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The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) held the 12th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights - "Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and Human Rights at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul from June 27 to 29, 2012. The 12th Informal ASEM Seminar is the biggest ICT and HR seminar in Asia and Europe region and was hosted by NHRCK with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea and co-organized by Asia and Europe Foundation (ASEF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, Raoul Wallenberg Institute from Switzerland and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Philippine.
A side event was taken place at the 12th ASEM Seminar under the theme of “Balance between the Right to Privacy and Freedom of Expression” for the first time in the history of ASEM Human Rights Seminar series.
It was designed to involve more people, in particular, domestic participants in the discussion on Information and Human Rights expanding the scope of participation which had been limited to certain number of people. At the side event, national experts in the right to privacy and online freedom of expression presented their papers and the ASEF Executive Director Michel Filhol and key figures were participated as a panel.
The 12th ASEM seminar began with an opening speech by the Chairperson of NHRCK Byungchul Hyun, followed by a congratulatory speech by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea Sunghan Kim, a keynote speech by the Executive Director of Article 19 Agnes Callamard, and Indian Supreme Court Advocate Pavan Duggal.
On the second day, four Working Groups had a closed separate meeting about 1) Freedom of Expression; 2) Right to Privacy; 3) Digital Divide; and 4) Right to Cultural Enjoyment on the Internet. The discussion outcome was shared at the plenary session on the last day, June 29, 2011. On the same day, a special session about a “Role of a National Human Rights Institution as Data Protection Authorities” was held.
Benefits of Information and Communication Technology are a part of universal human rights which is spelled out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
NHRCK will continuously contribute to the implementation of international human rights standard and realization of universal human rights.
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