Attending UN RBHR Forum, Asia Pacific 2024? Join us in Discussing Digital Commons for the Region!
Written by the Wikimedia Foundation’s: Rachel Arinii Judhistari, Lead Public Policy Specialist for Asia
The UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum (RBHR) Forum, Asia-Pacific 2024 is a pivotal event focused on promoting human rights and accountability in the digital age, addressing critical issues such as the right to development, technology, and corporate responsibility. Scheduled for 24–27 September, 2024, this forum brings together diverse stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives, to discuss the implementation of the Global Digital Compact that was just adopted over the weekend by UN Member States. The Compact will serve as a vital framework for fostering collaboration among stakeholders worldwide to uphold human rights and advance equitable digital transformation through digital public goods (DPGs) like Wikipedia.
The UN RBHR Forum, Asia Pacific aims to ensure that technological advancements promote sustainable development and contribute positively to society while holding corporations accountable for their actions and its impact on society as well as the environment. In addition, the Forum serves as a platform for collaborative dialogue, fostering innovative solutions to safeguard human rights in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. We are participating in this event to share our perspective on access to knowledge online and how Wikipedia both powers and depends on digital rights.
As a stakeholder to UN debates about digital development and policy, the Wikimedia Foundation has been closely following the developments around the Compact. In an open letter with allies from the Wikimedia movement, we have voiced our hope for more support for the digital commons and the online communities who develop DPGs in the public interest. The Global Advocacy team at the Wikimedia Foundation has collaborated with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Malaysia, the World Benchmarking Alliance, Collective of Applied Law & Legal Realism (CALR), and Oxfam in Asia to organize a session at the Forum. Under the title “Welcoming the Global Digital Compact: The Right to Development, Technology, and Corporate Accountability in Asia and the Pacific,” our discussion will take place on Thursday, 26 September, 2024, from 16:00 to 17:00 ICT.
We invite policymakers and regulators, civil society representatives, academics, and anyone interested in the future of technology and development in Asia and the Pacific to engage in this crucial dialogue.
Do not miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative conversation that seeks to drive meaningful change in the region. Your participation will contribute to shaping a more just and inclusive digital future.
