Created in Montreal in September 2007, in the context of the 29th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, the AFAPDP brings together the independent personal data protection authorities of 23 States and governments that share a common language, legal tradition and values. Within this area, more than 60 laws and 50 independent authorities protect personal data and ensure that the privacy of several hundred million people is respected.
The AFAPDP’ s activities have developed around 3 pillars: promoting the protection of personal data, building the capacity of its members and promoting the Francophone vision and expertise internationally.
The spread of information and communication technologies in the daily lives of organizations and individuals has disrupted many practices. It has led our governments to rethink the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms in light of these new, constantly changing practices.
Just as there can be no Francophonie without democracy, and no democracy without the rule of law; in the digital age, there can be no full enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms without the protection of personal data. Progressing towards democracy through economic and social development is one of the objectives enshrined in the Bamako Declaration. The protection of personal data perfectly embodies this ambition, in that it lies at the crossroads of a dynamic national digital economy and strict respect for human rights.
The objectives of the AFAPDP are as follows:
– Strengthen the effectiveness of the association’ s members in promoting and applying the right to protection of personal data
– Encouraging research and the sharing of best practice
– Creating a French-speaking centre of expertise in data protection
– Gather and disseminate information about the association’ s members within the Francophonie network (OIF and Francophone institutional networks )
– Cooperate with other organisations and associations to promote data protection and democracy
To achieve these objectives, the association organises an annual conference and general meeting. Within the limits of its resources, it responds to requests for advice, training and awareness-raising for its members, associates and observers. Study visits are organised to data protection authorities. It may set up working groups on topics specific to French-speaking authorities (for example, data transfers within the French-speaking world). It updates the list of laws and national authorities of French-speaking countries available on this site.
At the level of the Francophonie, it participates in cross-cutting projects (for example, on the rights of the child, the consolidation of civil status or the digital Francophonie ) initiated by the OIF, with French-speaking institutional networks, as part of the Partnership Charter adopted in 2012.
At international level, it participates in meetings of the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners and the Consultative Committee of Convention 108 of the Council of Europe as an observer member. It is committed to promoting the use of French and recourse to French-speaking expertise in these organisations.
