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INTRODUCTION!
Dear Delegates, Hello and welcome to the United Nations Human Rights Council! My name is Hillary Bush, and I will be your Head Chair for the Berkeley Model United Nations 62nd session. We will be debating human rights issues in Syria, as well as access and freedom on the Internet as a human right. I expect to hear high level debate, as both topics are complex international issues that will fundamentally change how the discussion of rights will play out well into the 21st Century. I am eager to hear what solutions you all will create to these issues, and the high level of maturity and thoughtfulness I hope to see in debate. Now, to introduce your dais! My name is Hillary Bush, I am currently a fourth-year student at UC Berkeley pursuing a degree in Political Economy, concentrating in International Relations of Development. This will be my third year as a Chair in Berkeley Model United Nations and I could not be more excited to hear what you all have to say. Aside from BMUN, I worked at a UC Berkeley summer camp, The Lair of the Golden Bear, where I spent 3 months in the West Sierra Mountains as a camp counselor. I am also an avid traveler, and have recently returned to Berkeley after a semester spent studying in Florence, Italy. I have spent a considerable amount of time in Ethiopia, Australia, and other areas of Europe. In my free time, I enjoy cycling, learning how to cook, watching Homeland, and exploring what Berkeley and San Francisco have to offer. I am extremely excited to meet everyone during conference and listen to your creative debate! Arshia Singh is a third year Statistics and Political Science double major at Cal. She hails from Orange County and has participated in Model United Nations for the past seven years. She is also serving as this session's Under-Secretary General of Special Events. Outside of BMUN, she works as a Research Assistant at Berkeleys Law School in the Statewide Database/Election Administration Research Center. When not studying, you'd likely find her exploring Berkeley, attending music festivals, or memorizing lengthy regulations for the FAA's Private Pilot Knowledge exam. She is beyond psyched to meet everyone this March!

Emily Reece is a second-year intended Political Science major with a focus in Comparative Politics. She went to high school in Murrieta, California and is a new member of BMUN. Aside from Berkeley Model United Nations, Emily is also involved with Berkeley Engineers and Mentors (BEAM) and the Student Union Program, Entertainment, and Recreation Board (SUPERB). Some of her favorite activities include playing piano, drawing, running, hiking the Berkeley hills, watching Netflix, and kicking butt on BMUN's very own intramural soccer team, BMUN Rage. Emily is also very passionate about education, and is looking forward to sharing and learning new ideas at BMUN 62. She has been counting the days until the conference and cannot wait to see the unique and well researched solutions and policies that will be presented during committee. Sincerely, Hillary Bush Head Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council Berkeley Model United Nations, 62nd Session

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE SYRIAN REVOLUTION!

Topic Background
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The rise of Bashar Al-Assad reaches back to 1970 when his father overthrew president Nur alDin al-Atasi. His father was then elected in 1971 only to usher in a tumultuous regime defined by controversy and political strife. Bashar Al-Assad succeeded his father in 2000 and began to show trends of political suppression against pro-reform activists who had hoped that Assad would depart from his fathers authoritarian past. Assads suppressive actions ranged from censoring dissent in media outlets to using force and violence against protest groups. Within the past decade, tensions within the country grew as arrests continued and the Assad regime suppressed those who dissented. Syrias involvement in Lebanon began in 1976 during the Lebanese Civil War to ensure that the Maronite regime remained in power. Tension and violence rose when Israel invaded Lebanon and attacked the Syrian army in 1982; although peace !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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violent aspects of terrorist groups. Assads authoritarian regimes ideals have demonstrated continued contrast to Western agendas in promoting democracy and freedom. In 2002 Senior U.S. Officials placed Syria on the list of countries that make up an Axis of Evil, a designation first created in January 2002 by former United States President George W. Bush. Furthermore, John Bolton, the Undersecretary of State, stated that Syria had been acquiring weapons of mass destruction. These comments lead the U.S. to threaten sanctions against Syria as Damascus continually denied charges of chemical weapons use and aid provision to antiAmerican Iraqi refugees. In 2004, the U.S. employed economic sanctions against Syria for providing aid to Iraq and allowing militant movement into the state.1

International tensions also began to rise as Assad increasingly disagreed with western definitions of terrorism, among other issues. For example, during a meeting with British PM Tony Blair, Assad referred to Blairs definition of terrorist organizations as press officers, a definition that has been criticized for disregarding the

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east14703995).

was declared between Israel and Syria, troops were not evacuated from Lebanon and more Syrian troops were sent in 1987, leaving the conflict unresolved. Although Syria worked with the US and Egypt in a campaign against Iraq in the 1980s, cooperation crumbled as the global political arena drastically changed. In 2005, tension between the US and Syria rose as Washington spoke out against Syrias influence in Lebanon, Syrian troops were eventually withdrawn in April. Violence escalated when senior officials and ambassadors were assassinated, Danish and Norwegian embassies were set on fire, and gunmen attacked the US Embassy in Damascus in 2006. In 2007 the EU began dialogue with Syria, and conversations with Western countries were heralded as the beginning to new international diplomacy with the country. Syria established peaceful relationships with Lebanon for the first time since the 1940s as the country worked to resolve international issues. The current situation in Syria today is largely caused by its historically authoritarian regime and unpredictable government policies.

