A regional conference on “Personal data protection – an opportunity and an imperative for the region” gathered about one hundred participants representing countries of the region — Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia on 1 June in Tunis. It was organised by the Council of Europe, the Tunisian data protection authority and the League of African and aimed at raising the awareness of countries in the South Mediterranean region to the necessity and the benefits of a strong protection of personal data.

Four panels presented the relevant international standards, notably Convention 108+, as well as thematics in which personal data have a key role at different levels: cybercrime, digital identity and transborder flows of data. Participants had also the opportunity to discuss with the international speakers and share questions and experience. The interest showed paved the way for the future data protection activities of the up-coming South V Programme.

This conference was organised in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe joint projects "Regional support to the reinforcement of Human Rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy in the South Mediterranean” (South IV Programme) and the "Support to independent instances in Tunisia " (PAII-T), co-funded by both organisations and implemented by the Council of Europe.

See the special web page: Personal data protection: an opportunity and an imperative for the Southern Mediterranean region