Tunisia: Freedom of expression in Tunisia debated at UN in Geneva
On 31 March 2005, the worrying state of freedom of expression in Tunisia was highlighted at a panel discussion organized by the International Publishers' Association (IPA) and International PEN in Geneva during the annual session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Panelists included Tunisian writers, journalists, publishers, activists, a former judge at the French Cour de Cassation and representatives of international organizations, including the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and the World Association of Newspapers.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TUNISIA DEBATED AT UN IN GENEVA
On 31 March 2005, the worrying state of freedom of expression in Tunisia was highlighted at a panel discussion organized by the International Publishers' Association (IPA) and International PEN in Geneva during the annual session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Panelists included Tunisian writers, journalists, publishers, activists, a former judge at the French Cour de Cassation and representatives of international organizations, including the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and the World Association of Newspapers.
Sihem Bensedrine, Spokesperson of CNLT, declared: "The Tunisian government needs to greatly improve its record on free expression and other human rights if it is to earn the right to hold the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)".
The event, moderated by IPA and PEN Norway, was made possible by support from the Norwegian foundation Fritt Ord and from KOPINOR, the Reproduction Rights Organisation of Norway.
The panel discussion followed a fact-finding mission to Tunisia in January 2005 during which members of the IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) noted numerous concerns about the state of free expression in the country.
The mission found numerous incidents of human rights violations, including book censorship, the imprisonment of individuals who expressed their opinions, restrictions on freedom of association, police surveillance of e-mails and the blocking of news and information websites. The TMG also found a lack of pluralism in broadcast media ownership, attempts to block the distribution of books and publications, and routine press censorship.
The TMG report "Tunisia: Freedom of Expression Under Siege" is available at: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64665/ (French:
http://www.ifex.org/download/fr/rapportduTMG.doc).
More information about the IFEX TMG:
The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) is a global network of 64 national, regional and international freedom of expression organizations. The TMG is a coalition of 13 national, regional and international organizations that belong to the IFEX network. IPA,
International PEN, PEN Norway, AMARC and WAN are members of the IFEX TMG.
For more information, please contact Alexis Krikorian at: [email protected], + 41 22 830 1080.