<font><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline" id="internal-source-marker_0.20485199516914065">Dear Parminder, <br>
<br>Please, find it bellow. It is the letter to ITU Secretary General as a follow up of a previous one delivered by CS representatives during WCIT, on process/barriers faced by CS for participating and having a voice. Debo<font>rah and I gave an initial thought in this draft and raised some doubts/questions at the <font>end.</font> </font>I believe <font>i<font>t <font>could be interesting <font>if th<font>e</font> group</font></font></font></font><font><font> </font>decides<font> t<font>here is</font> will to move further with it.</font></font><br>
<font><br></font>As previously suggested<font> by Matthew,<font> a</font></font> second task <font>c</font>ould be an update on the best bits statement</span> (during IEG or WSIS+10 at Paris?)<br><br>I'<font>m</font> also attending the Paris meeting and will be glad to join any Best Bits meeting if there is general will to convene as so. <br>
</font><br>For the very few fellows who were able to attend IEG, we are looking forward for any report or feedback, so, please, share links of any publication you might have or general comments. :)<br><br>Kind regards,<br>
<br>Joana<br><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline" id="internal-source-marker_0.20485199516914065">----<br>
31 January, 2012</span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Open letter to ITU in ref. World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF-13) preparation process</span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Dear Secretary General Touré, </span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Recalling
Tunis Agenda (Paragraph 35, in particular) we, the undersigned members
of civil society, write to urge International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) to honor previous commitments expressed by the Secretary General
to ensure meaningful and sustainable civil society participation in the
preparatory process undertaken for the World Telecommunication Policy
Forum (WTPF).</span></p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The
civil society representatives who were in Dubai attending WCIT welcomed
the opportunity to meet with you. On that occasion, those
representatives shared with you the concerns expressed in a </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/a/accessnow.org/document/pub?id=1LiM3FfKF8Fgih7Um7v2vK20J2AigneGrgJ93YTbqLSM"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">letter</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> that gained the support of over 60 members of civil society globally. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">At that time, major challenges facing civil society included </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">the
lack of any official standing to the public comments solicited prior to
WCIT at the ITU’s invitation; the lack of access to and transparency of
working groups, particularly the working groups of Committee 5, which
dealt with substantive revisions to the ITRs; and the absence of
mechanisms to support independent civil society participation. Similarly
the </span><a href="http://www.protectinternetfreedom.net/"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Protect Global Internet Freedom</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">
statement signed by signed by 38,582 people and 1,519 organizations in
185 Countries requests the ITU to embrace transparency and
multi-stakeholder participation. We welcome that you included the
comments from the Public Views and Opinions page in an information note
to members of the ITU, where you have </span><a href="http://files.wcitleaks.org/public/S12-WCIT12-INF-0005%21%21MSW-E.pdf"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">recognized</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> the “</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">benefits from a greater civil society engagement at ITU” </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">and have</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">committed </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">“</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">to
take stock” and provide your membership with “some important
recommendations” in line with the issue that civil society
representatives raised. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span></p>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Yet, as preparations are underway for the WTPF, civil society finds itself facing familiar barriers to participation:</span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">1)
There is no formal mechanism for civil society to independently make
contributions to the preparatory process. We recognize that you have on a
number of occasions encouraged member states to form multistakeholder
delegations, but as representatives of civil society has expressed to
you previously, civil society participation in national delegations
cannot substitute for engagement with independent members of civil
society. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">We
request the opportunity to submit comments on the SG’s report and
Member State opinions, similar to the Public Views and Opinions page for
the WCIT, but with the guarantee that these opinions will be entered
into the formal record. We recognize that the deadline for
contributions was 1 February 2013, but given these barriers, we request
[???].</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">-Another
meeting of the IEG? Public comment period? Funnel opinions through
civil society members of IEG? Opportunity for civil society to comment
on March 1 report</span></p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">2)
There are significant barriers to entry for meaningful participation in
the May 2013 WTPF meeting. While we welcome that there is a formal
process to apply to attend as a “public attendant”, there is no
indication that civil society representatives who attend will have
speaking rights at the meeting. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline"> As previously expressed in the </span><a href="http://bestbits.igf-online.net/statement/"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Best Bits statement,</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">
we call for the ITU to create spaces during WTPF for civil society to
express their views, as was done during the WSIS process. We also
request that the WTPF be live streamed to allow for civil society and
members of the public to follow remotely. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">As
we saw during the WCIT, there is significant interest among the
Internet-using public in the policy and governance discussions that will
be conducted during WTPF.</span></p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Additionally the vetting process is opaque, with no public guidelines for who is accepted as a public attendant. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">We call for the ITU to provide guidance on how the applications are admitted.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">[also
request information about the first-come, first-served basis -- how
many public observer slots are there, are MS delegations limited in #?
