Dear LacRalo Members, I'm writing because I'm involved in an initiative you may have already heard about, but that could use your support. The Public Voice, a civil society coalition (spearheaded by Katitza Rodriguez of EPIC, cc:ed) is hosting an event Global Privacy Standards in a Global World ( <http://thepublicvoice.org/events/madrid09/> http://thepublicvoice.org/events/madrid09/) just preceding the 31st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners ( <http://www.privacyconference2009.org/privacyconf2009/home/index-iden-idweb. html)> http://www.privacyconference2009.org/privacyconf2009/home/index-iden-idweb.h tml) in Madrid (Nov. 4-6). As the Director of the Spanish DPA says on the conference welcome page - they are trying to piece together an international privacy standards agreement (quote just below). "The challenge we face as the organisers of the 31st International Conference is that of achieving the approval of a joint proposal on International Standards for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Data, allowing the development of a universal, binding legal document, which must be backed by the most extensive institutional and social consensus via the participation of the authorities and institutions guaranteeing data protection and privacy and representatives of both public and private entities and organisations." - Artemi Rallo Lombarte: Director, Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). The declaration text can be found at <http://thepublicvoice.org/madrid-declaration> http://thepublicvoice.org/madrid-declaration and in Spanish at http://thepublicvoice.org/madrid-declaration/es/ . An indication of support for this Declaration will help focus the privacy agenda on protecting consumers and citizens and help send a unified message to the drafters of this international privacy standards effort. There are of course many efforts to try and preserve privacy, but the timing and focus of this is particularly worth considering signing on to. The European Commission, by the way, has opened up a consultation on the Data Protection Directive until the end of the year ( <http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/consulting_public/news_consulting_000 3_en.htm> http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/consulting_public/news_consulting_0003 _en.htm). So, if you are so inclined, signing on and spreading the word about the Madrid Declaration beforehand to maximize the number of signatures would be of great help too. You can sign as representative of an NGO and/or as member of the Academia, if for both titles apply to you. Thanks in advance, Matías Matías Altamira Abogado ALTAMIRA GIGENA - Estudio Jurídico Bv. San Juan 101 Piso 2° "A" Córdoba - República Argentina Tel: +54 351 4281624 - 4257923 matias@altamiragigena.com.ar <http://www.altamiragigena.com.ar> www.altamiragigena.com.ar