... Acknowledging that equitable access to information is a right for all;
Recognising the vast inequities to equitable access to information, knowledge, and affordable communications across the continent and the uneven development that this contributes together with the negative impact that the high cost of communications services has on the wider economy;
Considering the critical role the information and communication technology (ICT) can play in the economic growth and development of nations;
Acknowledging that the quality of a democracy is dependent on the rights of the citizenry to express themselves freely and to access information and knowledge in order to make informed decisions;
Realising the significant role that parliaments must play in promoting an equitable information society through the enactment of legislation, which ensures transparency, accountability, openness and effective oversight; ...
Call upon all African Parliaments to: ...
Urge the development of policies and initiate and enact laws that promote equitable access to information, communication and knowledge and provide for favourable institutional arrangements for the ICT sector. ...
Posted by
Gavin Baker at 3/17/2009 05:02:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
