Yahoo! Supports “Every Human Has Rights” Campaign

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In keeping with the company’s goal of advancing human rights around the world, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) today announced it is helping to promote the Every Human Has Rights Campaign, inspired by The Elders and run by partner organizations around the world.

“This company was founded on the principle that access to information can improve people’s lives. Our support for the Every Human Has Rights Campaign is one way we live up to that vision.”

The Every Human Has Rights Campaign is gathering global public support for the tenets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which marks its 60^th anniversary in 2008. The Elders kicked off the public campaign to use the 60^th anniversary as an opportune moment to generate awareness amongst new generations of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the UDHR, which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948.

Yahoo! is contributing to the campaign by prominently displaying the public pledge on its Yahoo! For Good website at http://forgood.yahoo.com/. Interested users can sign the Every Human Has Rights public pledge supporting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through this link.

“Yahoo! is proud to use the power of our network to highlight this important campaign and help promote human rights around the world,” said Michael Samway, Yahoo! Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, who leads the company’s human rights efforts. “This company was founded on the principle that access to information can improve people’s lives. Our support for the Every Human Has Rights Campaign is one way we live up to that vision.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chair of The Elders, said “By calling on individuals to sign the Universal Declaration, we are asking the citizens of the global village to empower themselves and their communities by standing behind its values and goals. But we are also asking that one united human family join together to protect and defend the rights of each other.”

The Elders, a group of renowned global leaders was convened by Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel and includes Jimmy Carter, Muhammad Yunus and Kofi Annan. They have agreed to work together to bring their experience and independent voices to the resolution of conflict and to innovative, cooperative efforts to address the great global challenges of our time.

On December 10th, 1948, the newly formed United Nations adopted the UDHR - the first international statement of the inherent dignity and rights of all people. This single document, rooted in the values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect and shared responsibility, has provided inspiration to people around the world over the past six decades.

In the past year, Yahoo! has intensified its own efforts, individually and collectively, on business and human rights issues by:

Establishing the Yahoo! Business & Human Rights Program, a dedicated set of business policies and practices to promote access to the Internet while limiting ways in which the company’s technologies can be used to suppress freedom of expression and the right to privacy.
Implementing its own formal Human Rights Impact Assessment to guide the company as it explores new and emerging markets around the world.
Launching the landmark Global Network Initiative (http://www.globalnetworkinitiative.org/) with technology companies, human rights groups and others to guide companies in protecting and advancing freedom of expression and privacy across the globe when they encounter laws and policies that interfere with these fundamental human rights.
Creating the Yahoo! Human Rights Fund that provides humanitarian and legal assistance to political dissidents and their families.
Working to secure the release of political dissidents through ongoing discussions with high-ranking U.S. and Chinese officials, human rights groups, and the State Department.
Establishing academic fellowships at Stanford and Georgetown universities to help advance the cause of freedom of expression and other global values.

For more on Yahoo!’s human rights initiatives, please visit our site at: http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/press/human-rights-free-expression.cfm

About The Elders

The Elders is a group of eminent men and women who have agreed to work together to contribute their experience, independent leadership and integrity to tackling some of the world’s most challenging issues. Nelson Mandela announced the formation of The Elders in July 2007 in Johannesburg on the occasion of his 89^th birthday. Members of The Elders are: Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Yunus. Aung San Suu Kyi is an honorary Elder.

About Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo! is focused on powering its communities of users, advertisers, publishers, and developers by creating indispensable experiences built on trust. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit pressroom.yahoo.com.