Communication Rights

Translations: Français

"The Council of Europe was the first international organisation to raise the question of fundamental human rights, and drafted the European Convention on Human Rights, which is the cornerstone of our organisation. Now, fifty years after the adoption of that convention, we face a new information era and information society. It is now time to raise the question of updating the convention, including one new basic human right - covering the rights of people in cyber space. They include the right to Internet access, the right to a unique identity in cyber space and the right freely to receive information from it. I shall raise the matter in my political group, but I hope that it will be discussed in other political groups and even in other international organisations.

Many articles have been written about who will be rich and poor in future. The poor will be those who do not have the right information or access to it in cyber space. That is one reason why I suggest updating the European Convention on Human Rights to cover developments in technology and society."

From a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe by Danilo Gligoroski, Head of the Macedonian delegation

The Internet has become a vitally important area for civil society. With hundreds of millions of users worldwide, it provides a unique public sphere where decisions that shape all our lives can be freely debated and considered. In a globalised world that often undermines localised democratic institutions the Internet provides an essential means for defending and extending participatory democracy.

But for the Internet to achieve its full democratic and social potential it is vital that certain fundamental "Internet Rights" be recognised:

 The right to access the Internet
 The right to free speech and debate on matters of public interest
 The right to protection of privacy
 For open democratic processes in setting Internet standards

Internet Rights Bulgaria works within the context of defending and extending media freedom in general and particulary its accessability for social NGOs.