On the occasion of the launch of the IFLA/FAIFE and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG) reports on the current state of intellectual freedom in Tunisia:

* IFLA restates its strong commitment to the fundamental human rights to know, learn and communicate without restriction.

* IFLA opposes any form of censorship and violations of these rights, and consequently we look upon the human rights situation in Tunisia with deep concern.

* IFLA confirms its wholehearted commitment to the success of the WSIS process and expresses its concern that the policy positions of the host nation might undermine the credibility of the process. We therefore urge the Tunisian government to remove barriers to open access to information for all its citizens that are imposed by its policies.

As a participant in the WSIS process IFLA has successfully put libraries on the agenda. The aim is to promote a fair and just knowledge and information society which is vitally supported by libraries and information services. Libraries are essential to a transparent, accountable, and democratic Information Society in which they help to create a well-informed citizenry and lay a basis for good governance. IFLA shares the common vision of an Information Society for All adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in November 2003. That vision promotes an inclusive society in which everyone will be able to create, access, use and share information and knowledge. This means providing the opportunity for people to seek, receive and impart information and ideas without restriction, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Furthermore, IFLA regards libraries as a living expression of this principle and therefore:

* IFLA looks forward to outcomes from WSIS that fully endorse the principle of intellectual freedom and recognise the importance of libraries as instruments of this freedom.

* IFLA urges national, regional and local governments as well as international organisations to invest in library and information services as vital elements of their Information Society strategies.

To achieve this goal, IFLA stresses the importance of removing barriers to open access to information for all, whether these barriers are social, structural, economic or legal, and seeks to draw attention to the politico-legal and extra-judicial impediments imposed by governments. Consequently,

* IFLA urges the Government of Tunisia to remove the impediments to freedom of access to information, freedom of expression and freedom of association before, during and after the meeting of the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in November 2005.

The full IFLA/FAIFE is available from IFLA's website: http://www.ifla.org/faife/faife/tunis-report2005.htm or from IFEX?s website: http://campaigns.ifex.org/tmg/reports.html

The official mission report, produced by the IFEX-TMG is also available from IFEX's website: http://campaigns.ifex.org/tmg/reports.html

Contacts:

* Chair of the IFLA/FAIFE Committee, Professor Paul Sturges Loughborough University, the UK, email: R.P.Sturges@lboro.ac.uk

* Director of the IFLA/FAIFE Office, Susanne Seidelin, email: susanne.seidelin@ifla.org or sus@db.dk

BACKGROUND:

On the 6th to the 11th of September IFLA/FAIFE joined a mission to Tunisia organised by the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) a volunteer group of 14 members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). The aim of the mission was to assess the human rights situation in the country prior to the WSIS PrepCom III meeting in Geneva 19-30 September, and to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) itself to be held in Tunisia 16-18 November. FAIFE?s role was to assess the situation concerning freedom of access to information and freedom of expression and the role of libraries in the country.

IFLA and IFLA/FAIFE

IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions http://www.ifla.org), founded in 1927, is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession.

IFLA is an independent, international, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Our aims are to promote high standards of provision and delivery of library and information services, encourage widespread understanding of the value of good library & information services, and represent the interests of our members throughout the world

In pursuing these aims IFLA embraces the following core values:

* We believe that people, communities and organizations need for their physical, mental, democratic and economic well-being, free access to information, ideas and works of imagination

* We believe that the provision and delivery of high quality library and information services help guarantee that access

* We are committed to enabling library associations and institutions throughout the world, and their staff, to participate in the work of the Federation regardless of geographical location

* We support and promote the principles of freedom of access to information ideas and works of imagination embodied in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

* We recognize the rights of all members to engage in, and benefit from, its activities without regard to citizenship, ethnic origin, gender, language, political philosophy, race or religion.

IFLA/FAIFE (Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression, http://www.ifla.org/faife/ ) is a core activity within IFLA (International Federation of Library Association and Institutions) to defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The IFLA/FAIFE Committee and Office furthers free access to information and freedom of expression in all aspects, directly or indirectly, related to libraries and librarianship. IFLA/FAIFE monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community worldwide, supports IFLA policy development and cooperation with other international human rights organisations, and responds to violations of free access to information and freedom of expression.

Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both hold and express opinions and to seek and receive information.

Intellectual freedom is the basis of democracy.

Intellectual freedom is the core of the library concept.