opportunity for remote participation from additional public observers?]</span></p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#ffff00;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">[
3) While some members of civil society have been invited to participate
in the Informal Experts Group (IEG), this notice came too late in the
process-- just a few weeks before the IEG’s final meeting-- for most
individuals to find the resources to travel to Geneva. Furthermore,
participation in the final IEG meeting is not sufficient for meaningful
participation in the WTPF process. We regret that this opportunity was
not communicated earlier and more publicly, and call for civil society
to be included earlier in the process in future ITU meetings.] </span></p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Sincerely,</span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Questions:</span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">1)
When was the IEG opened to civil society participation? Was it just
that we didn’t know to ask? [We have heard that the USG had sent a
letter to the IEG Chair to request CS participation, waiting to hear
back if that happened and when.]</span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">2)
Do members of the IEG have speaking rights at the WTPF May meeting?
i.e. if civil society is on the IEG, then do they have the right to
speak at the WTPF?</span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">3)
Is it possible to participate meaningfully in the IEG without attending
in person, i.e. remote participation, contributions over email, etc.</span><br><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br>
<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"></span><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 2:13 AM, parminder <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:parminder@itforchange.net" target="_blank">parminder@itforchange.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<font face="Verdana">Dear All<br>
<br>
Can the mentioned document be cut pasted here. It is difficult to
access documents behind google walls, and they ask for log ins and
then say you will be intimated if the owner allows access. Thanks,
parminder <br>
<br>
<br>
</font><div><div class="h5">
<div>On Thursday 07 February 2013 12:31 AM,
Deborah Brown wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">Dear Anriette and all,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I believe that the last thread on this chain was on 31
January, but it was a later email from Joana, which had the
draft text for a letter that she and I had worked on for
feedback from this group. I pasted that email below.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The letter has not been finalized and is very much open for
edits and comments. You can send comments either on this email
chain or in the google doc (linked below). We only ask that if
you make edits directly into the google doc that you insert a
comment noting/explaining your changes (other than editorial
ones) to make the process manageable.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><a href="https://docs.google.com/a/accessnow.org/document/d/1qz4D839quE5vnY-XP-pgu3ENu3WArwIwm5_VgxukgaE/edit" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/a/accessnow.org/document/d/1qz4D839quE5vnY-XP-pgu3ENu3WArwIwm5_VgxukgaE/edit</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>On a related note, I have joined the IEG and am participating
remotely. There may be a consolidated draft text on the
multistakeholder framework available tomorrow, which I can share
with the list if it is of interest.<br>
<br>
I'm planning to attend the Paris meeting, as is my colleague
Raegan MacDonald who is Brussels-based. If there is a date for a
BestBits meeting around WSIS+10 could someone please send the
information around?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best regards, <br>
</div>
<div>Deborah </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
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<div style="overflow:hidden;white-space:nowrap;max-width:92%;display:inline-block"><span name="Joana Varon" style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;display:inline;vertical-align:top;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Joana
Varon</span> <span style="vertical-align:top;color:rgb(85,85,85)"><a href="http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182" style="vertical-align:top;color:rgb(34,34,34)" target="_blank">via</a> <a href="http://lists.igcaucus.org" target="_blank">lists.igcaucus.org</a> </span></div>
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<span title="Thu, Jan 31, 2013
at 5:37 PM" alt="Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 5:37 PM" style="vertical-align:top;margin-right:3px">Jan 31
(6 days ago)</span>
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<div style="overflow:hidden;max-width:92%;display:inline-block"><span style="vertical-align:top;color:rgb(119,119,119)">to <span name="governance" style="vertical-align:top">governance</span>, <span name="mshears" style="vertical-align:top">mshears</span>, <span name="bestbits" style="vertical-align:top">bestbits</span>, <span name="jeremy" style="vertical-align:top">jeremy</span></span></div>
<div style="display:inline-block;margin-left:5px;vertical-align:top"><img src="" alt="" style="background-image:url();padding:0px 0px 1px;vertical-align:bottom;min-height:12px!important;width:12px!important;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"></div>
