<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Dear Best Bits member,<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br>I'm sharing with you below the CSCG letter to the IGF Planning Retreat that focus on improving stakeholder selection and suggestion for coordination among the other stakeholder groups. <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br>Hoping it will get a listening ear,<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Nadira AlAraj<br>Best Bits liaise to the CSCG<br><br></div>---------- Forwarded message ----------<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri";color:rgb(0,0,0)"><div style="font-size:small;text-decoration:none;font-family:"Calibri";font-weight:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:normal;display:inline"><div style="font:10pt tahoma"><div style="background:rgb(245,245,245) none repeat scroll 0% 0%">
<div><b>From:</b> <a title="ian.peter@ianpeter.com" href="mailto:ian.peter@ianpeter.com" target="_blank">Ian Peter</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 29, 2016 3:05 PM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="igfretreat@intgovforum.org" href="mailto:igfretreat@intgovforum.org" target="_blank">igfretreat@intgovforum.org</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> IGF Retreat Submission from CSCG</div></div></div>
<div> </div></div>
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<p style="margin-bottom:7pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.4727" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">Dear IGF
Secretariat,</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"></font></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">I am pleased to submit this
contribution for your planning retreat on behalf of the Internet Governance
Civil Society Co-ordination Group (CSCG). CSCG exists solely to ensure a
coordinated civil society response and conduit when it comes to making civil
society appointments to outside bodies. It comprises representatives of the
coalition members of the Association for Progressive Communications, Best Bits,
Internet Governance Caucus, Just Net Coalition, and Non-Commercial Stakeholders
Group of ICANN. Together the reach of these groups extends to many hundreds of
non-governmental organisations, as well as a much greater number of individuals.
</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">In line with our mandate, this
submission concentrates specifically on improving the nomination process and
make-up of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group
(MAG).</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">As you know, this has been the
subject of s</font></font></span></p><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;display:inline"><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"></font></font></div><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">ome concerns with stakeholder groups, and we believe that these
concerns should be addressed. In order to do this, we recommend the
establishment of a small Multistakeholder Working Group, including
representatives of Civil Society Coordination Group (CSCG), Internet Technical
Collaboration Group (ITCG) and International Chamber of Commerce (
ICC/BASIS), working with UNDESA to refine procedures and resolve some of
these difficulties. We feel sure that by working together we can develop
procedures which improve stakeholder representation – and therefore the overall
efficiency of the IGF. We commend this recommendation to
you.</font></font><p></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">But in the meantime, and
additionally, we refer to the recommendations of the Working Group on
Improvements to the IGF, later endorsed by the UN General Assembly, which
include 3 sections of relevance to this process. Our suggestions relating to
these appear below.</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><b><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>Sect 20(a) The three
non-governmental stakeholder groups should propose lists of candidates that
should be balanced, including in terms of gender distribution and in reflecting
the diversity of geographical distribution. This will enable a wide range of
diversity within the MAG, especially those groups which have been
underrepresented in the MAG, and will be sufficiently large to provide some
flexibility when selecting MAG
members;</i></font></font></b></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">In finalising representation and
providing the flexibility referred to above, we understand that, in addition to
balance within each stakeholder group, you wish to ensure that you achieve the
best possible gender and geographic balance across stakeholder groups; of course
we agree with this objective. But your process for doing this in the past
has been to make final selections within UNDESA without further
consultation with stakeholder groups. This can sometimes be problematic, as you
cannot possibly be aware of the ramifications of some such choices within
stakeholder groups.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">The way other organisations have
handled this is to arrange a simultaneous phone hookup with representatives of
stakeholder groups to discuss such final balance issues. You will find that we
actually work quite well together in such circumstances, and we believe that the
results will be more acceptable to stakeholder groups if this quick final
consultation is included.</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">Additionally, we believe you
need to address the issue that certain stakeholder groups have a long history of
submitting names to you dominated by male candidates: and that as a result civil
society nominations are often adjusted to include more women and get better
gender balance overall. That does nothing to address the problem of
discrimination against women in those stakeholder groups where there is
discrimination against women; it only creates a false perception of gender
balance which will, if it has any effect at all, contribute to those problems
not getting addressed. Furthermore, it makes it far more difficult for male
candidates from civil society to be included. We suggest that you insist that
each individual stakeholder group, and particularly governments, must address
gender equality within their constituency.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"></font></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><b><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>Sect 20(b) Stakeholder groups
should identify and publicize the process which works best for their own culture
and methods of engagement and which will ensure their
self-management;</i></font></font></b></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">IGF Secretariat should not run
duplicative processes for stakeholder nominations (such as was the case with the
nominations for this IGF Retreat). Either a centralised process (where all
candidates submit via IGF, and all nominations are then provided to stakeholder
groups for assessment at the closing date), or a decentralised process, where
stakeholder groups run their own processes (in accordance with 20(b) above)
should be run, but not both. Duplicative processes are confusing, require
candidates to submit twice, and results in differing sets of candidate groups
for assessment existing.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"></font></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><b><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>Sect 21 a) The process of
selection of MAG members should be inclusive, predictable, transparent and fully
documented;</i></font></font></b></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">In respect of this, we
submit:</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"></font></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">1. More transparency is needed.
