<div dir="ltr"><span class="gmail-im">Dear all, <br><br>We
are writing to inform you that the all representatives of the CSCG have sent a letter to the IGF Secretariat, copied in full below, as part of the public consultation on the IGF retreat but specifically regarding MAG nominations. This follows on from a conversation which brought to light
the upcoming MAG elections and the need to ensure greater transparency
in that process. It builds on the existing <a href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/igf-retreat-written-inputs" target="_blank">IGF retreat written documents</a>. <br><br>Currently, we are waiting for the text to be published on the
following site (</span><span class="gmail-im"><a href="http://www.intgovforum.org/review/igf-retreat-proceedings-ideas-and-suggestions/" target="_blank">http://www.intgovforum.org/<wbr>review/igf-retreat-<wbr>proceedings-ideas-and-<wbr>suggestions/</a>), after which we will seek to
follow-up based on the response from the Secretariat. In the
meantime, we welcome any feedback on this text. We are also open to
receive comments from everyone with suggestions on further engagement in
all processes concerning CS representation.<div><br></div><div>We will keep you updated on the response from the Secretariat and next steps from there. <br><br></div>Many thanks, any questions do let us know. </span><div id="gmail-m_-9170299096626917450gmail-:xt" class="gmail-m_-9170299096626917450gmail-ajR"><img class="gmail-m_-9170299096626917450gmail-ajT gmail-CToWUd" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif"><br></div><div id="gmail-m_-9170299096626917450gmail-:xt" class="gmail-m_-9170299096626917450gmail-ajR">Best,<br></div>Sheetal and Poncelet. <br><br>------------------<br>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">Oct 31, 2016</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">Dear IGF Secretariat,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">We are pleased to submit this contribution for
your public consultation on the IGF retreat<span> </span>on behalf of the Internet Governance Civil Society Coordination
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. These comments
are made to p. 37, 39 and 40 of the Review Platform, therefore, we do replicate
the text in all paragraphs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">In line with our mandate, this submission
concentrates specifically on improving the nomination process and makeup of
the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG). In order to follow the key actions
taken so far, we take this opportunity to bring attention<span> </span>to the prior steps related to MAG
nominations: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><span lang="ES-AR"><span>1.<span style="font:7pt "times new roman"">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">In
New York, from 14 to 16 July 2016, the IGF Retreat took place. The result of
this meeting, is a public document</span><a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><sup><span lang="ES-AR"><span><sup><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="ES-AR">[1]</span></sup></span></span></sup></a><span lang="ES-AR"> </span><b><span lang="EN-US">open to public
consultation until 31October 2016.</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> With regard to MAG, the paragraphs 37 to 49 address different points
related to its work, and its selection process. </span><span lang="ES-AR">Relevant
information is copied below:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="ES-AR"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US">¶37 Improving the nomination process and make-up of the Multistakeholder
Advisory Group (MAG), and the MAG Chair</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><i><span lang="EN-US">¶ 39</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US">There was general agreement that there is a need for a more transparent
selection process across the different stakeholders groups and clearer criteria
and priorities to enable more consistent candidate selection processes across
the different stakeholder communities. At the same time, many expressed that it
should ultimately be the prerogative of the UN Secretary-General to exercise
his or her final judgement in selecting MAG representatives having flexibility
to ensure appropriate diversity.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><i><span lang="EN-US">¶ 40</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US">A need was also expressed to have greater awareness and transparency in
the selection processes used by the different stakeholder groups. Some felt
there should be a set of specific criteria and priorities for nominations.
