The Hague Declaration

The Hague Declaration
Adopted and proclaimed
by the founders of the Digital Standards Organization
in The Hague on 21 May 2008
W
hereas almost 60 years ago the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, established in international law these rights and freedoms:
1. Freedom from discrimination by government or law (Article 2, Article 7).
2. Freedom of movement within the borders of each state (Article 13.1).
3. The right to participate in government (Article 21.1).
4. The right of equal access to public services (Article 21.2).
Whereas these rights and freedoms are today accepted by every democratic government and backed by the constitutions of most states;
Considering that all countries are moving, at different rates and from different starting points, towards a society in which full and effective participation in government and society, and access to public services, education and opportunity, are increasingly dependent upon access to electronic communications;
Considering more specifically that:
• Government information, services and resources are increasingly provided virtually rather than physically;
• Freedom of speech and association are increasingly exercised on line rather than in person;
• The Internet and the Web provide an unprecedented avenue to equality of education and Founders of Digistan
Alberto Barrionuevo, President, FFII
Alexandra Combes, President, FFII France
Stefan Gustavson
Benjamin Henrion, ESOMA, FFII and AEL
Pieter Hintjens, ESOMA, iMatix, FFII
Jan Husar, SKOSI
Bob Jolliffe, FTISA
Brian Kahin, CCIA, University of Michigan
Michiel Leenaars, NLnet foundation
René Mages, FFII, FFII France
Wladek Majewski, KROS, FFII
Tristan Nitot, Mozilla Europe
Steve Pepper, Ontopedia
Nicolas Pettiaux, Vice President, APRIL
Chris Puttick, Oxford Archaeology
André Rebentisch, Openstandards.de
Charles­H. Schulz, Ars Aperta, ESOMA
Mark Taylor, Open Source Consortium
Andy Updegrove, Gesmer Updegrove LLP
Robert Weir, An Antic Disposition
opportunity for all peoples throughout the world;
Considering that the benefits of the Internet may only be guaranteed, and our hard­won human rights may only be preserved as we transition to a digital society, ensuring affordable, equal access to the Internet, if the openness of the Internet is also preserved;
Considering the unique role that free and open digital standards can play in ensuring this result by fostering competition and innovation, lowering costs and increasing choice;
Considering that governments, through example and procurement, are uniquely able to ensure that all people achieve the benefits that free and open digital standards can provide;
Considering that these benefits are of particular importance to the economically, socially, and geographically disadvantaged peoples of the world;
Considering that there is increasing consensus on the attributes of a free and open digital standard;
We call on all governments to:
1. Procure only information technology that implements free and open standards;
2. Deliver e­government services based exclusively on free and open standards;
