Guidelines for Abstract Submissions:

 

1.      Each submission should include on a separate title page: the title of the submission, the author's contact information, school of study, program of study, year of study and any credentials.

 

2.      Abstract should not exceed 1/2 page single-spaced. Please put the Abstract Title at the top of abstract page. Abstracts must be anonymous for purpose of fair selection. Do not put your name on the abstract page itself. Author’s information should be on a separate page as pursuant to guideline #1.

 

3.      Abstract Title should be no more than 15 words (with only the first letter of each word capitalized).

 

4.      All abstracts have a 200-300 word limit of text

 

5.      To assist such students, the Conference Committee has provided a sample abstract on following page. We would strongly suggest you follow a similar format.

 

6.      Acceptance of the abstract in the Conference and assignment to a presentation session are determined solely by the Conference Committee based on a review of the abstract and its subject matter. Conference Committee will be looking for submissions that

 

a.       show a strong link between human rights and the law,

b.      present new insights or a different perspective on important human rights issues, and

c.       were prepared in a professional, academic manner.

 

7.      Decisions of the Conference Committee are final. By submitting an abstract the author agrees to allow publication of information on the CLAIHR website and the agenda package which will be distributed to all participants. Abstracts accepted for the Conference presentation at the University of Ottawa may be published in a journal (pending funding).

 

8.      CLAIHR uses Microsoft Word. Please submit your abstract in a compatible format.

 

9.      Abstract submission deadline is 5:00 pm, November 18, 2005. Authors are encouraged to submit their abstracts as early as possible.

 

10.  Abstracts must be emailed to [email protected]. Abstracts will not be accepted by fax, post, or on computer disks.

 

11.  Instructions will be sent to the authors whose abstracts are accepted for the Conference presentation.

 

Questions regarding preparation of abstracts may be directed to the Conference Committee at: [email protected]

 

 

 

EXAMPLE 1

Setting a Positive Agenda for Internet Governance at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS): Of technology and humankind

 

By Alana Maurushat*

 

Internet Governance emerged as a contentious and key issue at the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva. Against the backdrop of digital solidarity – the benefits of the Information Society should be shared amongst citizens of both developed and developing countries to ensure fair and equitable development for all – the author advocates the need for Civil Society to work together to develop a unified voice and a consolidated list of critical issues. 

 

The author provides an overview of some of the contentious issues leading up to the Geneva Phase of WSIS. The author also looks at some of the issues addressed in two critical meetings following the Geneva Summit: The International Telecommunication Union Workshop on Internet Governance (ITU Workshop) and the United Nations Information and Communications Technologies Task Force Global Forum on Internet Governance (UN Global Forum). This is followed by an analysis and discussion of what the author perceives to be the most important issues on Internet Governance from the perspective of enhancing human rights and promoting human dignity in the Information Society. The author identifies three prominent issues: appropriate and effective capacity building, language and cultural rights in the domain name system, and a cautionary approach to model laws which could impact on human rights. The author concludes by offering a strategy on how civil society can be most effective in its contribution to Internet Governance issues for the upcoming WSIS meeting in Tunis.

 

EXAMPLE 2

La modulation de l’intérêt public et du service public selon le nouveau régime concurrentiel international : le cas des services de l’information et des communications

 

Par Caroline J. Simard*

 

Le présent article met en lumière la tension existant entre les objectifs économiques associés à la libéralisation des marchés et les objectifs sociaux d’universalité d’accès à la société globale de l’information et des communications dans un contexte où le secteur des télécommunications connaît un changement complet de son cadre de référence. La première section de l’article décrit l’accommodement d’un intérêt public et d’un service public modelés d’après le régime concurrentiel international dans un contexte où les mesures de sauvegarde propres à l’intérêt et au service publics sont plutôt absentes du cadre juridique international. La deuxième section propose une révision du régime réglementaire international suivant une approche globale plus cohérente pour assurer un encadrement international renforcé à l’égard du service public et du service universel pour le plein épanouissement de la société globale de l’information et des communications. Avec l’ouverture des marchés à la concurrence, il faut également considérer la reconnaissance expresse d’un droit à communiquer pour compléter cette protection des droits sociaux.

 

This article reveals the existing tension between the economic objectives associated with market liberalization and the social objectives of universality of access to the Information Society in a context where the telecommunications sector is seeing a complete change of its underlying frame of reference. The first section of the article describes the compromise to have a public interest and a public service modelled after the international competitive regime insofar as specific safeguard measures of the public interest and public service are missing from the international legal framework. The second section proposes a revision of the international regulatory regime according to a more coherent global solution to ensure reinforced international control with regard to public service and universal service for the full blossoming of the Information Society. With the opening of markets to competition, the distinct recognition of a right to communicate should be considered in order to complete the current protection of social rights.