II. CURRENT SITUATION A national uprising began in March 2011 in the wake of the Arab Spring with protests demanding the release of political prisoners in Deraa. The Arab Spring refers to the waves of revolutionary protests and civil wars in the Arab world that began after Mohamed Bouazizis selfimmolation in Tunisia in December 2010. Through use of social media sites and word of mouth, revolutionary movements spread across the Arab world and reached Syria, where the population began widespread protest and conflict arose. The Assad regime deployed army tanks and ground forces to combat anti-regime protestors. In June 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported Syria to the UN Security Council for pursuing unauthorized nuclear programs. Large opposition forces coalesced in Summer 2011. Attempts by the UN to pass a resolution against the increasingly dangerous situation in Syria were met by vetoes from Russia and China. During this time, the Assad regime stepped up on attacks on various cities and increased their security crackdown on the country. Increased violence brought indiscriminate attacks against civilians and severe human rights abuses.

As of October 2013, over two million refugees have been registered outside of the country. Over 770,000 have gone to Lebanon, with the rest moving to Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt. In addition, over 4 million Syrians are internally displaced. According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), not even half of the funding needed has been received. The host countries find themselves in a crisis, unable to cope with the enormous demand for food, water, health services, and safety. Possibly even in a worse situation, internally displaced refugees oftentimes lack any of the resources provided by the international community because NGOs are unwilling to enter conflict zones where the risk is too high. In general, basic human rights at refugee camps have declined as a result of budget issues and the overuse of facilities. Refugee camps are described as prison-like with armed officers controlling movement and the sacrifice of free will to enter and exit the over populated camps. An estimated 300,000 children are not receiving education, and women and girls are increasingly prone to exploitative labor, violence, sexual assault, and early or forced marriage. Resources are steadily dwindling because the refugee camps are already over capacity and more Syrians are fleeing the country. 5

Violence within the country has caused the death toll to near 100,000 people as of July 2013.2 The Syrian Government has also detained thousands of political dissidents for exercising their right to expression or even providing medical care to the injured. This is due to a Counterterrorism Law passed in July 2012, which criminalizes most dissent against the Assad regime. Prisoners are subjected to prolonged arbitrary detention of sometimes over two years, prohibited communication to lawyers or family, torture, and in some cases death. Former detainees told Human Rights Watch that they were forced into stress positions for long periods of time, sexually abused, electrically shocked, and beaten with metal rods, cables, and other weapons. There are reportedly 27 detention facilities within Syria and over 1,200 people have died in detention.3 Opposition groups have also carried out abuses according to Human Rights Watch. Kidnapping of security forces and civilians has been documented, often times asking for weapons and ransom in return. Stories of torture through !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/08/07/syrian-refugeesstruggle-protect-daughters-exploitation 3 http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/10/03/syria-politicaldetainees-tortured-killed
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beating, electrocution, and stress positions have been reported. YouTube videos have shown confessions made by individuals with blatant injuries and abuse. Evidence also exists showing executions by hangings and shootings.
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was passed after negotiation talks between Russia and the US following the international outrage from chemical attacks. Syrias chemical weapons should be completely removed by mid-2014, and this is first time such a mission has been carried out during conflict.6

The Assad regime was under investigation for producing and using chemical weapons, violating international law and human rights standards. The UN issued a report stating that the Syrian government used the toxic chemical, sarin, on a relatively large scale against civilians on August 21st 2013. The Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon classified the attack as a war crime as over 1,300 people died with many more suffering from neurotoxic symptoms. The government denied responsibility for the attack with support from Russia, stating that there was inadequate evidence to blame them. More chemical attacks are under investigation by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)winner of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prizebegan destruction of Syrias chemical weapons in early October of 2013. The mission was initiated under a UN resolution that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/03/20/syria-armedopposition-groups-committing-abuses 5 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east23927399
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Aerial attacks have also taken the lives of over 4,300 civilians since July 2012 and are seen as unlawful war crimes in violations of international humanitarian law. The government has used cluster munitions, known for their indiscriminate nature. Armed opposition forces such as the Free Syrian Army have also been accused of using child soldiers in combat roles, deploying their forces in densely populated civilian areas, and indiscriminately shelling neighborhoods.7 The Free Syrian Army escalated its attacks, especially in Damascus, and was able to take control of several cities. Many oppositional forces operate as independent militias and lack an organized structure and protocol, making it difficult to issue widespread orders and maintain coherence among the groups. There have been issues of violent oppositional groups appearing in Syria with ties to Al Qaeda and Hezbollah. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east24419468 7 http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/10/syria-aerialattacks-strike-civilians
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Multilateral institutions and many governments have made statements concerning the use of chemical weaponry by the Assad regime. It is now known that chemical weapons, including sarin, have killed thousands of people, as noted above. President Obama has made statements about a red line that would encourage the US to engage in military action within Syria, which could potentially escalate violence and human rights abuses due to increased military action. US intervention would occur on the basis of protecting civilians and promoting human rights, but there is debate surrounding the consequences military intervention.8 The Syrian conflict was placed at the top of the G-8 agenda as violence and civilian quality of life deteriorates. The G-20 conference in September 2013 consisted of Russia-US-Syria talks about possible US intervention, which overshadowed the original economic agenda of the conference. III. INTERNATIONAL ISSUE The situation in Syria has become an
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promote

