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African Information Ethics Conference:
Ethical Challenges in the Information Age

Pretoria, 5-7 February 2007

Programme

• Monday (5 February 2007)
• Tuesday (6 February 2007)
• Wednesday (7 February 2007)

Download: Detailed version of the programme as PDF.

Welcome address:

• Prof. Robin Crewe (Vice - Principal, University of Pretoria, South Africa)

Discussion of the Objectives and Agenda:

• Ms. Lyndall Shope-Mafole (Director General, Dept. of Communications, South Africa)

Keynote address:

• Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (Minister of Communications, South Africa)

Opening addresses:

• Dr. Henry Chasia (NEPAD e-Africa Commission)
• Dr. Boyan Radoykov (UNESCO, Information Society Division)

Theme keynote speakers:

• Prof. Rafael Capurro (International Center for Information Ethics, Germany): Information Ethics for and from Africa
• Prof. Andrew Kaniki (NRF, South Africa): The foundations of Africa Information Ethics - from an African perspective
• Prof. Itumeleng Mosala (Director-General Dept of Arts and Culture, South Africa): Ethics and Information Exchange between diverse cultures
• Prof. Johannes Britz (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA; University of Pretoria, South Africa): The challenges of African Information Ethics

Panel discussion:

Panel members:

• Henry Chasia
• Boyan Radoykov
• Rafael Capurro
• Andrew Kaniki
• Itumeleng Mosala
• Johannes Britz

Discussion, Questions and Remarks from the floor.

- Evening -

Gala dinner

Guest speaker: Minister Dr Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture

- Morning Session -

Theme Group Discussions:

• Discussion of 12 principal themes in smaller groups each facilitated by an appointed theme facilitator.
• Brief introduction of UNESCO's proposal for a code of ethics (B. Radoykov, Information Society Division, UNESCO)

All groups will focus their discussion on the following issues:

• UNESCO's proposal for a Code of Ethics - an African perspective
• Possible implications for minority groups, different age groups (for example, youth), gender, and socio-cultural and economic implications

TOPIC 1: Foundations of African Information Ethics

Topic facilitator: D. Ocholla (South Africa)

• Theme 1: Respect for human dignity - information based rights
• Theme 2: Freedom of expression, Freedom of access to information
• Theme 3: Freedom of access to information (IP legislation, open-access movement, TRIPS)
• Theme 4: Information wrongdoings, information corruption, information injustice

TOPIC 2: Cultural diversity and globalization

Topic facilitator: P. Kanyandago (Uganda)

• Theme 5: Protection and promotion of indigenous knowledge
• Theme 6: Global security, human security, privacy, transparency
• Theme 7: E-Government and related topics
• Theme 8: Cultural diversity and development

TOPIC 3: Development, poverty and ICT

Topic facilitator: K. Mchombu (Namibia)

• Theme 9: Using ICT for a better life in Africa: case studies
• Theme 10: Internet and exclusion (socio-political and economic exclusion)
• Theme 11: North-South flow of information and information imperialism
• Theme 12: Brain draining in Africa

- Afternoon session -

Topic Group Meetings:

• Separate meetings of the three topic groups.
• Theme synthesisers will report their group's summary to their topic facilitator.

Report back to conference participants by three topic facilitators:

• Dennis Ocholla, Topic 1 Facilitator
• Peter Kanyandago, Topice 2 Facilitator
• Kingo Mchombu, Topic 3 Facilitator

General discussion

Discussion on the declaration

Outcomes and plan of action

Vote of thanks

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