3. Use only free and open digital standards in their own activities.
Supporters of Digistan
Pieter Hintjens, André Rebentisch, Andrew Updegrove, Rui Miguel Silva Seabra, Harish Pillay, Władysław Majewski, Yoon-Kit Yong, David Cooke, Fabio Venni, Savino Lazzaro, Steve Pepper, Alberto Barrionuevo, Sachiko Muto, Nicolas Pettiaux, alexandra combes, Charles-H. Schulz, Paula Simões,
Geoffrey Lehr, Bob Jolliffe, Luc Bollen, Piotr Podlach, Sami M. J. Nieminen, John Drinkwater, Pål Magnus Lykkja, Thomas Keller, Rob Weir, franz schaefer, Markus Beckedahl, Alain EMPAIN, Rodrigo Correia, Alan Griffiths, Konstantin Klein, Eobert Günther, David Walker, Svetoslav Trochev, Marco
Campos, Gary Herchek, Tiago Queirós, Phil Driscoll, John Ellin, Mark Andrews, Stefan FRIEDRICH, Mike-NOOOXML Ames, J. Christine Carpenter, EWJ Hilgenbos, Istvan Szollosi, Pete Molina, David Haworth, Rigo Ketelings, Josh Adams, Bruno Miguel, Justin Brooks, Stephen Combs, Michael Schinagl,
Cassiano Leal, Marcos Torres, Tim Camilleri, Dan Wellmeyer, Eric Herget, Erwan HAMON, Thomas Platzky, Paul Smith, Richard Bos, Michel Frans, Nils Ragnar Grotnes, Darryl Roebuck, Martin Potgieter, George Robert Grand-Scrutton., Sam Sieber, Daniel Barroso, Tom Garland, Jan Korger, Simon
Oosthoek, Ralf Niederhammer, Bradley Watkins, Eric Giesselbach, Anthony Fejes, Dave Prince, Anthony Uebergang, Stefan Esterer, Philipp Steverding, Ronald Trip, Teotonio Ricardo Miranda Leiras, Alan Davis, Joe Spanier, Santiago Urueña Pascual, Phil Botha, Mike Anderson, Robert Dean, Filippo
Rusconi, Herman Grootaers, REMO TABANELLI, Gordon Darling, Edward Birch, Robert Madson, George Lintz, Rui Azevedo, Michael Medford, Ben Baston, Stephen Rufle, Thomas Dale Kerby, Sander Marechal, Tiago Silva, luis silva, Larry Cafiero, Matthew Morris, Thomas Meixner, Kevin Greenfield, Rick
Stanley, Donald Allwright, Tom Robinson, David Grellscheid, Ricardo Silva, Phill Rogers, Dwight Tuinstra, Craig Morehouse, Theodore Kilgore, Richard Pitt, Arthur Elsenaar, Bruce Andrews, Göran Andersson, Karl Jørgensen, Tom Cassidy, Jeffrey Coon, Mark Paulson, Rui Gouveia, Gil Brandao, Brian
Miller, Ted Szymanis, Kyriakos Skafas, José Rocha, William Arnold, Andrew Russell, Duarte Velez Grilo, Wayne Borean, D L Elliott, José Canelas, Jeff Breadner, Martin Owens, Thomas Clark, Graham Menhennitt, Ricardo J Nunes Nunes, Mark Osborne, Kevin Hayden, Paul Gress, Dodi Malay, Phill
Wright, David Kaufmann, Paul Smith, Tiago Fonseca, Eveline van Pernis, Hans Lunsing, Jose Pardo, Jean Van Onacker, Alan Jenkins, Julian Rogers, Laurent Richard, Gudrun Gaedke, John Ingleby, Richard Rothwell, Gerard Hanney, Stuart Johnson, Bruno Lucas, Raymundo Baquirin, Vincent Louviaux,
D'haese Frederic, Pedro Ribeiro, Stéphane Marguet, Christophe Cattelain, LECOQ Vincent, Andre Barbosa, Joost Moesker, Philippe Delchambre, Gonçalo Plácido, Arnaud Vandyck, Marcelo Cardoso, Joseph Lejeune, Joaquim Machado, Olivier Barthélemy, Lucian Iuga-Popescu, Eric Legrand, Diogo
