Topic: Net Neutrality
Country: Senegal
Delegate Name: Zoe Atkins
School: Grand Rapids City High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Senegal position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
There is no question that the internet is now crucial to progressing in the modern world. The internet provides valuable resources and knowledge that allow people to make informed decisions in their daily lives. It connects people across land and cultural barriers. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent issues far away become relevant to everyone. The Internet serves as a space to enable collaboration that creates solutions to those issues. The delegation from Senegal recognizes the importance of net neutrality, with reservations. It is imperative that the internet remains a free space, without bias toward any group, to ensure the realization of its full potential.
Although the Internet is still a relatively new phenomenon, upholding our fundamental values and principles of morality should be viewed as a priority. Now, more than ever, the right to privacy should be protected. Despite the major technological advances we have made as a race, parts of the world are still in the dark. Senegal supports the principles behind net neutrality but has determined that they must be sacrificed in order to guarantee its citizens access to the information they need.
Senegal has been a strong ally for all human rights and the promotion of peace, tolerance, freedom, and better living conditions. However, the most pressing problem facing the world today is the lack of assistance to developing countries. Facebook’s recent program, Free Basics, is at work to change this. Free Basics has been a pioneer for improving the living conditions of the people of Senegal by providing access to the internet. Free Basics, also known as Internet.org, has established services that promote safety and health. Specifically, the people of Senegal have benefited from resources such as BBC News, BING, UNICEF, Ebola Info, Facebook, UNICEF Facts for Life, Girl Effect by Nike Foundation, and Malaria No More. Free Basics is now found in 53 countries and municipalities. Although it has received criticism for violating the policies of net neutrality Senegal stands firmly in support of it. Senegal has seen, firsthand, the improvement it has brought to many lives. We believe that the right to Internet outweighs the potential consequences of the violations of net neutrality. To continue providing for the people of Senegal and the other fifty-three countries that are benefiting from this program, Senegal will not support net neutrality. A solution to the lack of internet access needs to be addressed prior to that of net neutrality.
Senegal will continue to fight for the basic human rights that have shaped its actions in the United Nations. In the words of Mark Zuckerberg, “connectivity is a human right,” and without Free Basics Africa would still be denied this right.
