International colloquy underscores internet role in human rights defense

The international colloquy, held in Rabat May 15-17 under the theme "Internet and human rights: challenges and stakes," underscored the role the web can play in human rights defense.

Participants probed means to make of the internet a tool of human rights protection, and mechanisms to protect the industrial and intellectual property.

State secretary in charge of posts and telecommunications and information technologies, Nasr Hajji, said the E-Morocco strategy, adopted after consultations between all private and public operators, will enable Morocco make up for its lag in the field.

European Union legal expert, Schmidt Pariset, briefed the audience on Europe's regulation experience in the field. She also discussed the EU-USA cooperation in the field of privacy respect.

An official from the Moroccan secretariat general of posts and communication and information technologies (SEPTI) stressed the need to adapt the legal assets to the new international context. She told participants that Morocco is preparing two draft laws, on data transmission and electronic signature.

The colloquy is held by the ministry of human rights and the SEPTI, in collaboration with Maroc Telecom group and the Canadian embassy in Morocco.

Morocco has 500,000 Internet users, and ambitions to reach three millions in 2005, and 10 millions in 2010.