Piçarra, Pedro Fardilha, Paulino Ascenção, Jorge Pinto, Steve Lee, Paulo Fidalgo, Hugo Alves, Maribell Freias, Philippe Andersson, Hélio Viva, Rui Melo, Ronald Huysmans, Jose Lorenzo, Cláudio Piçarra, Thomas Downing, Jeroen de Jong, Pedro Eugénio, Geerten Schram, Jason Kiss, Hillel Brandes, Ben
Finney, Pete Caffall, antonio amaral, Cyril Soldani, Burckhard Doempke, David Berglund, John Hoyne, Sergio Medeiros, António Silva, Ben Webb, Everton dos Santos Rodrigues, Ed Grimm, Walter Neumann, Jose Maria Silveira Neto, Sergio Mariani, Simon Ward, Godwin Stewart, Simon Hobson, Miguel
Dias, Glauber Machado Rodrigues, Alexandra de Brito Mariano, José Vargens, Georg Pircher Verdorfer, Melvyn Broadhurst, Renaud Michel, carlos leal, Sam Tygier, Serge Motquin, Thomas King, Sabine Cassol, Knut Staring, Alexandre Oliva, Patrick Dobernecker, Martin Donald, Rui Lopes, pedro
rezende, Cláudio Esperança, Marko Loparic, edrich de lange, Catherine Coleman, Alexis Cerato, Sven-Erik Andersen, David A. Wheeler, Cristiano Alexandre, Jo Walsh, Peter Saint-Andre, Gaston Dombiak, Hans Nordhaug, Jean-François Gobin, Walt Hucks, Adriano Gomes, John Hobbs, Dâniel Fraga,
Kazunari Hirano, Lester Caine, Pierre Vorhagen, Brandon Whitehead, (Jan) Philipp Schmidt, Allen Gunn, rasigan maharajh, Hapee de Groot, Pedro Mizukami, Lucky Mphafudi, Mzwakhe Makhalemele, Fran Boon, Diaan Mynhardt, Christo Grobler, Carl Magnus Pålsson, hassan amra, sajith vk, Janine
Jooste, Alexandra Amorim, Luis Monteiro, Zahid Rajan, Gyronesa Valentyn, Hassen Mohamed, André Koot, Duncan Anderson, Simon King, Swasthi Soomaroo, Jorge Maia, Mbangwana Moses, Joao Costa, Thomas Pogue, Dominic Hilton, Fana Sihlongonyane, Joseph Reeves, Petrie Coetzee, Renee
Conradie, Leigh-Ann Francis, Chichi Maimane, Mike Morris, Patrick Burasa Rwasira, Kristina Kudriašova, Alan Lord, Peter Roozemaal, Candice Jones, Gary Mitcalfe, Adam Funk, Bruno Santos, Iain Emsley, marek dziembowski, Donald Davis, Nahmsath Yabouri, Luis Flavio Rocha, Andrew Howell, Koffi
ANATOH, shaun mackay, Martin Lucina, Henrik Grubbström, Alon Harpaz, Audoenus LeBlanc, Paulo Amaral, Mike Linksvayer, Mauro Bieg, Bráulio Sousa, Tim Pearce, Đức Hiếu Hoàng, Jacques Roos, António Dias, Bradley Holt, Edward O'Connor, Friedrich Kofler, Steven De Herdt, Mathieu Bollen,
Nicolas Saunier, Wire James, Andrew Sayers, Geci Karuri-Sebina, Noémia Simões, Gianluca Di Maro, Tommy Mattila, Celeste de Klerk, Sergiu Dumitriu, Jochen Hoff, Dale Schumacher, João matos, Margarida Laginha San-Payo, Geza Giedke, Victor Ferreira, Andrea Pieri, Thomas W. Cranston, Arun
Batchu, James Dalziel, Dan Mihai Ile, Hugo Poeira, noel baquirin, Joshua Shinavier, Markus Fleck-Graffe, Paulo Francisco Slomp, Rolf Pedersen, David Light, Józef Halbersztadt, Steen Krøyer, Bjørn Steensrud, Christian Villum, Henk Coetzee, David S. Isenberg, Simon Dingle, Stefan Hennig, Isabel
Bezuidenhoudt, Franck Huby, Jacques Naude, Justas Ingelevičius, Bernard Janssens, Nicolas Douarche, Morgan Olsson, Milton Aineruhanga, Philippe Davy, Raul Ernesto Gonzalez Pons, Zoltán Reizinger, Jorge Constâncio, Steve Crandall, João Velosa, Brian Rowe, Nuno Miguel, Kirill Smelkov, Junior