democracy

and

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internationally, but has also been inconsistent with his decisions. The question of international intervention is placed on center stage, and those actions will eventually play out according to decisions made by the Assad regime and what requirements the global community puts in place for intervention.10 Furthermore the international community has continually condemned the abuses in Syria although strategic political action by Russia and China has stalled any real and tangible action. Both countries have interest in creating an ally in the region and thus, seek to prevent action against Syria. Despite these setbacks, the UN human rights observers have also continued to heavily condemn Assad for allying with radical Hezbollah forces from Lebanon that pose a threat to Israel and geographically expanding the conflict.11 The Syrian Civil War erupted in the context of the Arab spring, and there is undoubtedly a possibility of a domino effect taking place, causing the domestic conflict to spillover into !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21572198-

international crisis. U.S. President Obama has made numerous comments about the need to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east14703995 9http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/world/middleeast /un-syria-death-toll.html?ref=global-home
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sectarian-divisions-deepen-war-changing-country-beyondrecognition-country 11 http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/un-humanrights-council-slams-hezbollah-role-in-sy_855067.html%27

nearby areas. Since neighboring Turkey is a member of NATO, attacks on the shared border could erupt into an international military conflict. There have been multiple car bombings at various border crossings that have been attributed to Syrians. Turkey has been very cautious near the border areas, resulting in the shooting down of a helicopter after it entered Turkish airspace. Also, Lebanons militant group Hezbollah has backed Syrian government troops in moves to capture towns within the country.

development of nuclear arms, and straightening out political and military action set forth by the Assad Regime. During the Syrian occupation of Lebanon and rising tensions with the United States in the early 2000s, there were rumors of Syria developing chemical weapons and supporting terrorism by helping fugitive Iraqis. This lead to the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for all foreign forces to leave Lebanon in September of 2004. In September 2007, the IAEA, the UNs nuclear

With such instability in this geographic region, war in Syria could easily influence nearby countries. The conflict could cause the spread of political turmoil throughout Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and other Arab Spring countries. The international community pays a lot of attention to the Syrian Civil War and will undoubtedly play a critical role in evaluating the extent of human rights abuses.
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watchdog, reported Syria to the Security Council in September of 2007 after an Israeli airstrike would uncover a secretive nuclear reactor program in northern Syria. In June of 2009 the IAEA also discovered traces of manmade uranium, a core component of nuclear weapons at a secondary site near Damascus and would eventually report them to the Security Council two years later. Opposition began to organize at the beginning of the civil war in 2011 and President Assad reacted with sending in troops to mass demonstrations to restore order at the cost of civilian lives. The UN attempted to pass a draft resolution condemning Syria in October of 2011, but it was vetoed by political moves taken by Russia and China. 8

Past International/UN Action

I. HISTORICAL UN INVOLVEMENT Much of the United Nations involvement in Syria has dealt with chemical weapons,

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/syria-carbomb-turkey-border_n_3940790.html

The UN has not historically played a major role in Syria until the current civil war broke out in 2011. The Syrian government has often been in turmoil with nearby countries and other members of the Arab League due to various occupations such as Lebanon, aiding terrorists and fugitives, as well as failing to implement regional programs such as the Arab Peace Plan.13 II. CURRENT UN INVOLVEMENT After China and Russia vetoed a 2012 Security Council resolution, the Syrian government escalated their attacks. By February of 2012 the death count reached 7,500 people. In March of 2012 the UN envoy Kofi Annan drafted a nonbinding peace plan but the statement did not provide enough strength to diminish the violence. The Security Council again employed public condemnation of the government in an attempt to stop the war from escalating in May of 2012. The situation did not improve as hundreds of Syrians were killed with heavy weaponry and militia killing near the city of Homs. France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the UK all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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expelled Syrian Diplomats in protest. The summer of 2012 brought more UN action against Syria, as the General Assembly demanded that Assad resign which lead for other high level opposition to develop such as Syrias Prime Minister, Riad Hijab. Violence and instability increased in the coming months as the opposition forces joined together to form the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces in the fall of 2012. The United States, Britain, France, Turkey, and Gulf States formally recognized the opposition coalition as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. Violence increased as time passed, and rumors of chemical weaponry began to arise in the spring of 2013. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillary, released a statement saying that the conflict in Syria has reached new levels of brutality, with terrorist organizations such as Jabhat Al Nusrah are becoming increasingly involved. Pillary noted that, The disregard for human life and dignity by the parties to the conflict is utterly appalling. Serious human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity are becoming the norm. She also noted injustices carried out by the government in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east14703995

the forms of indiscriminate killings, unwarranted arrests, torture and ill treatment. In June of 2013 the UNHRC condemned all violations of fundamental Human Rights in Syria and intervention of all foreign combatants through a resolution adopted by a vote of 37 in favor, 1 against, and 9 abstentions. With more resistance and censorship by of the the Syrian situation government, transparency

The OHCHR insisted that the solution to the crisis should be done politically and, States with influence over the parties must work to support an inclusive, Syrian-led political solution to this conflict. Parties must initiate immediate negotiations to reduce violence and human rights violations, and improve the protection of civilians. Furthermore, the briefing called for all war crimes, crimes against humanity, and human rights violations to be brought to the They International Criminal Court (ICC).

became an increasing issue, as reporters and humanitarian aid became more restricted and attacked. In a briefing by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) in July of 2013, the death toll reached nearly 93,000 people, with at least 6,500 being minors and 1,700 of which were under the age of ten. The rate of killings has reached 5,000 per month, which serves as an example of the deteriorating situation. The OHCHR also noted the acts of torture, kidnapping, indiscriminate killings, and displacement caused by both sides of the conflict. The briefing called for both parties to respect their obligations according to

concluded with plans to extend research and human rights monitoring in the area. In the months of July, August, and September, inquiry into the use of chemical weapons as heavily increased. Multiple press releases have strictly condemned the use of chemical weaponry as they are remarked as exceptionally grace and gruesomely violate international human rights as well as standards put forth by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.14 II. UN RESOLUTIONS On September 24th, 2012 resolution

international law and respect civilian rights, allow peaceful humanitarian aid, and the rights of refugees to flee freely.

