News: Human rights & ICTs, Global

In response to the growing demand for information on multi-stakeholder processes in ICT policy, APC has produced the book “Frequently Asked Questions about Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in ICTs for Development – A Guide for National ICT Policy Animators”. Download full version [also available in French, pdf format].

In preparation for the Hello Regulator? session to be held during the Global Knowledge 3 conference, to be held in December in Malaysia, the Kenya ICT Action Network (Kictanet) is currently holding a 10-day e-discussion on eCommunication Strategies for Regulatory Authorities. The objectives of the discussion include: raising awareness on the role and objectives of information and communication regulators; identifying opportunities provided by the internet for achieving regulatory objectives; understanding threats that the internet presents to regulatory functions; discussing how regulatory bodies can use the web to achieve their objectives; establishing appropriate e-communication strategies & practices for regulators; and determining a way forward and conclusions.

APC announces a one-day event on equitable access to ICT infrastructure on 10 November 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Why this event? Access brings people together to exchange information, promotes new spaces for social inclusion and is fundamental to development processes in any society. However many of these innovative solutions are happening in isolation and APC’s event is a place where stakeholders working in the area of equitable can come together to share knowledge and experience and to discuss the issues.

The report was launched on the sideline of a discussion meeting on ‘Reviewing the progress of WSIS action plan in Bangladesh’ organised by Bytesforall Bangladesh and other partner organisations. GISW, APC and Uruguayan member ITeM report that monitors the information society revolution, was presented at this event, where the Bangladesh chapter was highlighted.

Democratising Global Communication? This is a question asked by Milton L. Mueller and colleagues at US-based universities in a report published in IJOC, the International Journal of Communication. Scrutinising the role played by global civil society at the World Summit on the Information Society, the authors insist on the centrality of APC, and conclude that “There is no doubt that WSIS was a more substantive, inclusive and meaningful exercise in global governance, because of the civil society mobilisation pioneered by [the] CRIS [Campaign] and managed so impressively by APC.” Read the 31-page report.

In the article “Firms Race to Update E. Africa Telecom”, published in the New York Times’ June 3 edition, APC researcher Abiodun Jagun is quoted for her stakeholder analysis of the EASSy submarine cable. The article is about the undersea fiber-optic cables meant to connect Eastern Africa. Jagun’s analysis was originally published in the APC Africa Policy Monitor in February 2007.

The Commission for Science and Technology for Development is one of UN bodies that coordinate World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) follow-up. The tenth session of the Commission has held from 21-25 May 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. It focused on “the follow-up to the outcome of WSIS at the regional and international level, to identify achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as future action needed to further implementation”. APC was there, and submitted concrete proposals to ensure meaningful inclusion of voices of the people most impacted by the digital divide.

The Commission for Science and Technology for Development is one of a few UN bodies that coordinate the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) follow-up. The tenth session of the Commission was held from 21-25 May 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. It focused on “the follow-up to the outcome of WSIS at the regional and international level, to identify achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as future action needed to further implementation”. APC was there, and submitted concrete proposals to ensure meaningful inclusion of voices of the people most impacted by the digital divide.

The full text of the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA) was made public last Friday. "It has many poisonous articles in there," argues PatchA of APC’s Korean member Jinbonet. Especially the chapter on intellectual property rights worry people working on copyright issues. This could set a precedent for many other countries. The far-reaching consequences are now clearer than ever.

Read the APC input to the IGF open consultation meeting held on 23 May in Geneva, as well as reactions from different stakeholders. APC makes practical recommendations to ensure the accomplishment of the IGF’s mandate and to strengthen it as a truly space for multistakeholder dialogue.

A cluster of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) implementation meetings is taking place in Geneva from May 14 to 25. Part of the APC crew is there, ensuring that “the strong development orientation” promised by organising agencies goes beyond paper. Read APC input to the informal consultation between the International Communication Union and civil society on the participation of all relevant stakeholders.

A cluster of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) implementation meetings is taking place in Geneva from May 14 to 25. Part of the APC crew is there, ensuring that “the strong development orientation” promised by organising agencies goes beyond paper. Themes and action lines stemming from agreed-upon documents are being discussed. Read APC’s input to three action lines that took place as part of a meeting on May 16.

In a world which is part of the ‘digital revolution’ era, restrictive copyright laws still act as a serious barrier to sharing and learning from each other, more so in countries of the global South where three quarters of the population live, says a study.

Documentary filmmakers take note: there are other ways in which you can choose to distribute your films. Rather than the all-rights-reserved approach of the copyright world, take a look on the creative side.

“In a nutshell, Africa needs to be concerned about developing internet usage first, rather than dwelling on who governs the internet and how,” claimed the African non-governmental organisation CIPESA in a research paper published right before the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which took place in Athens at the end of 2006. With eye kept on the upcoming IGF II in November, APCNews discussed this underrepresented approach to internet governance with Vincent Bagiire of CIPESA.

Is mobile technology driving the internet revolution in Africa? Does the distinction between new and old media make sense? These are some of the questions that APC raised in a recent conference on the role of media in building African society.

Bytesforall.org, in collaboration with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is planning to conduct "Review of Pakistan’s IT Policy and IT Action Plan”. This brand new initiative by APC’s member in South Asia will be undertaken from a civil society perspective in order to identify the gaps and analyse their implications on community use of information and communication technology (ICT).

A bill of rights for the internet age has been proposed at a United Nations’ first meeting of the Internet Governance Forum in Athens. It is an attempt to "update and restate" rights that have been enshrined in international law for centuries, according to the civil liberties group IP Justice. This campaign for the recognition of inalienable rights on the web also brings into focus the APC Internet Rights Charter.

From August 2005 until April 2006, an evaluation of APC’s information and communication technology (ICT) policy involvement from 2002 to mid-2005 was carried out by an independent consultant. “The overall conclusion from this evaluation has to be that APC is an energetic, active, committed organisation that has achieved a lot with limited staff and resources. [.. and] APC is highly respected. This respect comes from a range of different players and extends over technical, advocacy, and political aspects of its work.,” but, says the writer, “Perhaps the overwhelming message is to aim lower.” You can read the results in this 55-page report.

APC executive director Anriette Esterhuysen has told the Internet Governance Forum, meeting in Athens currently, that it has a duty play a much bigger role in spreading the sharing of ideas and encouraging innovation. Copyrighting and limiting the rights of teachers and learners in the developing world from share information would add only "limited value" to harnessing the internet for development, Esterhuysen said in the Greek capital.