[IRP] FW: Charter of Human Rights and Principles for the Internet

[Lisa Horner]

Hi all

Please see salient comments below from Michael concerning digital inclusion.

Looking forward to conference call to discuss all comments this Thursday 19th at 15.00 UK/16.00 CET.  Please could you let me know if you are planning to join?  Please also try to submit all comments in writing by the end of tomorrow (Wednesday) so that we can collate them and discuss them systematically during the call.

All the best,
Lisa

From: Michael Gurstein [mailto:gurstein at gmail.com]
Sent: 15 August 2010 15:20
To: Lisa Horner
Subject: RE: [IRP] Charter of Human Rights and Principles for the Internet


Hi Lisa,
Below I suggest some  (unfortunately still awkward) alternative language under the "Overcoming the Digital Divide" section I.2.c as below (including changing the heading) .   The term Digital Inclusion is now coming into more general use than Digital Divide based in part on a recognition that there will always (in a fractal world) be "divides" while broad based "inclusion" while difficult is achievable. The notion of the "digital divide" also (inappropriately) tends to disempower and imply dependency on the part of those on the "wrong" side or the "divide".


Ensuring Digital Inclusion

An Internet based society and economy requires that all have an equal opportunity for active and effective participation in and through the Internet.  To this end  active support should be available for self-managed and other community based facilities  and services to ensure universal digital inclusion . Digital inclusion requires the opportunity for access to, and effective use of the range of digital media, communication platforms and devices for information management and processing.

To ensure the opportunity for universal digital access and use, among the measures that must be put in place are public internet access points located (with easy physical and disability oriented design access ) in among other locations,  telecentres, libraries, community centers, clinics or schools.  This must be accompanied by support for the effective use of this access  as well as access obtained via mobile media. This would be provided through  appropriate training, social and organizational mediation and facilitation, and design and governance regimes including support for the use of the range of Internet enabled services such as e-government, e-education, e-health and facilitation and support for locally based initiatives and participation in content creation, e-governance, service design and delivery and other.

(Note that I've included here a brief mention of mobile Internet access... I notice that the overall document seems rather to ignore mobile Internet which is emerging as the dominant Internet access means in many parts of the world.  I'm not exactly sure how that impacts on other parts of this document but as the document proceeds it should be done in full awareness of the potential of this as an issue.

Best to all,

Mike

Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.
Director: Centre for Community Informatics Research, Development and Training
Vancouver, CANADA
http://www.communityinformatics.net<http://www.communityinformatics.net/>
CA tel. +1-604-602-0624

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