Shaping information societies for human needs

The WSIS Civil Society Declaration argues that information and communication technologies (ICTs) must be grounded in human rights, social justice, and gender equality rather than profit-driven market motives. It advocates for universal access to information, the protection of the public domain of knowledge, and the use of Free Software to empower marginalized communities. The declaration emphasizes the need for multistakeholder governance of the Internet and the implementation of environmentally sustainable ICT solutions, particularly in Africa.

• Information and communication societies must be people-centred and grounded in human rights, prioritizing the elimination of poverty and the equitable distribution of resources over the goals of enriching companies or enabling undemocratic government control.
• The 'digital divide' is viewed not merely as a lack of technology but as a reflection of existing social, geopolitical, and historical asymmetries between the North and South, rich and poor, and men and women.
• Gender justice is a non-negotiable prerequisite for equitable development, requiring an intersectional approach to redress unequal power relations and the creation of gender-responsive educational programs.
• The document advocates for the protection and expansion of the public domain of global knowledge, criticizing the increasing privatization of research and the extension of copyright and patents that limit innovation and access to life-saving drugs.
• Free Software is promoted as a critical tool for developing countries due to its low cost, capacity for local adaptation, and ability to stimulate sustainable regional economies.
• ICT infrastructure and production must adhere to environmentally sustainable principles, including the use of renewable energy and the safe disposal of hardware; specifically, solar power is identified as a strategic opportunity for Africa.
• The governance of the Internet and its underlying resources should follow a multistakeholder, open, and flexible approach rather than an exclusionary intergovernmental model.
• The declaration calls for the protection of journalists and the prohibition of 'information warfare' techniques, such as the jamming of civilian communication systems during conflicts.
• Indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge must be protected from commercial exploitation and patenting, with the peoples themselves deciding if their heritage enters the public domain.

APA

Rowley, S. (2022). Shaping information societies for human needs. World Association for Christian Communication. https://waccglobal.org/shaping-information-societies-for-human-needs/

Chicago

Rowley, Saskia. Shaping information societies for human needs. World Association for Christian Communication, 2022. https://waccglobal.org/shaping-information-societies-for-human-needs/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Rowley |first1=Saskia |title=Shaping information societies for human needs |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=15 November 2022 |url=https://waccglobal.org/shaping-information-societies-for-human-needs/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{rowley2022shaping, author = {Rowley, Saskia}, title = {{Shaping information societies for human needs}}, publisher = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://waccglobal.org/shaping-information-societies-for-human-needs/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }