Resolution on the use of the French language at the International
Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners
Adopted by the General Meeting of the AFAPDP
October 31, 2011, in Mexico City, Mexico
Recalling the commitments made by the ministers attending the Ministerial Conference
of La Francophonie in Bucharest on September 26, 2006, on the use of the French
language in international organizations;
Recalling the resolution of the Association francophone des autorités de protection des
données personnelles (AFAPDP) for the promotion of the use of the French language in
international organizations and conferences adopted on November 30, 2010;
Convinced that the use of a language common to 70 states and an official language in 32
countries makes cooperation among personal data protection authorities easier and
helps protect the fundamental right to personal data protection and its propagation
internationally;
Noting that 39 Francophonie member states now have a personal data protection law;
Concerned about the exclusion of the French language from the International Conference
of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, which de facto precludes many
francophone countries from taking part;
Convinced of the necessity to preserve cultural and linguistic diversity in international
forums;
Jointly and severally declare that:
 We ask at the closed session of the International Conference of Data Protection and
Privacy Commissioners that the translation of documents and the interpretation of
deliberations into French be maintained and effectively implemented during the
International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners.