The 2003 Spry Memorial Lecture at a glance
THE RIGHT TO COMMUNICATE IN THEORY AND PRACTICE: A TEST FOR THE
WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
Cees J. Hamelink
(University of Amsterdam)
The state of current human rights provisions for the information society is the central concern of this lecture. A key argument will be that international human rights law does not provide for a right to communicate. This right refers to communication as an interactive process, as public and private dialogue. The recognition of this human right would demonstrate that the protection of the freedom to engage in dialogue is seen as essential to human dignity. The forthcoming United Nations World Summit on the Information Society will be challenged to extend the present human rights regime with the right to communicate.
Dr. Cees J. Hamelink studied philosophy and psychology in Amsterdam. He is Professor of International Communication at the University of Amsterdam, and Professor of Media, Religion and Culture at the Free University in Amsterdam. Professor Hamelink has also worked as a journalist as well as a consultant on media and communication policy for several international organizations and national governments. He is currently the editor-in-chief of the International Journal for Communication Studies: Gazette, past president of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, president of the Dutch Federation for Human Rights, founder of the People's Communication Charter, and board member of the International Communication Association and the international news agency Inter Press Service. Professor Hamelink has guest-lectured in over 40 countries and is currently special adviser to the United Nations for the forthcoming World Summit on the Information Society.
Among the sixteen books he has authored are Cultural Autonomy in Global Communications (1983), Finance and Information (1983), The Technology Gamble (1988), The Politics of World Communication (1994), World Communication (1995), The Ethics of Cyberspace (2000), and Human Rights for Communicators (forthcoming, 2003). Professor Hamelink is also a regular commentator on radio and television in the Netherlands.
PROFESSOR HAMELINK'S LECTURE:
''The Right to Communicate in Theory and Practice:
A Test for the World Summit on the Information Society''
Montreal:
Thursday, November 13, 2003, 5 pm. Room M-415,
Pavillon Principal, Université de Montréal 2900 boul. Édouard-Montpetit (Metro
Université de Montréal) |
Vancouver:
| Monday, November 17, 2003, 7 pm. Simon Fraser University at Harbour
Centre, The Fletcher Challenge Canada Theatre, 515 West Hastings Street Information: (604) 291-3470 or zenner@sfu.ca. |
AUDIO FILE OF THE MONTREAL SPRY MEMORIAL LECTURE
by Cees J. Hamelink
