

Infr

astr

uctu

reA

pplic

atio

ns

Cos

t

•Existence of connectivity•Quality of connectivity•Cost of connectivity•Cost of new infrastructure

•Relevant content•Knowledge & use of content (critical)•Knowledge & use of applications•Installlation & costs of applications


Access through copper wire (telephone network)

Infrastructure Often existing infrastructre: telephone networks Expensive to set-up new phone lines Copper wires are targets to thieves in some countries Very mature technology

Bandwidth Low bandwidth Depending on quality of telephone lines

Cost Low access costs No costs to go from phone network to data network

Regions Global


Access through satellite

Infrastructure High launching costs Great reach Mature technology

Bandwidth Medium to high bandwidth

Cost Medium to high access costs Sinking

Regions North America, Latin America,

Africa, Asia, rural regions


Access through mobile & fixed wireless networks

Infrastructure (mobile networks & wireless local loops WLL)

Often new infrastructure necessary Comperatively cheap infrastructure set-up

costs Relatively mature technology

Bandwidth Low (to high)

Cost Medium to high access costs Low costs to change from voice to data

networks Regions

Global


Access through electricity

Infrastructure Largely existing infrastructure Immature technology Expensive new infrastructure

Bandwidth High bandwidth

Cost Medium access costs Relatively expensive upgrade from

electricity to data Regions

Latin America, Asia, big cities in developing countries


Access through cable networks

Infrastructure Built on cable TV networks Mature technology Expensive new infrastructure

Bandwidth High bandwidth Bandwidth scharing

Cost Medium access costs

Regions North America, Europe, big cities


Other access technologies

XDSL on copper wire Builds on quality copper wire networks Short distance only

3rd generation wireless networks Medium to high network upgrading costs Medium to very high bandwidth

802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) Only for local areas Very high bandwidth Security issues

AdHoc Networks Infrastructure-less building on devices Up-coming technology Independance from operators


ICT and its influence on different issues

e-business and e-commerce Selling over the web Increasing efficiency New businesses

e-education Global reach Multi-media Integration & knowledge transfer

e-health Integration & knowledge transfer Improving human condition

e-government Integration & efficiency

e-NGO's and activism


How ICT influences NGO's

Increasing efficiency By using ICT NGO's can automate repetitive tasks and concentrate on

their core role.

Improving credibility The use of ICT helps NGO's gain credibility towards donors and decision

makers

Changing the balance of power NGO's gain influence and power through ICT because the patterns of

communication have changed.


The e-NGO and efficiency

Automation of repetitive tasks Standard letters e-mails

Access to information and knowledge World Wide Web (WWW)

Co-operation Better & cheaper communication

Fundraising New fundraising mechanisms Databases, web, e-mail

New services Publications


The Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Internet and ICTs for SocialJusitice and Development

Training Materials Learn about

Managing your NGO Mission-driven business

planning toolkit Using the Internet strategically

Examples


HURIDOCS: handling information in Human Rights

Tools Developing tools and techniques for information handling (such as formats

for the recording and exchange of information on documents, organisations, and human rights violations).

Training Organising training courses and workshops on human rights information

handling in co-operation with organisations involved in the network.

Advice Providing advice and support on the establishment and maintenance of

documentation centres and information systems.


NetAid Online Volunteering (www.netaid.org)

Our mission is to connect people — to each other and to the projects, organizations and ideas that are making a real difference in the lives of the extremely poor around the world.

Bring online volunteers and organizations together

Translation services Websites Fundraising Marketing Etc.


Open Source Software

« Perhaps the most significant impacts may not be related to the access to the information services themselves – but rather the systems that enable access to take place »

Need for free, acessible and open systems

The right to tinker: « Computer software patenting threatens the development of alternative, compatible computer systems »

Openness for innovation and co-operation

Open source software is intended to be freely shared and possibly improved and redistributed by others

The code of the software is openly acessible and free of copyright The software is improved by an arsenal of global programmers The software is free of charge

[Felten, 2002]


The e-NGO and transparency

Accounting Transparency Funding Attribution of funds

Providing information About: Goals Knowledge & expertise On-going projects

Sphere of influence Increasing reach & visibility


The e-NGO and power

Access Access to information & knowledge Acces to the agenda and decision makers

Participation What, where, how Publishing opportunities

Partnering Increasing co-operation

Pressure Increasing weight Mobilisation of the « public opinion »


Examples of ICT use in Human Rights

Case studies


Activism: country reports

Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is an

independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly.

Amnesty International Activities range from public

demonstrations to letter-writing, from human rights education to fundraising concerts, from individual appeals on a particular case to global campaigns on a particular issue.

Monitoring


Women's voices: a project by the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG)

Women's Voices is a video initiative which gives women living in poverty a voice in public policy making in Nairobi, Kenya

the women learnt scripting, shooting and editing and how to present their communities by showing rough-cuts and recording opinions and asking for contributions to the story and the narratives

Videos transferred to CDs and shown around the world and on the Web.

Impact direct and sustained contact with political

representatives increase in participation in the political process contract with a local TV network Growing self-esteem and respect from their

families and communities


Fondation Hirondelle: Radio OKAPI in the DR du Congo

Radio Okapi: A project of MONUC and the Fondation Hirondelle in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A radio destined to accompany the peace process

A transmission network of satellites, radio and Internet

Programming devoted to health, education, human rights


Activism: campaigns

NIGERIA: Campaign for human rights reform

focuses on building international pressure

aims to support human rights defenders inside

Documentation of HR in Nigeria

Country reportDocumentation of the cases of 21 Nigerians

Detained for the defence of HR10-point program for HR reform

Addressed to the nigerian gov.Suggested actions for readers


ICT in the Summer University on Human Rights

SUHR 95% of communication with students via e-mail e-learning e-mailing list Database for student coordination

Activism Agenda and participation rules Draft resolution mailed to other NGOs Cooperation, negociation, modification and signature Impact and weight increased through joint declaration


B92

Yugoslavian radio station that used... ...the Internet as a means of bypassing

media repression. Ranks in the top three Yugoslav sites

with around 15,000 visitors per day

Closed down 4 times by the Milosevic Regime (1991-2000)

Had 1 Mio hits per day during the NATO air-raids

Radio and TV production were sent via satellite and Internet

Co-ordinated anti-regime protests and encouraged post-regiem voting.


Some references: books

[Hick, Halpin, Hoskins (2000)][Hansen (1998)] [Norris (2001)]


Some references: articles

Hegener (1999) « The Internet, Satellites, and HR », e-OTI Hick, McNutt (2002) Advocacy, Activism, and the Internet Sewall (2000), « The Internet and Human Rights »


Some references: links

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights http://www.unhchr.ch/

Central and Eastern European Internet Directory for HR (CEEHR) http://www.ceehr.euv-frankfurt-o.de/hr/Welcome.html

Summer University on Human Rights http://www.droitshumains.org/uni/index_a.htm

Human Rights Internet: Internet training program http://www.hri.ca/training/html/contents.htm

APC.org: using the Internet strategically http://www.apc.org/english/capacity/strategy/examples_90s.shtml

International Human Rights Law Group http://www.hrlawgroup.org

Infosociety.ch http://www.infosociety.ch/


Questions & More Information

http://inforge.unil.ch/[email protected]

université de lausanne the information society and human rights summer university on human rights...

Documents

lausanne access

lausanne ict

capital information

exchange information

lausanne agenda

high access costs

low access costs

cost of production