A/HRC/21/L.32, the UNHRC expressed grave !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Display News.aspx?NewsID=13545&LangID=E

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concern at the increasingly violent situation, high amounts of internally and externally displaced refugees, and condemned all violence irrespective of where it came from. The resolution also spoke out against the Government controlled militia, Shabbiha, and the use of heavy weapons and force against civilians, as well as the massacre of the village of Al-Houla near Homs.15 Another resolution with a similar March, goal, 2013

violence, indiscriminate shelling, and mass killings.16 Similar resolutions have been passed, specifically A/HRC/23/L.1 & A/HRC/23/L.29. The UNHRC has spoken to the uncooperativeness of the Syrian Government and their need to allow more access to the Commission of Inquiry and emphasized UN Agencies as well as the international community to provide financial support for humanitarian needs. A list of resolutions can be found here: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/sdpage_e.aspx? b=10&c=179&t=4 More information regarding the UNs involvement with the Syrian situation can be found here: http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?i nfocusID=146&Body=Syria&Body1 III. NGO AND IGO INVOLVEMENT As of August 7th, 2013 there are 12 international NGOs in Syria, with 555 national staff, 20 volunteers, and 29 international staff. The NGOs are placed in areas of turmoil mostly in the eastern area of the country near Damascus,

A/HRC/22/L.31/Rev.1

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pointed back to past resolutions and listed human rights abuses by the Syrian regime with heavy weapons, warplanes and Scud missiles increased number of victims, caused human displacement inside the Syrian Arab Republic and an influx of thousands of Syrians to the neighboring countries fleeing violence, which targets even children and women and threatens the political stability of the region. Other violations of human rights include the use of ballistic missiles, unlawful killings, executions, arbitrary arrest, massacres, torture, sexual

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http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Display News.aspx?NewsID=13545&LangID=E

http://daccess-ddsny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/LTD/G13/124/07/PDF /G1312407.pdf?OpenElement

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Homs, Hama, and other regional cities. The 12 international NGOs are Action Against Hunger (ACF) , Danish Refugee Council (DRC), HELP, International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), Institut Europee de Cooperation et de Developpement (IECD), International Medical Corps (IMC), Mercy Corps, Oxfam GB, Premier Urgence (PU), Secours Islamique France (SIF), SOS International, and Terre des Hommes (TdH). The international community has been

deliver aid for humanitarian purposes and focus on live saving activities.17

Case Studies
I. FREEDOM OF SPEECH/POLITICAL PRISONERS Since the 1963 Arab Socialist Baath military coup, al-Assad and his son have fundamentally altered the freedoms of Syrians through a series of emergency laws. This was first enacted in December of 1962 and allowed the military a free reign over citizens, even to limit personal freedoms. Assad would go on to pass several more laws that allowed for any citizen to be arbitrarily arrestee, detained, and sentenced without receiving legal counsel.18 Despite the release of some hundreds of political prisoners under Assads regime in 2005, thousands more remain in custody of the government, often due to suspected links with the Muslim Brotherhood and other dissident groups. Human rights activists are often targeted and barred from leaving the country, with over !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://reliefweb.int/map/syrian-arab-republic/syrianarab-republic-humanitarian-presence-international-ngos-7august-2013 18 http://www.meforum.org/683/syrian-reform-what-liesbeneath
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encouraged by the UN to provide more humanitarian aid and peaceful assistance to Syrian civilians. However, the increasing hostility towards the international community and reporters, along with the heightened difficulty of entrance and free correspondence of news has created many obstacles for NGOs and IGOs to overcome. There is still immense need for aid in health, nutrition, shelter, safety, water, hygiene, telecommunications, and much more. Funds need to be committed through NGOs, UN agencies, and host governments to effectively

