Wikimania 2024

Building alliances for pro-open legislative reform
08-08, 15:30–16:55 (Poland), Tbilisi (7)
Language: English

Join us for an insightful workshop dedicated to fostering synergies between Wikimedians and diverse stakeholder groups such as libraries, cultural heritage institutions, researchers, students, and educators. Through compelling stories of successful partnerships from countries across the world, we explore the dynamics of collaboration, identifying key contributors, and effective strategies, and how to overcome challenges in ensuring that the open movement is supported, not hindered, by laws.

During the workshop, key topics for partnerships will be mapped, what questions already unite us and potential blind spots, and where and how we should collaborate more for the open.


The workshop will start with a series of short stories from countries such as Sweden, Poland, Spain, South Africa and Colombia. These stories will lay the foundation and set the tone for the workshop. After hearing these stories, a facilitated workshop will start, with the aim of:
* Making a stakeholder analysis. Which are the obvious knowledge partners of the Wikimedia movement? How far are they engaged with shaping laws?
* Identifying bridges between movements. How can the Wikimedia movement strengthen collaboration with the Knowledge Rights 21 programme, the Access 2 Knowledge Coalition, and other potential national and international networks for furthering the sharing of knowledge openly through legislation?
* Identifying questions to collaborate around. In which areas are we already working, with low-hanging fruits for further collaboration?
* Where should we start working? What are the blind spots of the open movement? How could these be addressed through new alliances and partnerships?
* What would good open legislative reform look like by 2030?

The workshop will just be able to start to scratch the surface of these questions, but the workshop aims to be a starting rather than an endpoint for dialogue and collaboration. A stakeholder analysis, a list of prioritized questions, and a mapping of blind spots will be immensely helpful for continued work in the area, and for making the Wikimedia movement a stronger and more obvious node in the international, regional, and national dialogue around open knowledge. Examples of successes will show what is possible, and offer lessons and even opportunities for exchange and mentoring.

Session recording: https://youtu.be/FtaTgx73oZo?t=21432


How does your session relate to the event themes: Collaboration of the Open?*

The submission is at the very core of the event theme: how do we collaborate, build bridges, and foster stronger partnerships, to protect and expand the open, from a legal and advocacy perspective.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?*

Average knowledge about Wikimedia projects or activities

How do you plan to deliver this session?*

Onsite in Katowice

What other themes or topics does your session fit into? Please choose from the list of tags below.

Collaboration, Affiliates, Campaigns, Capacity building, Storytelling

See also: Slides

I am Project Manager for Involvement and Advocacy at Wikimedia Sverige. In that capacity, I have recently worked primarily with international partnerships, such as with the UN agencies, and advocacy for the open movement at the national, European and international level. I have an M.A. in Comparative Literature, and live in Stockholm.

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Stephen is Director, External Affairs at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. In this role, he works with a team to build understanding of the role of libraries in achieving sustainable, inclusive development, as a basis for improved laws and policies, and successful partnerships

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