Afonso,
Carlos
Rio
de Janeiro, Technical Director of RIT (services and capacity-building network of
ICTs)
Carlos Afonso has participated in the evolution
of the new ICTs since their introduction in LAC region by promoting and
defending the interests of the third sector. He has a broad knowledge of
ICT issues, and his experience is transversal to most of the issues related to
ICTs: free software, digital inclusion, intellectual property, Internet
governance, etc. Carlos Afonso is part of the RITS team, a NGO-oriented services
and capacity-building network on information and communication technologies
using the Internet as its main medium. In the late
60's he was an important person fighting against the dictatorship in Brazil.
He was in exile in Chile, Panama and Canada. This last country adopts him as a
Canadian citizen. During the re-democratisation process, Mr. Afonso worked
for democratising the access to communications. The amnesty allowed him to
return to Brazil. Carlos Afonso and Herbert de Souza (known as
Betihno) founded one of the most important Brazilian NGOs, the Brazilian
Institute for Social and Economic Analysis, IBASE. Mr Afonso designed,
implemented and managed the AlterNex project, the first computer-based
communications and information system in Latin America dedicated to serve civil
society organizations. He is a co-founder of the Association for Progressive
Communications (APC). In 1991-1992, Mr Afonso proposed and coordinated the
"UNCED Information Strategy Project in Rio" (UNCED ISP/Rio), first
Internet project specifically developed for a UN conference. ISP/Rio's aims were
to provide communications and information through the Internet so that
organizations which had not been able to come to Rio was able to follow up on
the events via the network. Carlos Afonso is also an independent
consultant of the UNDP, IDRC, among other organizations. He is author of
many books, articles and studies in different languages in relation to Internet
development political and social issues. One of his fields of specialization and
expertise is Internet Governance and ICANN. Besides his technical
knowledge, he has recognized intellectual and political autonomy and broad
respect for his ethical and democratic behaviour.