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190 known activists trapped within the nations borders as early as 2006.19 Moreover, there is no independent press within the country and even online authors are identified and imprisoned for such crimes as weakening national sentiment, and insulting the president and public administrations. Disappearances of advocates of human rights and free speech are common and when their bodies are eventually found they often bear signs of torture. Thousands of people connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, abducted from Lebanon or detained from Palestine, have disappeared, though the Syrian government denies any involvement of its security forces.20 Estimates on the number of forced disappearances range from 10,000 to 120,000, though such data is almost impossible to collect during such chaos and displacement.21 In Daraa in 2011, 15 children were arrested for creating anti-government graffiti, which sparked Syrian protests that spread across the nation. The police responded to sit-ins and other forms of non-violent protest in Daraa by detaining, beating, and opening fire on the crowds, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2006/syria 20 http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2009/syria 21 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/syriaenforced-disappearances_n_3294010.html
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transforming the local protests into massive rallies in cities throughout Syria. The police led a siege on the city and conducted mass arrests, sparking a civil war.22 Political prisoners have been detained for a number of reasons; in the case of Islam Dabbas it was for engaging in the strategy of fraternization for offering soldiers water bottles.23 Many attempts have been made to free the detained, and this May rebels attacked Aleppo prison to attempt to free some 250 political prisoners and dissidents but failed to dislodge any of the regimes forces or 4,000 prisoners located in the complex. Aleppo has been a site of extreme violence during the civil war in Syria and the attack coincided with an Internet blackout of over 8 hours, which the Assad regime attributed to a rebel bombing of cable lines.24 II. KURDS (I.E. ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION) The Kurds represent Syrias greatest non-Arab ethnic minority, making up approximately 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/world/meast/syriacrisis-beginnings 23 http://forusa.org/content/syrian-political-prisoners 24 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/15/syriarebels-attack-aleppo-prison_n_3278394.html
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percent of the population. Despite being Syrianborn, over 300,000 Kurds have faced denial to citizenship at the whim of the ruling Baath party. 25 This means they cannot own property, vote, or get married under Syrian law. They do not have freedom of movement and are not guaranteed re-entry if they leave the state. They are culturally suppressed by the regime as wellKurds are disallowed from teaching or making use of their native language and customs, or else face a ten-year prison sentence.27 Any member of a Kurdish political organization can be subject to arrest without warrant. Many of those detained report being tortured and even after release, they report being threatened and brought in for interrogation at random by security forces or civilian police.28 Security forces and Kurds have repeatedly clashed since the Kurdish Rebellion began in 2004, leaving 30 dead and hundreds injured in the city of Qamishli alone. In a ten day period during August of 2013 over 40,000 Syrian Kurds fled the country to Iraq, running from groups of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2005/syria http://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/Syria.htm 27 http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/kurdish-syriacultural-armed-revolution 28 http://www.hrw.org/news/2009/11/26/syria-endpersecution-kurds
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fighters who took control over their villages along the border in the chaos of civil war.29 Assad, in an attempt to quell the rising protests in April of 2012, decreed that he would grant citizenship to some Syrian-born Kurds and also approved a new political parties law among other reform measures like increased freedom of media. However, the ongoing fighting within the nation has made it impossible to determine whether the government has made any plans to implement such reforms.30 When it comes to the civil war in Syria, Kurds are hesitant to take the side of either Assad or the Muslim Brotherhood. They fear the rise of Islamic fundamentalists as much as the repression of Assad, should the regime stabilize. They have taken hold of key infrastructure and governance of cities along the Syrian-Turkish border, even providing security and resources to those who live there. This semi-autonomous zone has caused worry among surrounding nations like Iraq and Turkey who have also suppressed Kurdish claims to the state.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/us-syriacrisis-iraq-idUSBRE97P09G20130826 30 http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report2012-syria
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Questions to Consider
Do you feel like the international influence on the rebel fighters (ie, Hezbollah working with rebels) will change the political outcome at the end of the Revolution? How do you feel their influence will change the makeup of the final result? What is your opinion on the actions taken by the Assad regime, and how is he supported or discouraged by different groups of the international community? Why do certain western countries feel the need to take responsibility and threaten attacks and repercussions on Syria? How are these attacks justified in the international community and global agreements? What international agreements have the Assad regime violated, and what agreements are shaping the way the international community is responding? Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are fleeing to refugee camps in nearby countries, how are conditions in these camps and what human rights are being violated? What kind of aid and assistance is needed for the Syrian people? What possible solutions are there for improving the conditions of Syrians remaining in the country, and how would these solutions be carried out?

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INTERNET ACCESS AND FREEDOM AS A HUMAN RIGHT

Topic Background
Development of the Internet began in the mid 20th century and the concept of a worldwide network was finally realized in 1982. Commercial- and profit-minded projects along with various service providers arose, and restrictions on commercial traffic was finally removed in 1995, allowing commerce and information to flow freely. Since this time, the Internet has implanted itself in society as an integral part of information sharing, knowledge creation, communication, culture, and everyday business. With the development of instant messaging, email, video calls, blogging, social media sites, online shopping, and other online activities, use of the Internet has skyrocketed. The Internet created an extensive information infrastructure with a thorough influence on the world. With more reliance on the Internet for commerce, information, and community operations, access Although use of Facebook, Twitter, and other online media are known mainly for sharing pictures, plans, or connecting with friends, social media websites have been integral in creating a widespread culture along with sharing political information. Chinese blogger Murong Xuecon described the Internet as a giant public square where citizens can hear and support one another32. The Internet is the new, modern way of accessing information and sharing with large communities. Access to up to date information informs people of current events and movements. As seen in the Arab Spring, the Internet has been used to share videos of death, destruction, corruption, and revolution. This has pushed governments to restrict access to the Internet in order to keep control on their populations. Governments have !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.internetsociety.org/internet/whatinternet/history-internet/brief-history-internet
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has become a fundamental aspect of living in an increasingly globalized world.31

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/opinion/murongbusting-chinas-bloggers.html

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restricted access to social media sites and have banned news websites that disagree with government doctrines. Furthermore, access to the Web has also provided links to values of democracy to limit. The notion of free speech originates in the time of Socrates, and has been considered a fundamental human right throughout history. The Bill of Rights in the United States, the Declaration of Rights of Man drafted during the French Revolution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are a few of many documents emphasizing the importance of free speech. However, there have been many instances of restriction of the freedom of speech and press. Russian novelist, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, was exiled in 1974 for writing One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich, which described labor camp conditions during the Stalin era. Passed in the wake of 9/11, the USA PATRIOT government Act more allowed the American access on and free speech, things that authoritarian and restrictive governments work

