Hanoi Statement on the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society 14 March 2008   The participants of the First Regional Conference for the Asia Pacific on the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society have convened and agreed on a set of priorities for the region.   Regarding Theme One of the Conference, which focuses on universal access to information:   First, we urge all countries in the region to continue working on closing the digital divide, as it is critical that the benefits of the information revolution be equally shared amongst all citizens in every country.   Second, we recognize the importance of promoting media and information literacy to all citizens, so that each individual would be equipped to access all relevant information sources available.   Third, we believe that multi-lingualism in the new media must be promoted, so that all people would be able to reap the benefits of the information society.   Fourth, we urge that ethical dimensions of the information society should be integrated in the formal and non-formal education curricula across the region.   Fifth, a multi-stakeholder approach to ICT for development targeting the needs of communities should be promoted.   Sixth, we promote the expansion of the public domain in quality and quantity. We urge striking a balance between intellectual property rights and the rights of users to access information from the public domain, particularly information generated from the public sector.      Regarding Theme Two of the conference, which focuses on the freedom of expression:   First, we acknowledge the sovereignty of individual nation states and also emphasize their commitments to international conventions and treaties in promoting an inclusive knowledge society.   Second, we encourage all States in the region to promote the freedom of expression and of information, given that such a freedom has a value in its own right, and also gives effect to other rights, such as access to education, the promotion of human dignity, freedom of religion etc.   Third, we propose that countries in the region explore developing alternative communication models such as independent models and community-based model that complement existing channels, serving to promote greater freedom and information exchange.   Fourth, we encourage further research and international collaboration into the area of freedom of expression and how countries could work together to promote a greater exchange of information and ideas.   Regarding Theme Three of the conference, which focuses on privacy and personal protection:   First, we recognize that there are differing conceptions of privacy across the different nation states and cultures of the region. We also recognize that the protection of an individual’s privacy and security represents a universally desired value.   Second, we believe that all stakeholders should be educated and sensitized to appreciate and take responsibility for issues related to privacy and data protection.   Third, we urge nation states to enact appropriate legislation to protect personal data and privacy, within the context of each country’s domestic environment and in line with international law.   Fourth, we support global efforts to counter cybercrimes, such as child pornography, spam, online scams and other deviant behavior.    ________________________   First Regional Conference for the Asia and Pacific Region on the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society, 12-14 March 2008, Hanoi , Vietnam . Source: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=26324&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anup Kumar Das New Delhi, India http://www.anup-jnu.blogspot.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did you know? You can CHAT without downloading messenger. Go to http://in.webmessenger.yahoo.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.