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Data Protection and International Organisations

One of the EDPS’ priorities is to generate and foster global partnerships in the field of data protection.

One way for the EDPS to pursue this goal is to co-organise, on a regular basis, workshops dedicated to data protection with International Organisations. These workshops, initiated in 2005, are an opportunity for all International Organisations to exchange their experiences and views on the most pressing issues they are facing.

Over the years, the relevance and significance of these workshops have grown consistently. This confirms the need for this platform for International Organisations to engage, share best practices and discuss common challenges, as well as increasing awareness on the importance of protecting individuals’ personal data around the world.

Co-organising a workshop with a different International Organisation each time gives room to discuss a variety of topics, from processing sensitive data relating to refugees, to artificial intelligence and biometric data for example.

Discover more on the IOW in the International Organisations Workshop on Data Protection - Leaflet

Publications:

2024 - Blogpost: International Organisations: a driving force behind global progress in data protection

2023 - Blogpost: International Organisations Workshops: a vehicle for global data protection standards

2020 - DPS Newsletter: Data Protection within International Organisations

2019 - Blogpost: Working with international organisations to lead the way in data protection

2017 - EDPS Newsletter: Engaging international organisations

International Organisations Workshop on Data Protection by year:

2024 hosted by the World Bank in Washington

2023 hosted by INTERPOLL in Lyon

2022 hosted by World Food Programme in Rome

2020 hosted by EDPS, Online

2019 hosted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris

2018 hosted by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Copenhagen in Copenhagen 

2017 hosted by the International Organisation for Migration in Geneva 

2016 hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva

2012 hosted by World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Brussels

2010 hosted by European University Institute in Florence

2007 hosted by the European Patent Office in Munich

2005 hosted by the Council of Europe and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Geneva