[I've attached the conference agenda below. --Declan] ************* Experts tell U.N. conference 'hate' sites on Internet may be here to stay Reuters GENEVA (November 11, 1997 2:47 p.m. EST http://www.nando.net) - Internet hate sites, such as one urging "Aryan brothers and sisters ... to combat racially inferior parasites," are unlikely to be stamped out because this would limit freedom of speech, experts said Tuesday. The need to respect free speech, as well as the sheer size of the task, emerged at a United Nations seminar as the two main obstacles to eradicating such material. The issue has become more pressing as the number of online hate sites soars and racism, neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism, find new niches on the Internet, speakers at the meeting said. But there is no easy answer to the question: who decides what is offensive on the Internet? "In Europe, it would be racist to say, 'I don't like Arabs.' In the United States, we can say 'I don't like Arabs, I don't like pink people.' Under freedom of expression, it's not against the law," said Debra Guzman, executive director of the U.S.-based Human Rights Information Network. "You can't ban this in the United States," she told a news conference. One problem is that Internet technology itself cannot distinguish between the offensive and the non-offensive, said Eric Lee, public policy director at the U.S. Commercial Internet Exchange. [...] ************* Dear Madam/Sir, I have the honour to inform you that within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 51/81, the High Commissioner for Human Rights will organize a seminar on "The role of Internet with regard to the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination". The purpose of the Seminar which will take place in Geneva from 10 to 14 November 1997 and bring together experts on the subject matter, representatives of governments, Internet Service Providers, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, is to find ways and means to ensure a responsible use of the Internet in the light of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. The draft agenda of the meeting reads as follows: (a) Racism and Racial Discrimination on Internet (b) Technical Aspects of screening racist propaganda on Internet: 1. National Measures 2. International Measures (c) Prohibition of racist propaganda on the Internet. Juridical Aspects: 1. National Measures 2. International Measures (d) Elements for an eventual Code of Conduct and good practice for displaying material on Internet (e) Recommendations. /... #012# I am very pleased, on behalf of the Secretary-General, to invite your Organization to send an observer to the seminar. In order that the necessary arrangements concerning conference facilities may be made in advance, I would be grateful to receive his or her name by 30 October 1997 at the latest. Under existing arrangements, your Organization would be expected to bear the costs of its representative. I am attaching to this letter, for your convenience, a briefing note relating to the seminar. Yours sincerely, John Pace Chief Research and Right to Development Branch ______________________________________________________________________ IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE THIRD DECADE TO COMBAT RACISM AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION SEMINAR ON THE ROLE OF INTERNET WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Geneva, Palais des Nations 10-14 November 1997 PROVISIONAL AGENDA Monday 10 November Morning 10:00 - 13:00 Opening of the Seminar - Welcome address by High Commissioner for Human Rights - Election of the Bureau (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Rapporteur) - Adoption of the agenda - Organisation of work Afternoon Working session I 15:00 - 18:00 Item I: Racism and Racial Discrimination on Internet - Keynote address by Ms. Debra Guzman, Executive Director The Human Rights Information Network - General discussion - Conclusion #012# Tuesday 11 November Morning Working session II.a 10:00 - 13:00 Item II: Technical Aspects of screening racist propaganda on Internet: National measures - Keynote address by Mr. Timothy L. Jenkins, Chairman of Unlimited Visions - General discussion - Conclusion Afternoon Working session II.b 15:00 - 18:00 Item III: Technical Aspects of screening racist propaganda on Internet: international measures - Keynote address by Mr. Eric Lee, Commercial Internet Exchange - General discussion - Conclusion Wednesday 12 November Morning Working session III.a 10:00 -13:00 Item IV: Prohibition of Racist Propaganda on the Internet: Juridical Aspects, National Measures - Keynote address by an expert of the Department of Justice, USA - General discussion - Conclusion Afternoon Working session III.b 15:00 - 18:00 Item V: Prohibition of Racist Propaganda on the Internet: Juridical Aspects, International Measures - Keynote address by Mr. Agha Shahi, member of the Commitee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - General discussion - Conclusion #012# Thursday 13 November Morning Working session IV.a 10:00 - 13:00 Item VI: Elements for an eventual Code of Conduct and good practice for displaying material on Internet - Keynotes address by: Ms. Maya Sooka, Association for Progressive Communication, Johannesburg - General Discussion - Conclusion Afternoon Working session IV.b 15:00 - 18:00 Item VI: Elements for an eventual Code of Conduct and good practice for displaying material on Internet - Keynotes address by: Mr. Tony Rutkowsky, former senior ITU executive - General Discussion - Conclusion Friday 14 November Morning Free Time Afternoon 15:00 - 18:00 Conclusions and Recommendations Closing of the Seminar - Statement of the Chairperson - Final statement of the High Commissioner ------