A Light Bulb of Youth In African Development

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FOC 10th Anniversary Helsinki Declaration - Towards a Rules-based, Democratic and Digitally Inclusive World

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We will redouble our efforts in working together for free, open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet worldwide through the following actions:

  1. Strengthening the FOC’s leadership in promoting respect for and protection and enjoyment of all human rights including the freedom of opinion and expression, the freedom of association and peaceful assembly, and the right to be free from arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy without any discrimination both offline and online.

  2. Promoting at the UN and other international fora initiatives and partnerships for achieving universal access to the Internet by 2030.

  3. Taking action in speaking out against and countering Internet shutdowns, network disruptions and censorship that are inconsistent with international human rights law.

  4. Addressing disinformation and other harmful content online and ensuring that any measures are in accordance with international law, including international human rights law.

  5. Promoting vibrant civil society, supporting human rights defenders and combating online violations that shrink civic space, such as arbitrary or unlawful surveillance practices.

  6. Promoting a human-rights based approach in the design, development, deployment, dissemination, evaluation and regulation of digital technologies.

  7. Promoting policies, initiatives, education and research that support digital inclusion and public participation with special attention to the empowerment of women and persons or groups in a vulnerable situation such as children, persons with disabilities and older persons.

  8. Encouraging and engaging in dialogue and cooperation with the private sector on the effective implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

  9. Supporting and strengthening meaningful engagement and cooperation of all stakeholders, including governments, industry, media, civil society and academia, in Internet governance and digitalization.

  10. Fostering dialogue to promote a free, open, interoperable, secure and reliable Internet and a human-rights based approach in digitalization with non-FOC member states.

We will carry out these commitments by enhancing the FOC’s advocacy and ability to raise and react to human rights questions in real time. We will strengthen the FOC’s diplomatic coordination and proactive engagement in the UN human rights fora and other international and regional fora, and we will continue to work closely with the FOC Advisory Network.

We call upon governments and all stakeholders to join in enacting this Declaration.