IFLA/IPA Joint Statement: IFLA and IPA deplore OFAC regulations limiting the exchange of information materials

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A joint steering group with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the International Publishers' Association (IPA)

Representing book and journal publishers through national, regional and specialised publishers associations

Librarians and publishers around the world deplore the regulations
of the US government that seek to limit the ability of US persons to
process and publish informational materials from selected countries.
Such actions are contradictory to the recognition by democratic
societies everywhere that the free flow of information and ideas is
vital to citizens of all nations to educate themselves about the world
by communicating with peoples of other countries.

Regulations by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign
Assets Control ("OFAC") in the implementation of trade embargoes
against certain nations attempt to restrict the importation and
exportation of information and informational materials in ways that are
contrary to international norms of open scholarly, cultural and
scientific exchange. Such exchanges are usually championed by the US
government. As pointed out by our colleagues in the US, the national
security of the US is not at issue in these matters because the
regulations allow publications of manuscripts as received from
nationals in embargoed countries, but does not allow "significant or
artistic enhancement" of such materials by a US person without a
license from the US government. Such enhancements promote free speech
and free exchange of information.

We believe that these trade restrictions on information and
informational materials violate important provisions of international
law, including Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR), and Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights.

Links:

Statements, IFLA/IPA Steering Group, United States, Publishing

Last update: 5 October 2012