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PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATESCP/CAJP-2423/06
24 October 2006
COMMITTEE ON JURIDICAL AND POLITICAL AFFAIRSOriginal: Spanish
SPECIAL MEETING ON FREEDOM
OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION
October 26 and 27, 2006
Washington, D.C.
SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 26, 2006(Simón Bolívar Room)
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.OPENING SESSION
- Remarks by His Excellency Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, Chair of the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs (CAJP)
- Remarks by Dr. Evelio Fernández, President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
- Remarks by Dr. Manuel Ventura, Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.Definition, concept, and importance for democracy (Article 13.1)
Universal and inter-American instruments on freedom of thought and expression
Speakers:
-Dr. Claudio Grossman, Dean, Washington College of Law, American University
-Dr. Paulo Sotero, Director, Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center
- Dialogue with delegations
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.THE SUBJECT OF ARTICLE 13.2: The exercise of the right to freedom of thought and expression shall not be subject to prior censorship but shall be subject to subsequent imposition of liability, which shall be expressly established by law to the extent necessary to ensure:(a)respect for the rights or reputations of others; or (b) the protection of national security, public order, or public health or morals
THE SUBJECT OF ARTICLE 13.4: Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, public entertainments may be subject by law to prior censorship for the sole purpose of regulating access to them for the moral protection of childhood and adolescence
Speaker:
-Dr. Manuel Ventura, Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
- Dialogue with delegations
3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.Relation between the right to freedom of thought and expression and the subject of Article 11 of the American Convention on Human Rights
Speaker:
-Dr. Carlos J. Zelada, Special Rapporteurship on Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
- Dialogue with delegations
4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.The subject of Article 13.3:The right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private controls over newsprint, radio broadcasting frequencies, or equipment used in the dissemination of information, or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions
Speaker:
-Dr. Ignacio Álvarez, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
- Dialogue with delegations
Friday, October 27, 2006 (José Gustavo Guerrero Room)
9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.The subject of Article 13.5:Any propaganda for war and any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitute incitements to lawless violence or to any other similar action against any person or group of persons on any grounds including those of race, color, religion, language, or national origin shall be considered as offenses punishable by law
Presentation:
-Dr. Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director, Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
- Dialogue with delegations
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Public demonstrations as a form of exercise of the right to freedom of expression
Speaker:
-Dr. Susan D. Moeller, Director, International Center for Media and the Public Agenda (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland, College Park
- Dialogue with delegations
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.CONCLUSIONS AND COMMENTS
- Remarks by the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression
- Remarks by the Chair of the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs