We are very pleased to invite UNESCO member states to be represented at the Riga Global Meeting of Experts on the Ethical Aspects of Information Society on October 16-17, 2013.

The meeting is organized by the UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP) in cooperation with and support of UNESCO Communication and Information Sector, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, and Latvian National Commission for UNESCO.

Riga Global Meeting of Experts is an important step in an ongoing effort of UNESCO Information for All Programme to raise awareness, identify and reflect on the societal and ethical challenges brought by the Internet and the use of information and communication technologies. Riga meeting serves as a platform to elaborate discussions on both current and emerging ethical challenges of the Information Society and its different aspects and dimensions, building multi-stakeholder partnerships, raising awareness of these issues for policy makers, and working on the consensus building in respect to the basic ethical principles in the information society.

The main goal of the meeting is to reflect on the conclusions from the previous debates to come up with the proposals on addressing the most pressing ethical issues posed by the ever growing use of information technologies. Among objectives of the meeting is to review the progress of UNESCO and IFAP activities implementing WSIS Action Line C10: Ethical dimensions of the Information Society and to prepare the Recommendations of the Riga Global Meeting of Experts for sustainable and feasible actions in the Member States.

Meeting will gather the leading experts and thought leaders from around the globe, including participants from the UNESCO IFAP Council and National IFAP Committees, UNESCO Secretariat, UNESCO partner organizations, and other stakeholders.

We look forward to welcoming at the Riga Global Meeting of Experts on the Ethical Aspects of Information Society.

Accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of our highest consideration.