Ideas Program
- This Ideas Program was adopted by the 2024 Annual Meeting.
The Ideas Program is based on a survey answered by almost a hundred members (compilation), as well as member meetings with discussions about the issues. The compilations below reflect the main orientations in descending order based on how many respondents highlighted the areas. When compiling the results, both the majority's stance and any dissenting opinions were noted. Where there was a wide range of views, wording that reflected the complexity and diversity of the association was sought.
The document is intended to be used as a guide to express the opinions and ideas Wikimedia Sverige stands for. It can form the basis for the association's communication, advocacy work and priorities in collaborations and projects.
Openness to free knowledge
An open society promotes the dissemination of information and free access to knowledge. In this context, openness means that we, as free individuals, can produce information and knowledge, freely access and share knowledge, and build on the existing knowledge. It also means that the public sector works openly and transparently. Just as openness is a prerequisite for free knowledge, free knowledge is a prerequisite for openness. People are less free when they lack access to reliable, credible and free knowledge.
Wikimedia Sverige shall work for the open society, based on free knowledge.
Free knowledge for democracy
People have a fundamental right to knowledge, and to seek, receive, share and disseminate information, just as they have the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This is stated in both the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the European Convention. Those rights are also the basis for people's power and influence in a democracy. To protect and strengthen these rights, free platforms and tools are needed, of which Wikimedia platforms are strong, stable and well-known examples. With such tools, internet users can produce information and knowledge together, convey facts and give them context, express opinions and act based on democratic principles and consensus seeking. Digital tools such as Wikimedia platforms give internet users practical training in source criticism, and the opportunity to access and contribute with source material. At the same time, it is extremely important that people's integrity and the right to contribute anonymously are protected. It is a matter of course for us to prioritize collaborations with democratic actors who share our purposes and goals.
Wikimedia Sweden strives to strengthen the democratic society by promoting the dissemination of free knowledge.
Free knowledge for research and education
There is a mutual dependence between free knowledge on the one hand, and education and research on the other. In a society that protects education and research, free knowledge is given room to flourish and grow, which in turn promotes education and benefits research.
The UN states that education and lifelong learning are fundamental human rights. In addition, free knowledge is the basis for critical thinking, which in turn empowers people – regardless of their background or living conditions – to be able to take an active role in society. Sweden has a strong tradition of public education, which promotes lifelong learning and critical thinking. In digital public education, Wikimedia platforms are important both as educational resources and tools for the dissemination of knowledge. The multifaceted nature of the platforms, both in terms of content and form, also contributes to their importance for both informal and formal learning.
Open learning resources, open access and open research are some key words in that development, as well as the development around open publication of research and the need for open research data. Wikimedia platforms can become the central node for free educational and research resources, especially in close cooperation with the library sector.
Wikimedia Sverige strives to strengthen the connections between research, education and free knowledge, so that they benefit each other for a more sustainable and equal society.
Free knowledge for cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the result of humanity's common endeavors and creativity, and cultural rights are linked by the UN to our human dignity. To make cultural heritage available to people is to make us aware of who we are and where we come from. Today, far too much cultural heritage is inaccessible, undigitized and unknown. A large part of the cultural heritage is, due to a lack of digitization, also threatened by the passage of time, war and climate change. Moreover, it is often divided and scattered in different places, and often removed from its original place. By digitizing and making available – and thus freeing – cultural heritage, people all over the world can access knowledge beyond the physical space. The digitization of cultural heritage means that more people find the physical sources, so that they become better known and searchable. When the knowledge is used, developed, contextualized, enriched, processed and tied together, it can also provide people with an understanding of, and relationships in, the physical space.
With that knowledge as a basis, both we as an association and the public at large can build on the common cultural heritage. When cultural heritage is free, everyone has equal access to ideas, forms and thoughts, which contributes to increased creativity in society and thus a freer culture.
Wikimedia Sverige works for a free and accessible cultural heritage - for a freer and more creative society where all people can access and build on cultural heritage.
Conditions for free knowledge
In order for openness to free knowledge to permeate society, Wikimedia Sverige works for the following five prerequisites:
- Legislation for free knowledge: We need national and international legislation – not least in the area of copyright – to promote free knowledge and technological development, for example for education, research and cultural heritage. Legislation that promotes free knowledge is an absolute prerequisite for the activities of the Wikimedia movement.
- Digital infrastructure for free knowledge: Society needs, in collaboration between different actors, to invest in and develop an effective digital infrastructure, mainly based on open software and open source. Such an infrastructure is essential to create an environment where free knowledge can be easily shared and maintained over time.
- Digitization for free knowledge: The actors who have the knowledge need to actively work on digitizing their activities and working methods in order to effectively contribute to free knowledge online. Too much knowledge is locked up in physical spaces, which is a big barrier for people who want to access knowledge freely.
- Collaboration for free knowledge: More actors from different parts of society, nationally and internationally, need to cooperate with each other. Knowledge, experience and competence need to be shared, so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel over and over again.
- Transparency for free knowledge: Transparency is a fundamental principle that should be used in more activities and organizations, especially public ones. Transparent and accessible information allows people to make informed decisions and freer choices, while helping to increase trust and understanding of activities.