Friends, Here is a public release statement on APC and its impact on developing countries from the Academia Joven de Argentina <acadjovenar@gmail.com>. As the subject is relevant to the the LIS community, I thought of sharing the statement through this Forum. Please sharee this statement with the scientific and scholarly communities you serve. Thanks. Subbiah Arunachalam ****** 29th October 2021 *Ref.: STATEMENT: ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGE (APC) POLICIES & OPEN ACCESS (OA) PUBLISHING: THE IMPACT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE NEED FOR A MULTILATERAL SOLUTION* --- *This initiative arose from a group of young scientists who are members of The TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN) and The Argentinian Young Academy (AJA), in collaboration with different National Young Academies and Institutions listed below.* --- Over the past years, the Open Access (OA) publishing models have been shaping the way we publish, allowing scientific articles to be freely available online. At a first glance, the OA publishing model apparently universalizes science, making it accessible to everyone, in agreement with the human right to science, as recognized by Article 27 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948). However, the Author-Pays OA publishing model shifted the financial burden from readers to the authors. This model incurs extremely high publication costs for the authors often bundled into one article processing charge (APC). Research and academic institutions also contribute to the problem by implementing evaluation methodologies based on journal-based metrics (such as Journal Impact Factors) to assess and compare the scientific contribution of individuals and institutions. The Author-Pays OA model represents a large barrier for the global scientific community, with particular impact on the progress of early career researchers. In the midst of this complex scenario, we believe that the international community should assume the challenge of exercising multilateral governance and academic cooperation in the face of the inequities that arise from this new OA publication model. To that end, the signing global organizations promote the creation of an ad hoc worldwide committee (*Global Initiative for Equitable OA Models*), working under the umbrella of multilateral global academic institutions or similar bodies. [...] The Committee aspires to: *1.* Establish a fluid dialogue between the various members of the scientific community, policy makers and representatives from governments, to further discuss options and implement joint actions for an equitable model of OA for the global scientific community. *2.* Draft a global agreement aimed at enforcing equitable access to publishing in OA Journals moving away from Author Pays OA and toward models that either a) repurpose existing subscription funds to fund e.g. sponsored OA or b) subscribe-to-open OA; or obtain funding for academic publishing from institutions or other public sources (diamond/platinum OA). Regulation should include guidelines aimed at setting copyrights. *3.* Create a global economic containment network to financially support the Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and Science Lagging Countries (SLCs) in order to strengthen national scientific R&D systems in line with objectives previously established by the countries at the multilateral level, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). *4.* Set up a network of existing or new diamond journals from developing countries, aimed at promoting non commercial open publishing practices with clear and transparent regulations and strong standardized peer review processes. This can lead to new prestigious and recognized options where scientific communication will prevail over the interests from the publishing industry. [...] *We invite you to read the full statement and fill in the following form: * *https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScviZGzU1AmzYCZbZJmS3aBwStRsJwAKuek... <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScviZGzU1AmzYCZbZJmS3aBwStRsJwAKuekPfLos7A8o0MFyg/viewform> We hope that by adding you/your institution we can raise awareness and discussion on this issue and implement the specific action proposals herein presented aimed to advance progress in building more equitable models for opening knowledge. *Finally, we kindly invite you to help us spread the word and share this statement among your contacts. * Please accept the assurances of our highest consideration, Dra. Eva Acosta and Dr. Hernan Grecco (Co-Chairs of Argentinian Young Academy (AJA)) Dra. Luciana Balboa (AJA and Global Young Academy) Dr. Franco M. Cabrerizo (Chair of TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN)) *Signatory Organizations* [image: image.png] TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN) Academia Joven de Argentina (AJA) Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (YIPA CAS) The RSE Young Academy of Scotland Young Scientists Network - Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists (CAYS) National Young Academy of Bangladesh (NYAB) Belgian Young Academy (Jonge Academie, JA) The Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists (RSC SRC) Burundi Council of Young Scientists Sudanese academy of young scientists (SAYS) National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) Pakistan Thai Young Scientists Academy (TYSA) The Global Young Academy (GYA) The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (CLACSO) Foro Latinoamericano sobre Evaluación Científica (FOLEC) Izmir Institute of Technology Women in Science Without Borders (WSWB) -- Academia Joven de Argentina -- Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009 -- Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009