Marcos P Machado, Marti van Lin, Paul Rigby, Arnd Layer, Marc Jarlégand, Jean-Marie Gouarné, Leroy Torr, Fulcieri Maltini, corneliu dabija, Kieron Wilkinson, Thomas Prentis, axel stevens, Ain Vagula, Neil Manson, Neeme Kahusk, Gabriel de Perthuis, Meelis Roos, Marek Laane, Michaël Delhaye,
Sylvain Paré, Dewald Pieterse, Paul Audebert, Doug Alder, Ivo Sokka, Robert PILLI, glyn moody, Karmo Rosental, Van Belle Jonathan, Jorge Figueiredo, David Callu, Rene Pärts, Bruno Jobard, Rainer Sipelgas, Margus Merelaid, Paul Q Baquirin, Haruyuki Fujimaki, Christopher Calloway, Tony Harverson,
Norman Wright, Eerik Peeker, Vahur Suvi, Donald Kamenik, Michael Bethencourt, Renato Pereira, Hans van Kronenberg, Mihkel Tõnnov, janno tikka, Priit Kivisoo, Gene Willacker, Benjamen Meyer, Bernard Decock, jorge figueira, sean joseph baguley, Benedict Verhegghe, Tõnu Taremaa, Piers Walker,
Andreas Ots, Arko Kesküla, Cherian Olikara, Thomas Holbrook II, Agustin Diez Castillo, Alar Paeste, Jojo LaMaria, Janno Rootalu, Craig Rodney, Sander Lepik, Timo Jyrinki, Andrew Walker, Raigo Avistu, Henning Norén, Armin Größlinger, Ari Torhamo, Florian Cramer, Hans-Jürgen Hay, Landy DeField,
Artur Meldre, Michael Chudobiak, James Hampton, Bruno Martins, Doug Newcomb, Nicolas Barriga, David Nelson, Sergio Ferreira, Muggie van Stadeb, Ramon van Alteren, Natalia Poppeliers, Ilmar Põllumägi, Jason Bechtel, Alan Wolfe, Hubert Figuiere, Hervé Fache, Daniel Yokomizo, William Astle,
Daniel Pfenniger, Bruno Windels, Mark Ryan, Nicolas Troncoso, Randall Whitman, Daniel González, Giangiacomo Mariotti, Marek Schmidt, Charles Calhoun, Liviu Nănău, Kristjan Siimson, Gary Richmond, Jan Husar, Dag Wieers, Wessam Baghdadi, Anand Vaidya, Brian Grossman, Andrew Pam, Jukka
Palko, Lin Cheng, Ake Mellin, Vassili Leonov, Ingmar Aasoja, Kädi Eitar, Prashant Shah, Ivan Kocher, Nahum Castro González, Niels Larsen, N Burton, Bill Gunn, David Leprozo jr, Udo Melis, Mikko Liukko, Kheng Hui Yeo, Erik Lundberg, Craig Adams, Romet Kannukene, Richard van Zon, Mats Palmgren,
Arvo Mägi, Žilvinas Valinskas, Bruno Billiaert, Waddah Al-Ashwal, Damir Perovic, Jean-Marc Liotier, Tanel Bumbul, Georgios Kylafas, Antoine Martin, Urko Fernandez, Alain Pollidoro, Diego Biurrun, kadir yucel, rolf camps, Martin Jormedal, Heike Zimmerer, Jeroen Verhoeckx, Benjamin Nizette, Remi
Villatel, Radu George Muresan, Joost de Meij, François PORT, Martin Wood, rick reyes, Henry Gebhardt, Robin Harvey, cornel panceac, Maurice Perry, Staffan Sundström, Robby Pedrica, Catalin Iacob, Tryggvi Björgvinsson, Henrique Rodrigues, I. Juhkam, Che Kristo, Ricardo Augusto, Jan van
Leeuwen, Ludovic Brenta, Joost Kremers, Smitu Kothari, Hardi E, Andrew Adams, Fotis Kapetanias, Ben Feldman, Robert Norton, Mart Küng, Jacques Lehmann, Stefano D'Angelo, Vincent Thomasset, Jonathan Ernst, Simon Farnsworth, Jack Hamer, Mikko Rauhala, Elias Kurian, giovanni ferioli, Eric
Powell, Emidio Stani, Rick Montgomery, Malte Steiner, Kristian Jensen, Bart van Deenen, Aare Torim, James Sinclair, Lloyd Almeida, Akshay Sulakhe, Kåre Hviid, Michael de Rooij, Taavi Kask, Arjun Aggarwal, Siegfried Niedinger, Martin Paučula, Elar Bugajev, Tim Meador, Marcel Geijsberts, Edmund
