Circular
17/2019
Barcelona, 27 May 2019
 
To the members of the World Council
To the Secretaries General
To the Vice-Presidents of United Cities and Local Governments
To the Chairs of UCLG Committees, Working Groups, Communities of Practice and Fora

For information: To the Presidency

Join the Coalition of Cities for Digital Rights
Members are invited to endorse the Declaration of Cities for Digital Rights and join the Coalition: a platform to harness technological opportunities for social inclusion
 

Dear members,

The world is undergoing significant technological change that has the potential to foster innovation and inclusion, but may also result in increased inequalities and rights abuses.
 
Last year, the Cities of Barcelona, Amsterdam and New York launched a Coalition of Cities for Digital Rights – a platform seeking to harness the potential of local governments in defending principles such as privacy, freedom of expression and democratic processes.
 
The Coalition has adopted a Declaration of Cities for Digital Rights that lays out a set of principles for the governance of the internet aimed at eliminating impediments to harnessing technological opportunities that improve the lives of communities, and providing trustworthy and secure digital services and infrastructures to support them.
 
The Coalition gathers now 25 cities (full list here), which work in partnership with the UCLG World Organization, Eurocities and UN-Habitat.
 
By taking part in the Coalition, the UCLG World Organization aims to bridge the group’s position with the perspectives of the whole constituency of local and regional governments, as well as to support bringing the Coalition’s positions to international policy positions.
 
Why joining?
 
The Coalition of Cities for Digital Rights is a first step for local governments to lead the way in ensuring data as a common good – including as a tool for cities to improve their policies.
 
The Declaration revolves around five principles: universal and equal access to the internet, and digital literacy; privacy, data protection and security; transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination of data, content and algorithms; participatory democracy, diversity and inclusion; open and ethical digital service standards.
 
As a member city, the Coalition will be a space to share and disseminate best practices on the safeguarding of digital rights; learn from each other’s challenges and successes, and coordinate joint policy positions to influence relevant international policy processes.
 
How to join?
 
To endorse the Declaration of Cities for Digital Rights and join the Coalition, please indicate your interest by emailing the World Secretariat at policy@uclg.org.
 
You will then be contacted and invited to fill a form to formalize the joining process.

 
Sincerely,

The UCLG World Secretariat