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UNESCO has launched the Spanish and Portuguese versions of its publication Keystones to foster inclusive Knowledge Societies: Access to information and knowledge, Freedom of Expression, Privacy and Ethics on a Global internet, during a session on multistakeholder participation held at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) on 17 December, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.
With the presence of Brazilian Ambassador for Internet issues Benedicto Fonseca, UNESCO released the Spanish and Portuguese versions of its Internet Study at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Welcoming the two new versions of the publication, Guy Berger, UNESCO’s Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development, said: “Given the great interest of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Member States in Internet governance, it is very positive that UNESCO is now able to offer this study in languages that are accessible to most citizens in these countries.”
Providing major insights on the concept of Internet Universality, the study set the ground for the R-O-A-M principles’ framework which advocates for an Internet that is Human Rights-based, Open, Accessible to all and nurtured by Multi-stakeholder participation. As such, "it comprises key concepts for policymakers, private sector representatives and other key actors" said Dr. Alexandre Barbosa, manager at the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br).
The research builds upon a series of UNESCO studies and reports on the Internet and Knowledge Societies. It draws upon an intensive consultation process, which included a series of UNESCO meetings with multiple stakeholders, and the analysis of 200 responses to a global questionnaire on the four keystones and the crosscutting issues of the Internet Study, the majority from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The results of the study reinforce the growing awareness of how the digital revolution is influencing all spheres of public and private life. More and more personal and public information is collected, stored, processed and shared electronically. All this brings with it unparalleled opportunities for social and sustainable economic development, especially around information and communication technologies for development, as well as diverse challenges in areas including access, freedom of expression, privacy and ethics.
The study which was first published in 2015, is now at the basis of UNESCO's new project to define Internet Universality indicators. This initiative aims to develop indicators for governments and other stakeholders to measure Internet development at the national level and promote the norms and values based on the R-O-A-M principles.
The translations were made possible thanks to the contribution of the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), a UNESCO Category II Centre located in San Paulo, Brazil.
The publication is now available in Spanish and Portuguese. Other versions are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, and Russian.