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<div>
<div>Dear all, </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I think some people of the governance list felt off
from this thread because people that replied were not in
both lists, if so, please, refer to the exchange of
mensages bellow. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Basically, some of us are willing to draft to
communications to ITU: 1) adaptation of the best bits
statement (on the content of WTPF documents), 2) follow-up
on the letter to the SG during WCIT (on process/barriers
faced by civil society).</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<div>With that in mind, Deborah Brown and I have drafted
the following text for the item 2 (follow-up letter to
SG). (Is it right that CDT is working on the first draft
for number 1?)</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We hope that the draft bellow is useful and if you
think so, could you please add comments until Monday? </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>As Jeremy have mentioned, let us try to ask for
special dispensation to contribute and try to submit
both letters (or just this one) with CS signatures
during next week meeting. Would those attending next
week's IEG meeting (Matthew, Avri?) support this letter
and agree to deliver it in Geneva?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div>Hope it helps!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Kind regards, </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Joana </div>
<div>--
<div style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><br>
<br>
Joana Varon Ferraz<br>
Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade (CTS-FGV)<br>
<a href="http://direitorio.fgv.br/cts/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">http://direitorio.fgv.br/cts/</a><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/goog_946507056" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><br>
</a><a href="http://www.freenetfilm.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.freenetfilm.org</a><br>
@joana_varon<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
--------<br>
<p>31 January, 2012</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Open letter to ITU in ref. World Telecommunication
Policy Forum (WTPF-13) preparation process</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Dear Secretary General Touré, </p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Recalling Tunis Agenda (Paragraph 35, in particular)
we, the undersigned members of civil society, write to
urge International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to
honor previous commitments expressed by the Secretary
General in order to recognize the importance of ensuring
meaningful and sustainable civil society participation
in the preparatory process undertaken for the World
Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF).</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>The few civil society representatives who were in Dubai
attending WCIT welcomed the opportunity to meet with
you. On that occasion, we shared with you the concerns
expressed in a <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/accessnow.org/document/pub?id=1LiM3FfKF8Fgih7Um7v2vK20J2AigneGrgJ93YTbqLSM" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">letter</a> that
gained the support of over 60 members of civil society
globally. At that time, main issues were: the lack of
any official standing to the public comments solicited
prior to WCIT at the ITU’s invitation; the lack of
access to and transparency of working groups,
particularly the working groups of Committee 5; and the
absence of mechanisms to encourage independent civil
society participation. We welcome that you included the
public comments in an information note to members of the
ITU, where you have<a href="http://files.wcitleaks.org/public/S12-WCIT12-INF-0005%21%21MSW-E.pdf" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">recognized</a> the
“<b>benefits from a greater civil society engagement at
ITU” and have </b>committed “<b>to take stock” and
provide your membership with “some important
recommendations” in line with the issue that civil
society representatives raised. </b></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Yet, as preparations are underway for the WTPF, civil
society finds itself facing familiar barriers to
participation:</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>1) There is no formal mechanism for civil society to
independently make contributions to the preparatory
process. We recognize that you have on a number of
occasions encouraged member states to form
multistakeholder delegations, but as representatives of
civil society has expressed to you previously, civil
society participation in national delegations cannot
substitute for engagement with independent members of
civil society. We request the opportunity to submit
comments on the SG’s report and Member State opinions,
similar to the Public Views and Opinions page for the
WCIT, but with the guarantee that these opinions will be
entered into the formal record. We recognize that the
deadline for contributions was 1 February 2013, but
given these barriers.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>2) There are significant barriers to entry for
meaningful participation in the May 2013 WTPF meeting.
