Resource Centre

Resolution on International Co-operation

Proposer: Privacy Commissioner of Canada

Co-sponsors: Information Commissioner, UK
Privacy Commissioner, New Zealand
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan

Recalling the Montreux Declaration that called on the United Nations to develop a legally binding instrument to protect privacy; affirmed the commitment of data protection commissioners to promote cooperation amongst themselves and with others involved in data protection; and appealed to governments to promote the adoption of legal instruments of data protection and privacy;

Recognising the several international organisations are actively promoting privacy cooperation, including this Conference, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA), the Ibero-American Data Protection Network, the Association of Francophone Data Protection Authorities and the European Union’s Article 29 Working Party;

Recognising the steps taken since the 28^th Conference at the Paris and Brussels workshops as part of the London Initiative to share practical information with the goal of making data protection more effective through better communications and enforcement;

Recognising that global flows of personal information which are increasing both in terms of quantity and complexity, create new challenges with respect to the protection of personal information; and

Recognising that an increasing number of countries now acknowledge the importance of data protection and are rapidly moving to address the protection of personal information in ways that reflect their particular legal, political and cultural realities;

The Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners gathered at the 29^th International Conference therefore:

1. Recognise that countries have adopted different approaches to protecting personal information and enhancing privacy rights;
2. Encourage data protection commissioners to further develop their existing efforts to support international co-operation and to work with international organisations to strengthen data protection worldwide;
3. Welcome the adoption in June 2007 by the OECD Council of a Recommendation on Cross-border Co-operation in the Enforcement of Laws Protecting Privacy, and call upon governments in OECD member countries to implement the Recommendation;
4. Encourage the commissioners to continue with the valuable work of the London
   Initiative and support the sharing of tools, frameworks and experiences in evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of our activities and interventions at the domestic and international levels; and
5. Encourage the commissioners to further their efforts to raise awareness of data protection and privacy through initiatives such as APPA’s Privacy Awareness Week and the Council of Europe’s Data Protection Day.