Access, diversity, and freedom of expression: UNESCO at Internet Governance Forum
The 5th meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from 14 to 17 September 2010. UNESCO is organizing two workshops around the issues of freedom of expression, social networking and privacy. UNESCO will also take this opportunity to present its work on multilingualism, open access, open educational resources as well as on ICT and persons with special needs in an Open Forum.
The Internet is at the heart of progress towards inclusive knowledge societies, a concept that UNESCO promotes since the World Summit on the Information Society. At the IGF, UNESCO will stress the importance of freedom of expression on the Internet, and will advocate for ensuring an inclusive and diverse Internet. This includes accessibility for those excluded and the promotion of cultural diversity and multilingualism on the Internet. UNESCO key message throughout this important event will be: "Freedom and action, empowering people: access, diversity and freedom of expression".
Bringing stakeholders from around the world together, two workshops will be dedicated to the issues of freedom of expression, social networking and privacy to follow up on the discussions of the last IGF in Sharm el-Sheik. UNESCO will also present the multiple dimensions of its work on Internet governance at its Open Forum. Highlights at this IGF will include:
<a href="ev.php?URL_ID=30748&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201">Workshop 81 "Freedom of Connection - Freedom of Expression: The Changing Legal and Regulatory Ecology Shaping the Internet"</a>
11:30-13:30, 14 September, 2010; Room 6
This workshop will seek to bring multi-stakeholders together to dialogue and exchange views on feasible approaches and policy on the issue of free flow of information at global level. UNESCO will also take the occasion to release an in-depth analysis and report entitled "Freedom of Connection - Freedom of Expression: The Changing Legal and Regulatory Ecology Shaping the Internet", conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute.
>> <a target=_ blank href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/index.php/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=WSProposals2010View&wspid=81">Agenda and Programme</a>
<a href="ev.php?URL_ID=30751&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201">Workshop 82 "Privacy and Social Networking"</a>
16:30-18:30, 15 September 2010; Room 8
Based on the three pillars of Internet social networking - technology, legal frameworks and education - the workshop will focus on the issue of privacy and legal frameworks for privacy protection. Gathering different multi-stakeholders worldwide, the event will examine in-depth the interaction between privacy protection, freedom of expression and security.
>><a target=_blank href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/index.php/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=WSProposals2010View&wspid=82">Agenda and Programme</a>
<a href="ev.php?URL_ID=30701&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201">UNESCO Open Forum</a>
16:15-18:15, 16 September 2010; Room 4
As UNESCO organized freedom of expression related workshops, this Open Forum will be dedicated to other key IGF topics, notably multilingualism in cyberspace, open access to scientific information, open educational resources and accessibility for marginalized groups. In addition, UNESCO will take this opportunity to announce new initiatives and share experiences with participants.
>> <a target=_blank href="http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/30772/12841291393UNESCO_Open_Forum_Programme.pdf/UNESCO%2BOpen%2BForum%2BProgramme.pdf">Agenda and Programme</a> (PDF)
In addition, UNESCO will contribute to the debate by taking part in the following meetings:
<li>Opening Ceremony (14 September,15:00-18:00, Main Conference Room)
<li>Workshop 107 "A multilingual Internet in the light of the sovereign rights" (15 September,9:00-11:00, Room 2)
<li>Main Session on Security, Openness and Privacy (16 September, 15:00 -18:00, Main Conference room)
<li>Closing Ceremony (17 September, 17:30-18:30, Main Conference Room)
The remote participation in these sessions will be made available on the IGF website at: <a target=_blank href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms">www.intgovforum.org/cms</a>.
<- Back to: News articles