Conference

For its 13th edition, Access Now will host RightsCon 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan and online from Monday, February 24 to Thursday, February 27, marking our first summit in East Asia and a return to the Asia Pacific region after a decade. Each year, RightsCon convenes business leaders, policy makers, general counsels, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology.  In engaging fireside chats, hands-on workshops, strategic roundtables, private meetings, and a lively exhibition space, RightsCon is where a global movement comes together to build strategies and drive forward change toward a more free, open, and connected digital world.

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Open Development Cambodia (ODC) and its partners are organizing three Cambodia ICT Camp 2024 from 5-7 December 2024 in Siem Reap province. This three-day event will be the third Cambodia ICT Camp to be held. The inaugural camp, born from the Mekong ICT Camp 2017 held in Siem Reap, was successfully held in 2018, followed by a second camp in 2022. The Cambodia ICT Camp 2024 is an interactive event featuring sharing sessions, panel discussions, and hands-on activities led by national and international experts in ICT, cybersecurity, cybercrime, digital communications, artificial intelligence (AI), journalism, and digital rights. The camp will bring together participants from diverse but interconnected fields, including media and journalism, civil society organizations, digital rights advocacy groups, legal professionals, academia, the private sector, and university students. They will have the opportunity to engage in in-depth sharing of knowledge by the experts, get to experience the real-life applications of technologies, and connect with other participants.

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Background According to the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021–2035, data plays an increasingly important role in Cambodian public governance for several reasons. Commitment to the reforms (and continued economic growth) is expected to make Cambodia a middle-income nation by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.  The process of digital government administration begins with the formulation and adoption of necessary policies and the creation and updating of relevant legislative frameworks and regulations by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). It continues with the development of digital government standards and architecture through principles, norms, models, technological evolution, and national and international best practices. These are the foundations for establishing digital government effectively, efficiently, and securely to support the construction and growth of a robust and dynamic digital economy and society. The Open Data Policy is one of several that the government is working on and gathering input for. In accordance with existing laws and regulations, the new Open Data Policy would define principles, standards, licenses, and procedures for opening, storing, and sharing government data with public institutions, the business sector, and individuals. The ultimate objective of open data is to increase transparency, fairness, and accountability, as well as the quality of services, hence increasing public trust in government and promoting research and innovation with sustainability and inclusion [1]. Open data will permit non-state actors to participate, offer comments, and hold the government responsible, in addition to aiding in the promotion of openness inside the government. However, non-state actors in Cambodia have only achieved sluggish advancements [2] in terms of data access and data usage for policy objectives [3]. To accomplish our shared goal of bridging the gap between government and non-state actors on open data dialogue, the Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC), in partnership with The Asia Foundation, will host a two-day National Open Data Conference in Cambodia from March 26 to 27. In addition to promoting national and regional collaboration and open data efforts, we expect that the open and inclusive involvement in this event will increase public knowledge of open data and awareness of the challenges facing Cambodia’s open data adoption. The outputs from the group discussion during this two-day event will be an additional complement to the government’s efforts to develop a meaningful and effective open data policy. This National Open Data Conference 2024 is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through The Asia Foundation’s Ponlok Chomnes: Data and Dialogue for Development in Cambodia Program. Purposes  To increase public awareness of the progress and obstacles to open data adoption in Cambodia and the region, To gather inputs and suggestions to contribute to the draft open data policy and data governance legislation, To encourage data transparency and accountability initiatives in diverse sectors, To strengthen the open data network in Cambodia and the region. Participants The National Open Data Conference will gather at least 75 participants from a variety of backgrounds, including international and local NGOs, the private sector, researchers and policymakers, indigenous youth groups, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQI+. Organizers Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC) is the leading open data platform in Cambodia, which makes up-to-date and reliable data and information on socioeconomic and environmental issues publicly available as a “one-stop shop”. ODC promotes the use of accurate data for evidence-based and transparent decision-making processes towards the sustainable development of the country. For the past ten years, ODC has actively worked to enhance the amount of public data, raise public awareness, and build the capacity of relevant stakeholders. ODC uses its expertise in data and ICT, mapping and GIS, digital security, and research to compile, analyze, and disseminate information in user-friendly and accessible digital formats. Material available on ODC’s online platform includes datasets, information topic pages, interactive maps, news, and legal documents, among others. ODC does not promote any particular perspective, agenda, or bias other than to provide objective information about Cambodia and its development. The Asia Foundation is implementing the Ponlok Chomnes: Data and Dialogue for Development in Cambodia Program between July 2023 and June 2027 with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The goal of Ponlok Chomnes II is that public policy decisions, based on evidence and informed by inclusive dialogue, are operationalised and become the norm in Cambodia.

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Asia Centre’s 9th Annual International Conference will revolve around stories of resistance and pushback in defense of civic space in Asia. This topic is pressing and timely given the widespread contraction of civic spaces in the region, which poses a threat to the future of democratic societies. Registration is open to all presenters and participants from academic institutions, media outlets and journalist associations, businesses, national and regional civil society organizations, international NGOs, political parties, parliaments, government agencies, and intergovernmental organizations to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking. Researchers and practitioners wishing to present papers or share their experiences are invited to submit a title and abstract of 300–340 words in English, together with a biographical paragraph of 100 words, here. For those submitting papers, full papers should be 5,000 words (Please refer to the Style Sheet Guidelines). Following the international conference, the Asia Centre will publish the Conference Proceedings. Guidelines for the Conference Proceedings can be found here. Please contact us at contact@asiacentre.org Register here

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The conference intends to discuss the history of economic thought, economic research and development in Southeast Asia. This conference aims to provide an opportunity to PhD students, young scholars, and researchers in the field of economics and social science to share their research and exchange knowledge in different study agendas and backgrounds, as well as to receive feedback on their work from senior researchers and practitioners. Important Dates The last date for abstract submission: 31st August 2023 Notification for selected abstract: 15th September 2023 The last date for submission of the full paper: 15th October 2023 Notification for selected full papers/paper presenters: 30th October 2023 Conferenced date: 16-17th December 2023 Registration: https://fs8.formsite.com/CNZLjX/rule2023/index For more information: https://rb.gy/w9n5q

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The Conference of the States Parties (COSP) is the main policymaking body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It supports States parties and signatories in their implementation of the Convention, and gives policy guidance to UNODC to develop and implement anti-corruption activities. For further information: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/corruption/COSP/conference-of-the-states-parties.html

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