The 12th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights was co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (delegated by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.  The 12th edition focused on "Human Rights and Information and Communication Technology".

In recent years, the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has led to the emergence of a global ‘information society’, impacting on the lives of a significant proportion of the world’s population. This seminar examined these impacts, both negative and positive, from a human rights stand point, and brought together over 100 government officials and members of civil society from across Asia and Europe to share specific experiences and best practice.

The discussions had four closed Working Groups, each focusing on one of four core topic areas:

1. Freedom of Expression

2. The Right to Privacy

3. The ‘Digital Divide’

4. The Right to Cultural Enjoyment on the Internet