(English version below)
IFLA offentliggjorde i juni, at man planlægger at afholde verdenskongressen WLIC 2024 i Dubai. Det har der været en del kritik af, derfor har man lavet en vejledende afstemning blandt medlemmerne om deres holdning til afholdelse i Dubai med frist den 2. august.
I Danmarks Biblioteksforening har vi anbefalet et NEJ til at afholde kongressen i Dubai.
Principielt finder DB det er vigtigt for en verdensorganisation, at man afholder møder og kongresser i alle dele af verden. Men det er også vigtigt at IFLA arbejder ud fra sine grundlæggende værdier, som de kommer til udtryk i FN’s Menneskerettighedserklæring, og som også findes i IFLA’s vedtægter. Det er tydeligt dokumenteret, at det ikke synes at være muligt i De Forenede Arabiske Emirater.
Det er uacceptabelt, hvis bibliotekernes verdensorganisation IFLA holder den årlige kongres i et land, hvis det betyder at det forhindrer sektoren i at arbejde for mål som forsvarer og arbejder med lige adgang til information og for at fremme ytringsfrihed.
Det vil udfordre afholdelse af f.eks. debatter om ligestilling mellem køn, homoseksuelles rettigheder og demokrati generelt. Det vil tillige være problematisk at deltage, hvis en demokratisk samtale om sådanne emner ikke vil være mulig, uanset om man er enige eller uenige. Det vil desuden udelukke mennesker med LGBT+ holdninger og baggrund i at deltage.
Derfor finder vi det ikke anbefalelsesværdigt at afholde WLIC 2024 i Dubai. Hvis IFLA alligevel afholder sin verdenskongres WLIC 2024 i Dubai, vil vi kraftigt opfordre IFLA og arrangørerne til at sikre at arrangementer og debatterne gennemføres så de lever op til IFLA’s grundlæggende principper og sikre, at der ikke sættes begrænsninger for emner og debatter eller hvem der kan deltage.
Paw Østergaard Jensen
Formand Danmarks Biblioteksforening
The Danish Library Association recommends that the IFLA World Congress should not be held in Dubai
IFLA announced in June that the World Congress WLIC 2024 will take place in Dubai. After severe criticism of this decision, IFLA decided to held an advisory referendum to know members’ attitude to holding it in Dubai – deadline 2nd August.
The Danish Library Association recommended not to have the congress in Dubai.
In principle, DB considers it important for a world organization to hold meetings and congresses in all parts of the world. But it is equally important that IFLA work and meetings should be based on its fundamental values, as they are expressed in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which are also found in the IFLA’s statutes. It is clearly documented that it does not seem to be possible in the United Arab Emirates.
It is unacceptable if IFLA, the world organization of libraries, holds its annual congress in a country if it means that it prevents the sector from working for goals that defend and work with equal access to information and to promote freedom of expression. It will challenge the debates about gender equality, homosexual rights and democracy in general. It will also be problematic to participate if a democratic conversation on such topics will not be possible, regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees. It will furthermore exclude people with LGBT+ attitudes and backgrounds from participating.
Therefore, we do not find it recommendable to hold WLIC 2024 in Dubai. If IFLA does hold World Congress WLIC 2024 in Dubai, we would strongly urge IFLA and congress organizers to ensure that events and debates are conducted in a way that adheres to IFLA’s founding principles and ensure that no restrictions are placed on topics and debates or who can participate.
Paw Østergaard Jensen
President of the Danish Library Association
