Concise Description:
Freedom of information is a core element to ensure openness in the information society. Right to information is a key principle of Internet governance, in order to ensure that the cyberspace is sensibly used by government and widely accessible to citizens. The workshop will continue UNESCO’s efforts to examine the challenges of freedom of information in cyberspace, and seek to mainstream the principles of right to information in the policy making and legal framework of Internet governance in various countries.
If so, who would you approach as co-organizers ? If not, who do you think should organize it?
• Toby Mendel: Article 19, Canada
• Hisham Kassem: Consultant for the World Association of Newspapers on the Arab Newspaper Development Project, Egypt
• Stuart Hamilton, Senior Policy Advisor, IFLA, Netherland
• Wenxiang Gong, School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, China.
• Miriam Nisbet, Director of the Office of US Government Information Services
UNESCO is in working contacts with the invited organizations.
UNESCO pays utmost attention to endorse the multistakeholder principle and involve local stakeholders.
Describe how you will take steps to adhere to the multi-stakeholder principle, including geographical diversity.
Geographical representation, involvement of civil society and private sector, equal gender representation
Does the proposed workshop provide different perspectives on the issues under discussion?
Building from the experience of the previous IGFs and on UNESCO’s work for the promotion of freedom of expression, the workshops analyzes the role of free flow of information in the shaping of internet governance policy.
