12-20-2007, 12:46 AM
This one's in queue now. Vote will be cast the night before the deadline, or earlier if not possible. (I have to be careful with timezones...)
Quote: Category: The Furtherment of Democracy
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Librustralia
Description: APPLAUDING the United Nations in its promotion of civil rights and freedom of expression, especially with the Universal Bill of Rights, Freedom of Press, and Freedom of Assembly and Artistic Freedom,
NOTING WITH DEEP REGRET however that while the resolutions defend free speech, they do not protect against censorship, which can infringe on free speech,
DEPLORING the various restriction of criticism by some nations with the goal of prohibiting new ideas from being formed,
STATING that a nation that allows for free criticism and exchange of ideas is a nation that will be more able to solve the many problems inherent in its society,
SEEKING therefore to promote and protect the freedom of speech in order to better society in the long term by regulating censorship,
IN ADDITION to 'Artistic Freedom', 'Freedom of Assembly' 'Freedom of Press' and 'Universal Bill of Rights' resolutions,
1) DEFINES "free speech" as the inherent human right to express one's opinion publicly without fear of censorship, "censorship" as "the removal or withholding of information from the public by a controlling group or body".
2) REAFFIRMS the right of all persons to free speech, provided that said free speech does not call for violence,
3) PROHIBITS national governments from committing censorship except in the following cases:
a) libel or slander
b) any threat of or call to violence, either overt or implied, against any group or individual.
c) The publication of classified materials.
4) MANDATES that all print, television and radio media, regardless of the size and influence of the media institution, and whether it supports or criticizes the government, cannot be shut down or censored by national governments based on content except when allowed in Clause 3.
5) ESTABLISHES the 'International Free Speech Union' (IFSU).
a) The IFSU is allowed to have at least one office in every member state and be allowed to carry out its work without any unreasonable restrictions.
b) The IFSU has the right to review all national laws and make purely advisory recommendations of how best to change those laws in order to protect free speech.
c) The IFSU is allowed to support any group's right to free speech by working within the legal system of each member state.
6) ENCOURAGES free and open debate between various political ideologies and points of view.
7) VOLUNTARY individual self-censorship, or closure of media is not prohibited.[/quote][/s]
Quote: Category: The Furtherment of Democracy
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Librustralia
Description: APPLAUDING the United Nations in its promotion of civil rights and freedom of expression, especially with the Universal Bill of Rights, Freedom of Press, and Freedom of Assembly and Artistic Freedom,
NOTING WITH DEEP REGRET however that while the resolutions defend free speech, they do not protect against censorship, which can infringe on free speech,
DEPLORING the various restriction of criticism by some nations with the goal of prohibiting new ideas from being formed,
STATING that a nation that allows for free criticism and exchange of ideas is a nation that will be more able to solve the many problems inherent in its society,
SEEKING therefore to promote and protect the freedom of speech in order to better society in the long term by regulating censorship,
IN ADDITION to 'Artistic Freedom', 'Freedom of Assembly' 'Freedom of Press' and 'Universal Bill of Rights' resolutions,
1) DEFINES "free speech" as the inherent human right to express one's opinion publicly without fear of censorship, "censorship" as "the removal or withholding of information from the public by a controlling group or body".
2) REAFFIRMS the right of all persons to free speech, provided that said free speech does not call for violence,
3) PROHIBITS national governments from committing censorship except in the following cases:
a) libel or slander
b) any threat of or call to violence, either overt or implied, against any group or individual.
c) The publication of classified materials.
4) MANDATES that all print, television and radio media, regardless of the size and influence of the media institution, and whether it supports or criticizes the government, cannot be shut down or censored by national governments based on content except when allowed in Clause 3.
5) ESTABLISHES the 'International Free Speech Union' (IFSU).
a) The IFSU is allowed to have at least one office in every member state and be allowed to carry out its work without any unreasonable restrictions.
b) The IFSU has the right to review all national laws and make purely advisory recommendations of how best to change those laws in order to protect free speech.
c) The IFSU is allowed to support any group's right to free speech by working within the legal system of each member state.
6) ENCOURAGES free and open debate between various political ideologies and points of view.
7) VOLUNTARY individual self-censorship, or closure of media is not prohibited.[/quote][/s]