The Contributing Parties1,

Conscious of the intrinsic value of public content2 and of the social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values of knowledge externalized in the languages of the world,

Conscious also of the importance of knowledge conversion for civic, economic and sustainable development,

Affirming that the provision of public content is a common concern of humankind3,

Reaffirming that States and Private persons4 may have sovereign rights5 over their specific content resources,

Reaffirming also that States are responsible for conserving their public content and for using this content in the sustainable creation of wealth and health,

Concerned that the provision of public content is being significantly reduced by (lack of) certain human and commercial activities,

Institutional gaps for the knowledge economy coexist with (rather) fit material economy institutions

Aware of the general lack of information and knowledge regarding public content and of the urgent need to develop scientific, technical and institutional capacities6 to provide the basic understanding upon which to plan and implement appropriate measures,

Noting that it is vital to anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of the reduced provision of public content,

Noting further that the fundamental requirement for the creation of knowledge from content is its in-situ conversion7 as part of human activity, with or without the support of ICT.

Noting further that ex-situ conversion practices, preferably both in international fora and in local languages, also have an important role to play,

Recognizing the desirability of sharing equitably benefits arising from the use of public content, innovations and practices,

Stressing the importance of, and the need to promote, international, regional and global cooperation among States and intergovernmental organizations and the non-governmental sector for the nurturing of public content and their broad-based utilization in knowledge conversions,

Acknowledging that the provision of new and additional financial resources and appropriate access to relevant technologies can be expected to make a substantial difference in the world's ability to ensure the situation-specific conversion between public content and actionable knowledge for multiple actors operating in myriad situations,

Acknowledging further that special provision is required to meet the needs of developing countries, including the provision of new and additional financial resources and appropriate access to relevant technologies,

Noting in this regard the special conditions of the least developed countries and populations depending on local languages8,

Acknowledging that substantial investments are required to consolidate as public content the content that is already in the public domain,

Acknowledging that public content are a cost-effective instrument for states and the international community, enabling them to meet commitments and moral duties implied by articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child:

and thus that investments in the provision of public content will yield a broad range of environmental, economic and social benefits.

Recognizing that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries,

Aware that the broad-based provision of public content is of critical importance for meeting the social and capacity building needs of the growing world population, for which purpose access to and sharing of both public content and technologies are essential,

Noting that, ultimately, the broad-based provision of public content will strengthen friendly relations among States and contribute to peace for humankind,

Desiring to enhance and complement existing international arrangements for the broad-based provision of public content, and

Determined to unlock the public content in all languages for the benefit of present and future generations,

Have agreed as follows:


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