While we welcome that there is a formal process to apply
to attend as a “public attendant”, there is no
indication that civil society representatives who attend
will have speaking rights at the meeting. As previously
expressed in the <a href="http://bestbits.igf-online.net/statement/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Best Bits
statement,</a> we call for the ITU to create spaces
during WTPF for civil society to express their views, as
was done during the WSIS process. We also request that
the WTPF be live streamed to allow for civil society and
members of the public to follow remotely. </p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Additionally the vetting process is opaque, with no
public guidelines for who is accepted as a public
attendant. We call for the ITU to provide guidance on
how the applications admitted.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>[ 3) While some members of civil society have been
invited to participate in the Informal Experts Group
(IEG), this notice came too late in the process-- just a
few weeks before the IEG’s final meeting-- for most
individuals to find the resources to travel to Geneva.
Furthermore, participation in the final IEG meeting is
not sufficient for meaningful participation in the WTPF
process. We regret that this opportunity was not
communicated earlier and more publicly, and call for
civil society to be included earlier in the process in
future ITU meetings.] </p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<div><br>
</div>
<p><b>Questions:</b></p>
<p>1) When was the IEG opened to civil society
participation? Was it just that we didn’t know to ask?
[We have heard that the USG had sent a letter to the IEG
Chair to request CS participation, waiting to hear back
if that happened and when.]</p>
<p>2) Do members of the IEG have speaking rights at the
WTPF May meeting? i.e. if civil society is on the IEG,
then do they have the right to speak at the WTPF?</p>
<p>3) Is it possible to participate meaningfully in the
IEG without attending in person, i.e. remote
participation, contributions over email, etc.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 2:39 PM,
Anriette Esterhuysen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:anriette@apc.org" target="_blank">anriette@apc.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> <font size="+1">Dear
all<br>
<br>
<font size="+1">Apologies for sile<font size="+1">nce<font size="+1"> in this discussion.<br>
<br>
<font size="+1">A few of us from APC (staff and
members) are planning to be in <font size="+1">Paris.
Lillian Nalwoga from CIPESA in Uganda has some
support. Valeria<font size="+1"> Betancourt
and myself are still looking for support<font size="+1"><font size="+1"> but am planning
to be there if at all possible.</font><br>
<br>
<font size="+1">Was the statement finishe<font size="+1">d? I have not had <font size="+1">BestBits mail since 31
January.<br>
<br>
<font size="+1">And do <font size="+1">we have a date
scheduled yet for meeting in
Paris around WSIS +10?<br>
<br>
<font size="+1">Regards<span><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
<font size="+1">Anriette<br>
<br>
</font></font></span></font></font></font></font></font></font><font size="+1"><font size="+1"><font size="+1"><font size="+1"><br>
<br>
</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font>
<div>
<div>
<div>On 31/01/2013 18:37, Joana Varonferraz wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>Let's do it, Mathew.
Are you already coordinating with CDT to adapt best bits statement?
I'm between meetings but I can start a draft of the follow up on the letter to SG. Deborah, from Access, might help. Anyone who has a little time to help is more then welcome. We will start it in about 2 hours.
Lets try to have both drafts by the end of the day and try not to be so creative, just departuring from the points and views of previous consensus, as these letters will be just follow ups from previous "achievements", right?
Best
Joana
--- ~ --- ~ --- ~
Joana Varon Ferraz
Researcher
Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade (CTS/FGV)
<a href="http://www.freenetfilm.org" target="_blank">www.freenetfilm.org</a>
On 31/01/2013, at 09:52, Gene Kimmelman <a href="mailto:genekimmelman@gmail.com" target="_blank"><genekimmelman@gmail.com></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>I agree also on this approach
-------- Original message --------
From: matthew shears <a href="mailto:mshears@cdt.org" target="_blank"><mshears@cdt.org></a>
Date:
To: <a href="mailto:bestbits@lists.igcaucus.org,Jeremy" target="_blank">bestbits@lists.igcaucus.org,Jeremy</a> Malcolm <a href="mailto:jeremy@ciroap.org" target="_blank"><jeremy@ciroap.org></a>,<a href="mailto:joana@varonferraz.com" target="_blank">joana@varonferraz.com</a>
Subject: Re: [bestbits] [governance] Multistakeholder Roles and Responsibilities
I agree with Joana and Jeremy - there are two communications we should do pretty quickly:
1) take the Best Bits WCIT statement and adapt it - or at least the first part on transparency and access, etc. - to the WTPF. I personally don't see the participation challenges for civil society being much less than they were at the WCIT - which is ironic because the WTPF is not a treaty-making conference - and the IEG is not adequate by any means (I am on the IEG and will be attending next week). I'm sure CDT would be happy to take a first cut at this text.
