[huridocs-tech] Cuba Urged to Eliminate Restrictions on Internet Access

Washington, D.C., June 19, 2006. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for
Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(IACHR) of the OAS has been informed of the critical state of health of
the director of the Cubanacán Press news agency, Mr. Guillermo Fariñas,
who has been on hunger strike since January 31, 2006, in protest against
the lack of free access to the Internet in Cuba.

As emphasized by the Office of the Special Rapporteur, access to the
Internet can strengthen democratic systems, contribute to economic
development in the countries of the region, and uphold the full exercise
of freedom of expression.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur observes with concern that the Cuban
legal system severely restricts the population’s access to the Internet.
The source of said legal restrictions lies in the Decree No. 206/96,
“Access to the World Computer Network from Cuba”, which establishes a
number of limitations to the capacity of receiving and imparting
information through the Internet, which are incompatible with the right to
freedom of expression.

It is important to note that Principle 2 of the Declaration of Principles
on Freedom of Expression of the IACHR establishes that “[a]ll people
should be afforded equal opportunities to receive, seek and impart
information by any means of communication without any discrimination for
reasons of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinions, national or social origin, economic status, birth or any other
social condition”.

In this same vein, in December of 2005, the UN Special Rapporteur on the
Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and
Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OAS Special
Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression affirmed in a Joint Declaration that
“the right to freedom of expression imposes an obligation on all States to
devote adequate resources to promote universal access to the Internet” and
that “restrictions on Internet content, whether they apply to the
dissemination or to the receipt of information, should only be imposed in
strict conformity with the guarantee of freedom of expression”.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression recommends
to the Republic of Cuba the elimination of restrictions on Internet access
from its legislation.

OAS Press release

 

 
 
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