The São Paulo DeclarationDeclaration of the 5th WITSA Global
Policy Action and Trade Summit
Preamble
• Representatives from 30 countries
• Objective: – to consider effective public policies to deliver
the promises of the Digital Age
• Observed:– significant progress made by governments in
developing and implementing digital agendas– continuing economic, social and cultural
transformations through ICT
Preamble (2)
• Observed:– Internet access must be developed through
open and transparent governance; – investment in infrastructure and connectivity
must continue, encouraged by a competitive and supportive business environment
Concerns
• Significant challenges to access.– Disclosures about information protection are
encouraging governments to seek greater control, both of governance arrangements, and of information flowing across their jurisdictions.
– Consequences: • Risks of global fragmentation, and isolation• Unilateral actions intended to “protect citizens” may
cause harm, impose costs, and reduce technology access and choice
Concerns (2)
• A growing trend towards closed preferential trade agreements, which are a departure from multilateral trade liberalization arrangements
• A tendency towards less transparency in trade negotiations, with reduced meaningful stakeholder engagement
Calls to Action
• All governments, stakeholder organizations and business leaders must work constructively to ensure ICTs, and the benefits of their application, are available to all, and to avoid unilateral protective measures
• all nations to recommit to the WTO’s “most favoured nation” and “national treatment” principles, and to the rapid removal of trade barriers
Declaration
• We declare to remove barriers to trade and avoid any actions that may limit access by all the world’s people to the Internet, so that – respecting privacy and security principles – everyone can participate and receive its benefits, and thus deliver the promises of the Digital Age
See you at WCIT 2014
Top Related