We believe that, in the interests of transparency, names and application details
of all candidates for MAG selection should be publicly known. Whether this
should be at the close of applications, or at the close of assessments, needs to
be discussed further in the light of detailed procedures. Note: This is not a
privacy issue as long as candidates are advised beforehand of this
requirement.</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">This requirement will assist with
overall assessment of candidates by stakeholder groups, as well as in
identifying candidates who have applied via separate organisations. We
suggest this requirement be included when stakeholder groups provide their own
processes, and also if a more centralised process is run via IGF
Secretariat.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">2. We also suggest that
recommendations from stakeholder groups to IGF Secretariat should be publicly
available.</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">3. Stakeholder procedures for making
selections should also be publicly available. (CSCG’s current procedures can be
found at <a href="http://www.internetgov-cs.org/procedures" target="_blank">http://www.internetgov-cs.org/procedures</a>)</font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">These recommendations are based on
the best practice we have observed with other organisations in selecting
multistakeholder representatives. We offer the above suggestions in the spirit
of co-operation with you, as we also want to see the best possible
representation of stakeholders. And again, we offer our services to work with
you and other stakeholder groups to refine procedures to ensure more acceptable,
transparent and representative results.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">Sincerely,</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt">Ian Peter – Independent Chair,
Internet Governance Civil Society Coordination Group
(CSCG)</font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><b><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>SUMMARY OF
RECOMMENDATIONS</i></font></font></b></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>We recommend the establishment of
a small Multistakeholder Working Group, including representatives of Civil
Society Coordination Group (CSCG), Internet Technical Collaboration Group (ITCG)
and International Chamber of Commerce ( ICC/BASIS), to work with UNDESA to
refine procedures for MAG nominations and similar processes.
</i></font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>We recommend a simultaneous phone
hookup with representatives of stakeholder groups to discuss final balance
issues (including overall gender and geographical
representation).</i></font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>We recommend that you insist that
each individual stakeholder group, and particularly governments, must address
gender equality within their constituency.</i></font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>We recommend that IGF Secretariat
should not run duplicative processes for stakeholder nominations (such as was
the case with the nominations for this IGF Retreat). Either a centralised
process (where all candidates submit via IGF, and all nominations are then
provided to stakeholder groups for assessment at the closing date), or a
decentralised process, where stakeholder groups run their own processes should
be run, but not both.</i></font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>We recommend that in the
interests of transparency, names and application details of all candidates for
MAG selection should be publicly known. This requirement should also be included
when stakeholder groups provide their own processes, and also if a more
centralised process is run via IGF
Secretariat.</i></font></font></span></p><br>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size:10.5pt"><i>Recommendations from stakeholder
groups to the IGF Secretariat should be publicly available, as well as
stakeholder procedures for making selections .</i></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;line-height:1.38" dir="ltr"><span></span></p><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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