Laugasson, Jakob Petsovits, Barry Reiter, Taufik Hasan, Francois Leonard, Kristjan Lass, Aleksandr Malõšev, Margriet Palm, Simmu Tärk, Liia Piirsalu, Grozdan Nikolov, Visa Jokelainen, Tomas Leite, A. J. Gustavsen, Xavier Orkall, Indrek Seppo, Ian Douglas, Urmas Linntamm, erich gamba, Benjamin
Schünemann, James Smith, Erlinda Saw, Michael Glukhovsky, Mike Cornelison, johan swenker, Peter Puk, Andreas Loong, David Boddie, Toomas Nigola, Pandu Rao, Okko Hartikainen, Sagar Pandya, Jim Lacy, Vladimir Filatov, Toivo Hollo, Charles Simpson, Ken Starks, Uuno Vallner, Olle Niit, Geert Jan
van Oldenborgh, Bonnaud Frédéric, Eha Niit, Hénique Brigitte, Andrew Tunney, David Greaves, Bartolome Sintes, Allan Jõgi, Enn Leppiksoo, Jeroen Baten, Felix Rabe, Kaupo Einasto, Jordi Haarman, Marcelo Akira Inuzuka, Jarred Tabor, Urmas Ivask, Michael Ironmonger, Daniel Hedlom, Chris Jansen,
John Hamilton, Bryan Bonifacio, Martin Urussov, Lorenzo Iannuzzi, Teet Ottoson, andrey sigurnjak, Jos Poortvliet, Hubertus von Lindeiner, Prosper Nedrosetta, Paul Boddie, Joergen kristensen, Kevin Barron, Martijn van de Kerkhof, Davy van bijnen, Logan Fields, Jasper Boot, Gauri Shringarpure,
Răzvan Sandu, Jonathan Marsden, Roger Skjetlein, Stefan Sayer, George Moga, Yannick Warnier, Timothy Liddy, Augustin Moga, Arxont Asklediat, Jean-Marie Lapeyre, Norbert Thiebaud, Christian Couder, Iosif Fettich, Kaido Vaatemäe, Märt Suga, Adrian Colomitchi, Steven Bergman, Zvonimir
Szorsen, Roel Schroeven, Aleš Katona, Sam Keshavarzi, Peter Cooper, Sander Thijsen, Ioan-Alexandru Lazăr, Cristian Mastan, Maarten Leeuwis, Marian Klein, Gheorghe Sofian, Wesley Parish, William Fulton, Constantin Vasiliu, Konrad Zimmermann, Olle Svensson, Marek Kusmin, Andres Järve, Kalle
Kebbinau, Clay Berlo, Felix Oxley, Krista Andreson, Jonathan Wright, Andrei Pascal, Armando Oliviera, Francis Jacquerye, Evert van Schothorst, Pascal Wouters, Julius Lagman, Ago Press, Mike Brodbelt, Alan Marshall, Lucian Branescu-Mihaila, Russell Ossendryver, marko pütsep, Jelle de Jong,
Thomas Fitzhenry, Fred Stephens, Frank Kingswood, Peter Harlow, Ian Lynch, Danut Dumitru, Rosen Jeremy, Mathieu Gauthier-Pilote, Thomas Jollans, Anders B. S. Fischer, Frits Beumer, Jonathan-david Schröder, Urmas Poom, Mio Veken, Raul Roosna, Alon Zakai, Arnaldo Ramirez, Diego Fernando
Rojas Robayo, Taavet Kukk, Han Boetes, Kardo Kallis, garry saddington, Joshua Pritikin, Peter Martins, Andreas Mohr, Arthit Suriyawongkul, Alex Reicher, Paul Lepasson, Damijan Bec, Aparna Varadharajan, Tero Grundström, Sergei Solovyov, Frantisek Fecko, Margit Rein, John Cooper, Marten Vill,
Claudiu Covaci, William Blew, Didier Lheureux, ricardo ramalho, Siim Raidma, Michael Vaughan, Stefan Gustavson, antonio da silva, François Schreuer, Ruud Steltenpool, David Harrington, Mark Rankilor, Matthew Holloway, Tamsin Raistrick, Michael Vasquez, Ricardo Espírito Santo, John Mann, João
Sebastião de Oliveira Bueno, Carlos Augusto Zayas Guggiari, Persephone Miel, Adriano Faleiro, June Tate-Gans, Ovidiu Maris, Viswanath Durbha, Manas Saksena, Andrew Kosterin, Vlad Lungeanu, Bogdan Dusa, Sandu Coros-Leca, Cor Nouws, Iuliana HOARA, Pedro Romano, Marco Ghirlanda, Indrek