2) follow-up on the letter to the SG and the meeting we had in Dubai in which participation in the WTPF was discussed.
If there is agreement on text on 1 above I can raise points from it or read it in the IEG meeting next week for Best Bits.
While I understand the Brazilian telecoms regulator's view there are a number of points in the SG's 4th report that refer to multistakeholderism in Internet governance issues and there are two opinions submitted so far that take positions I believe are contrary to civil society's interests in terms of stakeholder participation and enhanced cooperation. I think civil society messaging on these issues is as important for the WTPF as it was for the WCIT.
And finally, who on this list is going to the UNESCO WSIS/IGF meeting at the end of February? Thought it might be good to have a gathering during that week to compare notes on WSIS+10/IGF and discuss WTPF?
Best
Matthew
On 31/01/2013 09:01, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>On 31/01/13 05:15, Joana Varon wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>Sorry for the late reply after the sympathy some have expressed on drafting a letter highlighting the promises of Dr Touré at the WCIT SC meeting. I was approaching the Brazilian government for support on our demand for space and participation of civil society organizations on ITU processes.
Though showing solidarity with the cause, Brazilian government (or our telecom regulatory agency responsible for representing the country at ITU) has signaled that WTPF is not the proper sphere to submit extensive contribution regarding CS participation, the plenipotentiary would be so. So, as far as I know, Brazil will submit a contribution to WTPF only generally speaking about openness and transparency, but not presenting a particular proposal for change in the mechanisms for civil society participation.
In that sense, they have also addressed the existence of Informal Experts Group for WTPF, highlighting that:
...
Well, this is surely not satisfactory, so, with that in mind, I wonder if we should go for that joined CS letter focusing on WTPF and stressing previous commitments from the Secretary General, do we still have time? Or, for the ones how are more aware of UN bodies internal procedures, do we have to wait the loooong time for the plenipot? What could we grasp right now?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre>(I'm quoting almost your whole message because I intend on forwarding my reply to the wcit12 list too, as an almost identical discussion is going on there.)
The deadline for comments on the Secretary General's report is tomorrow, so we may be hard pressed to do anything by then! Having said that, we could ask for special dispensation to contribute a belated submission, as was granted for the Best Bits statement to WCIT.
Personally I am unlikely to have time to take the lead on a letter but I am supportive of the idea and would have comments to give on a draft if say you or Emma from CDT were to send some draft text. The IGC has not successfully done a statement for a while, and Best Bits is in transition (watch this space), so probably it would probably not be under either of those umbrellas, but rather a generic civil society letter to which groups could sign on.
I agree that the invitation to participate in the IEG is no substitute, though for those who can, good on them. Avri said she is on the group and there is CDT, but unless you count ISOC (I don't), there is no other civil society that I know of. Doubtless largely due to the lack of funding, as always (that's why I won't be there).
--
Dr Jeremy Malcolm
Senior Policy Officer
Consumers International | the global campaigning voice for consumers
Office for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
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</pre>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
</div>
<pre cols="72"><div>--
------------------------------------------------------
anriette esterhuysen <a href="mailto:anriette@apc.org" target="_blank">anriette@apc.org</a>
executive director, association for progressive communications
<a href="http://www.apc.org" target="_blank">www.apc.org</a></div><div>
po box 29755, melville 2109
south africa
tel/fax <a href="tel:%2B27%2011%20726%201692" value="+27117261692" target="_blank">+27 11 726 1692</a></div></pre>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<div><br>
</div>
-- <br>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">Deborah Brown</font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">Policy Analyst</font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">Access | AccessNow.org</font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">E. <a href="mailto:deborah@accessnow.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">deborah@accessnow.org</a></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">S. deborah.l.brown</font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">T. deblebrown</font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:13px"><font face="garamond, serif">PGP 0x5EB4727D</font></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br>-- <br><br>Joana Varon Ferraz<br>Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade (CTS-FGV)<br>
<a href="http://direitorio.fgv.br/cts/" target="_blank">http://direitorio.fgv.br/cts/</a><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/goog_946507056" target="_blank"><br>
</a>
<a href="http://www.freenetfilm.org" target="_blank">www.freenetfilm.org</a><br>@joana_varon<br>