Post by cjm on Jul 19, 2016 5:27:55 GMT
mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/172085-south-africas-vote-against-internet-freedom.html
South Africa has yet again sided with repressive regimes such as Russia, China and Saudi Arabia against progressive efforts by the United Nations (UN).
This is counter to the spirit of the country’s enlightened constitution.
This month the UN voted on a resolution for “the Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet”.
This was in response to a UN Special Rapporteur report on the promotion of freedom of expression on the internet.
The rapporteur examined various threats to free expression online, including the use of technological surveillance and the excessive use of defamation laws.
About 70 countries signed the resolution. They included Australia, Brazil, Haiti, Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and the US. South Africa was one of 15 states that voted against it. Others in this camp included Russia, China, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates.
Since the advent of democracy in South Africa and the country’s adoption of a globally celebrated constitution, its votes on human rights have been of particular significance, especially in the developing world.
That the government would vote against rights enshrined in its own constitution – rights that were strenuously fought for – reflects a troubling cynicism and indifference to its human rights commitments.
...
South Africa has yet again sided with repressive regimes such as Russia, China and Saudi Arabia against progressive efforts by the United Nations (UN).
This is counter to the spirit of the country’s enlightened constitution.
This month the UN voted on a resolution for “the Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet”.
This was in response to a UN Special Rapporteur report on the promotion of freedom of expression on the internet.
The rapporteur examined various threats to free expression online, including the use of technological surveillance and the excessive use of defamation laws.
About 70 countries signed the resolution. They included Australia, Brazil, Haiti, Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and the US. South Africa was one of 15 states that voted against it. Others in this camp included Russia, China, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates.
Since the advent of democracy in South Africa and the country’s adoption of a globally celebrated constitution, its votes on human rights have been of particular significance, especially in the developing world.
That the government would vote against rights enshrined in its own constitution – rights that were strenuously fought for – reflects a troubling cynicism and indifference to its human rights commitments.
...