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<p class=MsoCaption><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b><font
size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt'>CONGO</span></font></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><span
lang=EN-US> MEMORANDUM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>FROM: Renata Bloem, President<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>DATE: 18 November 2004<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>RE: Situation of Civil Society in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We have received a number of concerned communications from
WSIS colleagues that we have worked with over the past two years on the
increasingly alarming situation in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> for civil society. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Reportedly the environment for civil society in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>
is becoming more and more tense and tenuous due to hardliners with the current
government. In particular, groups and individuals that have used ICTs as part
of their activist and journalist activities have been detained and harassed
last month, according to the BBC</span></font><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1'
href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></sup></span></a><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>, Human Rights Watch</span></font><a
style='mso-footnote-id:ftn2' href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[2]</span></font></sup></span></sup></span></a><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> and Amnesty International</span></font><a
style='mso-footnote-id:ftn3' href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[3]</span></font></sup></span></sup></span></a><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The reports note that Mr. Omid Memarian has recently been
arrested at the offices of the Iran Civil Society Training and Research Centre,
an accredited and active NGO in the WSIS process, in particular for his NGO
activities. Our other colleagues associated with the ICSTRC report that they
too have been subject to investigation by government authorities, and they fear
that they will not be able to participate in future meetings of the WSIS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We attach great importance to the participation of all civil
society, including Iranian civil society, in the WSIS, and urge governments to
respect their right to participate in this multi-stakeholder process.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span><font
size=2><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'> “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> cracks down on blog
protests,” BBC, 13 November 2004,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3740336.stm<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span><font
size=2><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'> “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>: Web Writers Purge Underway -
Arrests Designed to Silence NGO Activist,” Human Rights Watch alert, 4
November 2004, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/08/iran9631.htm<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>: Civil society activists and
human rights defenders under attack” Amnesty International alert. 11
October 2004, http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE130452004</span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Renate Bloem<br>
President of the Conference of NGOs (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">CONGO</st1:place></st1:country-region>)<br>
11, Avenue de la Paix<br>
CH-1202 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:City><br>
Tel: +41 22 301 1000<br>
Fax: +41 22 301 2000<br>
E-mil: <a href="mailto:rbloem@ngocongo.org">rbloem@ngocongo.org</a><br>
Website: <a href="http://www.ngocongo.org">www.ngocongo.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international,
membership association that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United
Nations debates and decisions. Founded in 1948, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">CONGO</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s major objective is to
ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and
United Nations agencies on issues of global concern. For more information
see our website at <a href="http://www.ngocongo.org">www.ngocongo.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h3><b><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.5pt;color:red'>Reminder</span></font><font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'>: <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">CONGO</st1:place></st1:country-region>
Postal Address Has Changed<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>We will soon be unable to receive mail at our old address at the
Palais des Nations in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:City>.
So please make sure to update your records with <st1:country-region w:st="on">CONGO</st1:country-region>'s
new <st1:City w:st="on">Geneva</st1:City> office postal address:<b><span
style='font-weight:bold'> CP 50, 1211 Genéve 20, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</span></b> Our
physical office address is 11, Avenue De La Paix, 1st Floor, 1202 <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Genéve</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='mso-element:footnote-list'><br clear=all>
<hr align=left size=1 width="33%">
<div style='mso-element:footnote' id=ftn1>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1' href="#_ftnref1"
name="_ftn1" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span></a><font
size=2><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'> “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> cracks down on blog
protests,” BBC, 13 November 2004,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3740336.stm<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='mso-element:footnote' id=ftn2>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn2' href="#_ftnref2"
name="_ftn2" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[2]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span></a><font
size=2><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'> “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>: Web Writers Purge Underway -
Arrests Designed to Silence NGO Activist,” Human Rights Watch alert, 4
November 2004, http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/08/iran9631.htm<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='mso-element:footnote' id=ftn3>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn3' href="#_ftnref3"
name="_ftn3" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[3]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span></a><font
size=2><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'> “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place>: Civil society activists and
human rights defenders under attack” Amnesty International alert. 11
October 2004, http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGMDE130452004</span></font></p>
</div>
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