Million Strong Global Movement for Digital Freedom committed at Clinton Global Initiative

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Access (accessnow.org), the new global digital rights network, which emerged out of the 2009 Iranian election, is committing to building a new, one million person strong Global Movement for Digital Freedom.

Access aims to allow citizens across the globe can engage freely in an integrated online world, enjoying their right to actively participate and share in an open Internet.

Through the provision of the world's first humanitarian digital relief team, technical education for at-risk civil society, and policy input at key Internet governance decision-making moments, this new movement will mobilize to keep the Internet open for future generations.  Access is committing to work tirelessly to dissolve the censorship firewalls that prevent hundreds of millions from freely accessing the Internet.

"Nearly four out of five people around the world believe that Internet access is a fundamental human right but more than 30 percent of the world lives behind a firewall," said Access Executive Director, Brett Solomon.

"Internet access is swiftly becoming one of the most critical modern-day human rights issues – both as an emerging right unto itself, and as the gateway to the enjoyment of many other rights, " said Solomon.

Pervasive filtering of the Internet will ultimately keep the poor poor, strangle economic, cultural and social development and prevent countries from meaningful global engagement. The Global Movement is designed to address these challenges.

Access, supported by Google and the Oak Foundation in this endeavor, is bringing together human rights advocates and cutting edge technologists, to create a world where all people have access to information and can freely express their opinions online.

About CGI

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. In 2009, the Annual Meeting was named the No. 1 conference for CEOs. The 2010 CGI Annual Meeting will take place from September 20-23, 2010, in New York City.

SOURCE Access