These examples show the conflict between the state and citizens in regards to freedom of expression. Both forces work to increase their power, with protests and citizen-minded documents and movements working to protect freedom of speech. In contrast, states have suppressed free speech through censorship, exile, and invasion of privacy. The restriction of free speech online relates to the debate surrounding freedom of speech and press. Passed in 1948, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Since the Declaration was passed before the creation of the Internet, contemporary debate also surrounds application of the original article to the Internet.34 Access to the Internet varies among regions and states, resulting in varying policies regarding freedom of speech on the Internet. According to Freedom House, North America, Western Europe, Australia, and Japan have high freedom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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investigative

individuals seen as a threat.33

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http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/05/religio n.news

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/#atop

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of press on the Internet. India, Indonesia, Eastern Europe, South America, and western and southern Africa are partly free. China, Russia, the Middle East, central and eastern Africa, and Mexico do not have freedom on the Internet. In North America and Europe, around 80% of the population use the Internet. 38% of the Arab world, 32% of Asia and the Pacific, and 16% of Africa use the Internet. In 2012, Asia had over 1 billion Internet users, doubling that of Europe. North America had nearly 275 million users, Latin America had 254 million users, Africa had 167 million users, the Middle East had 90 million users, and Australia/Oceania had 24 million users. 35 Trends show that the developed world has a higher percentage of Internet use, and democratic states allow more freedom of the press online. More men than women use the Internet around the world, and there has been a steady global increase in use. From 2003 to 2013, global Internet use increased from 10% to 39%, over 2.7 billion people. 2013 data shows that 77% of the developed world and 31% of the developing world uses the Internet. FixedBroadband prices have dropped by 82% since !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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2008, making the Internet more affordable around the world. 36 These trends indicate that Internet use will penetrate more areas of the world in coming years as prices decrease and access increases. With the Internet becoming more popular and accessible around the world, The United Nations Human Rights Council unanimously voted to declare the access to the Internet and online freedom of expression as a basic human right in July of 2012. The resolution was even signed by countries that traditionally support censorship measures such as Cuba and China.37 Policy varies across systems of government and states. Dictators or totalitarian regimes head many of the countries that heavily censor or restrict Internet access. In unstable places like Tunisia, Internet providers must report all information about bloggers to the government who filters information and has blocked thousands of websites, such as pornography, mail, and translation services. In Syria, any blogger that may jeopardize national unity38 is arrested, sites criticizing the government are !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.itu.int/en/ITUD/Statistics/Documents/facts/ICTFactsFigures2013.pdf 37 http://mashable.com/2012/07/06/internet-humanright/. 38 http://cpj.org/2001/09/syria-legalizes-privatenewspapers.php
36

http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

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blocked, and Web content is filtered. Syrias restriction has become even more severe during its civil war.

tend to have more freedom of speech on the Internet. The restricting of access and expression on the

China has the most Internet users in the world but also has one of the most rigid censorship programs. All information regarding Tibetan or Taiwan independence, protests, blogs, and movements is blocked or filtered. Cuba has the lowest Internet access in the Western hemisphere and only allows pro-government opinions to be posted online. Only 4% of North Korea has access to the Internet, there are only two websites held under a domain name, blogging is not allowed, and the government uploads absolutely all content. Burma, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Egypt, and Ethiopia are also regarded as some of the most heavily censored areas.39 Many of these countries are currently under communist rule or have once been. Totalitarian and oppressive rulers also use censorship in order to prevent any threat to their absolute power. Countries with historically unstable governments and economic turmoil also have increased control of information on the Internet. Western countries with democratic governments !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Internet may also impede on education of the public within a country. By restricting information posted online, there are many less opportunities for the public to inform and educate themselves on topics such as current events, the economy, and basic schooling. Censoring information violates freedom of expression, a human right lauded by the UN. Censorship of free speech on the Internet contradicts the vote taken in July of 2012 noted above, and also results in other human rights abuses. Maziar Bahari of Iran was arrested without charge, held in solitary confinement for 118 days, and beaten for insulting the Supreme Leader and undermining the security of the state through participating in online election protest. Others have been harassed by the state, arrested without charge, politically repressed, and beaten. 29 professional journalists and at least 12 citizen journalists have been killed since 2012. Dozens of others have fled to escape threats of violence,

http://listverse.com/2010/10/02/top-10-countries-thatcensor-the-internet/

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arrest, or death. In 2011 alone, 80 journalists went into exile.40 The expansion of Internet usage has not only signaled positive change. Increased Internet use is correlated with worsened eating habits, decreased physical activity, and behavior issues, especially among adolescents. Additionally, although the Internet may mean increased access to information, the quality of this information varies from source to source and may not be true even if it is not filtered. Moreover, many Internet users do not realize the amount of information collected on them by private companies, websites, and governments. Internet use can also drastically change cultures around the world to depart from traditional communities in favor of global information sharing. Freedom on the Internet can also allow access to a number of criminal organizations and

anti-corruption, and anti-defamation. Other areas censor the Internet due to their religious governments or promotion of a certain social morality that do not condone things like pornography or gambling.41 Although the United Nations has publicly supported freedom of speech on the Internet as a human right, sovereign interests of other countries must be respected. While protecting freedom of speech online has international elements, it also remains a large domestic dispute that is determined by the states ruling authority. No one mode of government rules across the world, which results in varying policies regarding freedom of speech on the Internet. The difficulty in international intervention comes from the lack of regulatory mechanisms for domestic disputes, and their relevance to international institutions.

Past International/UN Action

I. HISTORICAL UN INVOLVEMENT In 2003 the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) convened in December under the support of the UN and adopted the WSIS Declaration of Principles, which enhanced the !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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unwanted exposure. This can manifest in a number of hate groups such as neo-Nazis or in the purchase and sale of false identities, mercenary services, or illegal drugs on websites kept anonymous through the Tor network. Some Internet censorship in countries with high freedom has been done in the name of safety, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
40

http://en.rsf.org/experts-say-crimes-against-freedom26-06-2012,42883.html

http://www.thetreenetwork.com/negative-impacts-ofthe-internet/

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Information Societys (IS) role in maintaining universal human rights. The IS works to create an inclusive online community that encourages knowledge sharing to enable individuals and improve their quality of life. This goal was developed with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a guiding principle. The declaration also put specific emphasis freedom of opinion and expression, and expanded that principle to include the right to express through opinions any They and access and further information, regardless stated of that, media

report to the UNHRC. The report was based on a global analysis of the current situation regarding anonymity, expression privacy on laws, the and Internet. necessary Recommendations ranged from respecting online infrastructure on providing Internet access. La Rue stated that having a State restrict Internet use, regardless of the justification provided, including on the grounds of violating intellectual property rights law, to be disproportionate and thus a violation of article 19, paragraph 3, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report goes as far as to call upon states to constantly ensure that Internet access is maintained, even during political unrest. This means allowing Internet cafs to remain open, prevent shutdown of news websites, and allow the public to use the Internet in general. La Rue says that freedom of expression on the Internet is dually important as the right to the Internet itself, and law should never restrict the sharing of flow of information.43

frontiers

communication is a fundamental social process, a basic human need and the foundation of all social organization Everyone, everywhere should have the opportunity to participate and no one should be excluded from the benefits the Information Society offers." This summit marks a point in which the UN made access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) a staple in the new age of human rights.
42

In May of 2011, Frank La Rue, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression submitted a lengthy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Internet Society (IS) conducted an online survey in the summer of 2012 to over 10,000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itus/md/03/wsis/doc/S03-WSIS-DOC-0004!!PDF-E.pdf

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/1 7session/A.HRC.17.27_en.pdf

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users in 20 countries. The survey posed questions about usage frequency of Internet, social media, and audio conferencing. In response to the statement, Access to the Internet should be considered a basic human right, 83% of respondents said they somewhat or strongly agreed, 14% said they somewhat or strongly disagreed, and 3% said they did not know or were not applicable. A similar demographic response was recorded to the statement of, My government has an obligation to ensure that I have the opportunity to access the Internet.44 A resolution passed in June 2012 declared Internet access as a basic human right and that it should be guaranteed and protected by states. This resolutions message was noted around the world and has provided a framework for the discussion about this topic today. II. UN COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT

of this right. The UN also established the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in 2006 after the WSIS formally called for the creation of the IGF during its second phase. The IGF holds annual meetings and provides a forum for discussing policy on issues of governance of the Internet.45 III. UN RESOLUTIONS Aside from the number of resolutions noted above, the most declarative resolution was passed in June 2012. This resolution formally declared access to the Internet a basic human right, as well as freedom of opinion and expression on the Internet. It was passed in response to the impact of social media, blogging, and other Internet forums during the Arab Spring and the importance of information sharing in empowering citizens of the world. The special report of Frank La Rue also provided

Seeing that the debate about access to the Internet has been framed within the context of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council plays an integral role in the international progression and maintenance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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immense amounts of evidence and arguments in favor of deeming access to the Internet as a human right. With that analysis, the UNHRC was able to pass the resolution through the General Assembly.

https://www.internetsociety.org/sites/default/files/GIUS 2012-GlobalData-Table-20121120_0.pdf

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http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/

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The resolution, affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and through any media of ones choice. The resolution also pinpoints the Internet as a large engine in development and progress around the world. The resolution essentially expands the right to freedom of opinion and expression to the technological world and opened up a forum for debate in the international community on the topic.46 IV. NGO AND IGO INVOLVEMENT There are various NGOs working to expand access to the Internet on their own. One organization, A Human Right, based in San Francisco, expands Internet access to encourage economic opportunity, democracy, education, disaster relief, and healthcare. Companies such as Google have launched projects such as Project Loon, described as Balloon-Powered Internet For Everyone which strives to provide the two thirds of the world without Internet more access online.48 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Internet.org, a group lead by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a a global partnership between technology leaders, nonprofits, local communities and experts who are working together to bring the internet to the two thirds of the worlds population that doesnt have it. Sharing tools, resources and best practices, Internet.org partners will explore solutions in three major opportunity areas: affordability, efficiency, and business models.49 Another organization that works on finding solutions for websites being attacked by governments or repression is the Internet Freedom Project. Other groups such as the Global Internet Freedom Consortium, The Aspen Institute, CitizenWeb Project, Reporters without Borders, and many others all work with an overarching goal of expansion of internet infrastructure as well as protecting freedom of expression on the internet.50

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http://internet.org/ http://www.webpronews.com/citizenweb-project-isthe-newest-internet-freedom-fighter-on-the-block-2013-01 http://www.internetfreedom.org/
49 50

http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/19/64/51/6999c 512.pdf 47 http://ahumanright.org/ 48 http://www.google.com/loon/