Sarapuu, Mihai Raucea, Manuel Wollschläger, Nicu Buculei, Nicolau Andrei, Tudor-Cristian Marasescu, Radu Alexandru Dacian, Sarinee Achavanuntakul, Heiko Vainsalku, Adrian Elefterescu, Dimcea-Iulian Zamfir, Salai Kipp Kho Lian, Marko Zirk, Apichai Lawhawonsepianput, Stig Bjarne Dørmænen,
Danut Iulian Berbece, Mikhail Doroshevich, Adrian Dusa, Margus Raud, Manfred Brandl, ionut popescu, Andrew Gee, Alexandru Bolboaca-Diaconu, Art Tibaldo, Felix Pleşoianu, Alexis Read, Huub van Dam, Luiza Puchiu, Armando Leal, Raúl Sánchez Siles, Denis VEltson, Manuel Wolfshant, Patcharaporn
Pansuwan, Costin Gusa, Cliff Evans, Anond Sethabutr, Sanan Kurkulsatsanakit, Gabriel Nicolau, Cristian Klein, Nicolae Critu, Bogdan Borza, Dudau George, Andrei Dore, Derek Keatgs, Tomas Valentukevičius, Jirach Suthammanas, Mircea-Adrian Roibanr, Marcello Henrique Dias de Moura, Sorin Tataru,
Stracna Marius, Candice Adrian, jerome dumonteil, Vee Satayamas, Kamthorn Krairaksa, jarrett jordaan, Stephan Beal, Sander Lulla, Ivan Prieto, Enar Väikene, Diana Leoste, Sorin Ristache, Pedro Sanchez, René Riisik, Paavo Pihelgas, Ander Punnar, Tiina Möller, Roman Kaljuorg, Hector Montes, Jillian
York, Sitthichai Chanmaniloet, Nairo Granados, Isara Anantavrasilp, Jhon Llatance Díaz, Gavin Fleming, Siim Meerits, Gustavo Narea, Tanel Raud, Chaiwat Shuetrakoonpaiboon, Peter Greenwood, Atthaporn Chanprakon, Peter Kollar, Kaspar Kartanas, AJ Venter, Ana Novo, Phanuphong Thipsuk,
Pattrawoot Suesatayasilp, Paulo Renato Lopes Seixas, Christiaan Briggs, Ernest Prabhakar, Tõnis Kärson, Chitpong Kittinaradorn, Stefan Stanacar, พลพัชร โชไชย, McGregor Sheila, Indrek Tamming, Andrew Atkinson, Serghei Amelian, Alin-Florin Rus-Rebreanu, Eugen Alexandru Neamtiu, Keith Rogers,
Tung Tse, Claudia Marinescu, Flore Vlad, Sebastian Popity, Mihai-Stanislav Jalobeanu, Ungureanu Grados, Raul-Rares Duca, Siimo Sulev, Craig Rodway, Boariu Andrei - Catalin, Sorin-Mihai Vârgolici, Edward Kaeufer, Gheorghe Salistean, Laur Mõtus, chindris andreea, Matthew Mello, Cellar Door, Kragen
Javier Sitaker, Nicolae Socaci, Paiboon Panusbordee, Robin Woltman, Alberto Salazar, Ingvar F. Aarnes, Adrian Bob, Tez Naz, Petter Reinholdtsen, Liivo Raudver, Marius Perijoc, Maarja-Liisa Eek, Seredan Pavel, Rob van den Boorn, Adrian Velicu, Simon Morgan, Linah Toona, William O. Bray V, Maria
Bolboaca-Diaconu, Iacob Alexandru, Jaanus Roostalu, Hot Dorin, Tom Uijldert, Tobias Brox, Nicholas Ogden, Nuno Almeida, Indrek Tammeste, Derrin Kent, Christopher Luck, Pieter Stellingwerf, Sukoom Pornsuksiri, Dragos Acostachioaie, Rein Luhtaru, Øystein Homelien, ZOLTAN KIS NAGY, Luc
Bosman, Martin Jüssi, David Lazăr, Apisitt Rattana, Songyod Khwansa-ngar, rotarescu nicolae, Steven Douwes Dekker, Alin Morariu, Nuttanart Pornprasitsakul, Darren Jones, Ola Hodne Titlestad, Tony Ayre, Supasak Sutha, Nuno Rocha, Andrei Costache, rishab ghosh, Nicolas Vérité, Meelis Mets,
Kurt Georg Hooss, fiica marii, Schiller Szilvia, Alvar Haljasmets, Armin Häs, Pitipong Guntawong, Viktor Koljada, Gun Pakdeewong, Martin Woolley.