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Case Studies
! I. CUBA

party estimates suggest that as of 2012, only 25.6% of the population has access to the Internet, rising approximately 4 percent in the last 10 years.53 54 Although Internet has expanded, the situation in Cuba is still problematic when put in the context of freedom of expression on the Internet.55 The government maintains that it will closely monitor the Internet and reserves the right to punish anyone that violates norms of ethical behavior promoted by the Cuban State. Moreover, before accessing the Internet, every Cuban has to sign a contract stating that they will not engage in any behavior that could harm Cubas economy, sovereignty or national sovereignty. 56 Despite the increased access, the government still censors some websites, barring citizens from using Google maps, blogs from dissenters, and certain news websites. According to the UNs International

Cuba first connected to the Internet in the early 90s but the United States-enforced embargo on the nation combined with its relative lack of resources and support from the former Soviet Union led the nation not to continue developing its technology. In fact, in a 2012 Freedom House global survey ranking freedom of access to the Internet Cuba ranked second to last, just before Iran. The Cuban government has recently expanded Internet connection to the public while maintaining restrictions for access at home, with web surfing for $4.50/hour at 118 new Internet access locations controlled by the government. The general population cannot have Internet access in their homes, with special privileges granted only to politicians, some journalists, and medical students. Most Cubans find the government service too expensive to use regularly, as the average salary in Cuba is $20 per month.51 The total number of computers in these access locations stands at 419 with an estimated 1,000 Cubans using the service daily. 52 Third!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
51 52

Telecommunications Union (ITU), Cuba has !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

53

http://en.rsf.org/internet-enemie-cuba,39756.html

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/internet-cubafacts-myths-web-access/story?id=19895951 54 http://www.itu.int/en/ITUD/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Inter net_2000-2012.xls 55 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america22696637

56

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/05/world/americas/cubaonline-access/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/05/world/americas/cubaonline-access/index.html

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0.04 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 citizens; the figure is comparable not to any of its neighbors, but rather Sudan and a few other African nations. The Obama administration offered Cuba the option of using its Internet service providers in 2009 but the government decided against it. Instead, the nation scheduled the creation of a fiber-optic cable to Venezuela to be completed in 2011 but delays caused Internet speeds to remain slow and reliant on satellite technology until earlier this year. Still, the governments telecom company, ETECSA, announced that Cuban citizens will have in-home access to the internet by 2014.57 II. CHINA Since the Communist party took power in 1949, the government has tightly controlled Chinese media, and this most definitely extends to the Internet. Due to fear that uncontrolled information sharing will pose a threat to the regime, Chinas police force took on online dissenters starting in the 1990s in over 700 cities and provinces, making up the Great Chinese Firewall. Along with the Golden Shield the

government has the ability to both limit and monitor citizens Internet usage.58 At first the nation focused only on blocking certain foreign sites from general access. Today, however, it boasts over 100,000 people in its employ either directly or through private companies and they work constantly to monitor the internet and censor what they deem necessary, even taking down dissenting blog posts before they have a chance to reach the internet. Additionally, the state pays people known as the 50 Cent Party to post progovernment propaganda on the Internet and also dissuade other dissenters from discussing or organizing over certain topics.59 Blogging has become very popular in China, and with that there has been increased crackdown on groups having social impacts through their writings. Over 100,000 Internet cafes have been shutdown and many Chinese people see the censorship as limiting the truth and their rights as citizens. 60 Still, the government will tolerate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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57

http://iwpr.net/report-news/tight-controls-over-cubanweb-access

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economistexplains/2013/04/economist-explains-how-china-censorsinternet 59 http://www.economist.com/blogs/economistexplains/2013/04/economist-explains-how-china-censorsinternet 60 http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6707-the-blogrevolution-sweeps-acrosschina.html?page=3#.UdtcmOuzLIo

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criticism of its mid to low-level party members, so long as these dissenters do not aim to organize or mention by name any top party officials. China ranks third to last on the Freedom Houses 2012 report of countries with most freedom of access to the Internet, just above Cuba. 61 Last December, China increased its security and the scope of its firewall by blocking sites that allowed many people to circumvent the governments system and access sites like Facebook and Twitter using virtual private networks, or VPNs. The nation also blocks certain searches that citizens might make on sites like Google. For example, one searching for images of Tiananmen Square will be unable to find anything; in fact, the government has gone to great lengths to ensure that information relating to the protest cannot be uncovered, also barring any combination of the date on which it took place (June 4th, 1989) and even the words today and tomorrow
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Questions to Consider
Some organizations state that Internet will bring democracy to different regions of the world; on the other hand, there are arguments that democracy does not prove to be effective in all regions of the world. Can there be a democratic nation without freedom on the Internet, and can there be freedom on the Internet without democracy? Social media sites have obviously played hugely important roles in recent uprisings and revolutions; do you feel that sites such as Facebook and Twitter are becoming more powerful than repressive governments? How do various government reactions to dissent online change the way their citizens feel about the government? How does state-control of the Internet alter collective opinions and education among its population? Think about extreme examples such as North Korea, and also more moderate examples such as the United States.

whenever

its

anniversary nears.

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http://www.economist.com/blogs/economistexplains/2013/04/economist-explains-how-china-censorsinternet 62 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_16257587549/tiananmen-square-great-firewall-all-but-hidesthe-24th-anniversary-of-china-massacre/
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In this day in age, what do you think comes first; freedom on the Internet then democracy, or democracy then freedom on the Internet?

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How does state sovereignty influence decisions made by the international community on this topic?

What kind of role does developing physical infrastructure for Internet providers have in expanding access?

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