Others felt that it is difficult for the communities to identify, target and
come up with adequate candidates with insufficient information on what the UN
Secretary-General is looking for.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US">2. On 18th October 2016, The eighth IGF Virtual
MAG Meeting of the 2016 IGF preparatory cycle took place. Ms. Lynn St. Amour
moderated the meeting as Chair of the MAG and Mr.Chengetai Masango represented
the IGF Secretariat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The Summary
Report: IGF Virtual Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG9 Meeting VIII - 18
October 2016, states on p. 8):</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><i><span lang="EN-US">“Finally, the IGF Secretariat noted that the MAG renewal process would
get started in the coming weeks, to try and ensure that the 2017 MAG was in
place as early as possible. <b>There was
also a short discussion about whether or not names of MAG nominations should be
made public or not.</b> </span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">The Secretariat was
asked to bring this question to the MAG list for discussion among the
stakeholder groups as this is an important and quite nuanced point</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US">.</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">Another suggestion
that was made in regards to the MAG renewal process was that the Secretariat
could update public information on the MAG, specifically the amount of years
that each MAG member have served, their stakeholder group and geographical
region, etc.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">Further information on
updates to the MAG renewal process will be circulated to the MAG and wider
community in the coming weeks, and the Secretariat, together with UNDESA, will
make every effort to be as transparent as possible in regards to the nomination
and selection process. </span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-US">The next MAG virtual meeting is
scheduled for 8 November at 14:00 UTC.</span><a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><sup><span lang="ES-AR"><span><b><sup><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="ES-AR">[2]</span></sup></b></span></span></sup></a></i><i><span lang="EN-US"> “</span></i><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">3. The recording of this session was
made public</span><a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><sup><span lang="ES-AR"><span><sup><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="ES-AR">[3]</span></sup></span></span></sup></a><span lang="EN-US">. Even though sometimes is it is
very difficult to listen with clarity and it was not always clear who was the
speaker since the webex screen was not recorded, from minute 49.30 the
discussion about the MAG selection process was raised by Chengetai, as an
A.O.B. item.<span> </span>Specifically he pointed out
that in the past, the names of the nominees for consideration of the MAG have
not been public and he addressed the question to the MAG if it should be like
this (non public) for the next MAG renewal. <b>Until minute 1.06.23 no decision was made and a request for written
updates on this discussion sent to the list was made so as to gather feedback,
highlighting the importance of transparency (minute 52.06)</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">After reading both the IGF Retreat
document and the MAG summary along with the recording of the virtual session it
is still unclear how transparent the selection of MAG members and mostly, civil
society stakeholders, will be. In this sense, the CSCG contributes to <b>the public consultation on the IGF retreat
addressing its attentions on the specific points related to MAG renewal. We
stress the importance of transparency in civil society selection as MAG
stakeholders and , in this sense, we<span>
</span>take this opportunity to reiterate our availability to and willingness
contribute and collaborate in the process of selection of MAG members.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><span lang="EN-US">The selection process of MAG members should be inclusive, predictable,
transparent and fully documented. More transparency is needed</span></b><span lang="EN-US">. 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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><span lang="EN-US">Stakeholder procedures for making selections should also be publicly
available</span></b><span lang="EN-US">(CSCG’s
current procedures can be found at </span><span lang="ES-AR"><a href="http://www.internetgov%C2%ADcs.org/procedures"><span style="color:windowtext" lang="EN-US">http://www.internetgov-cs.org/procedures</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US">) </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">We recommend that<b> in the interests of transparency,</b> <b>names and application details of all</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><span lang="EN-US">candidates for MAG selection should be publicly known.</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> This requirement should also be</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">included when stakeholder groups
provide their own processes, and also if a more centralised process is run via
IGF Secretariat. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">These comments are based on the best
practice we have observed with other</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US">organisations in selecting
multistakeholder representatives. We offer the above suggestions in the spirit
of cooperation , 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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><span lang="EN-US">Analía Aspis - Richard Hill</span></b><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><b><span lang="EN-US">Chairs, Internet Governance Civil Society Coordination Group</span></b><span lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:150%"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p>
<div><br clear="all">
<hr width="33%" size="1" align="left">
<div id="gmail-ftn1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><sup><span lang="ES-AR"><span><sup><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="ES-AR">[1]</span></sup></span></span></sup></a><span style="font-size:10pt" lang="ES-AR"> </span><span lang="ES-AR"><a href="http://www.intgovforum.org/review/igf-retreat-proceedings-ideas-and-suggestions/"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(17,85,204)">http://www.intgovforum.org/review/igf-retreat-proceedings-ideas-and-suggestions/</span></a></span></p>
</div>
<div id="gmail-ftn2">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><sup><span lang="ES-AR"><span><sup><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="ES-AR">[2]</span></sup></span></span></sup></a><span lang="ES-AR"><a href="http://intgovforum.org/pipermail/igfmaglist_intgovforum.org/attachments/20161025/0491282a/attachment-0001.pdf"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">http://intgovforum.org/pipermail/igfmaglist_intgovforum.org/attachments/20161025/0491282a/attachment-0001.pdf</span></a></span></p>
</div>
<div id="gmail-ftn3">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><sup><span lang="ES-AR"><span><sup><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="ES-AR">[3]</span></sup></span></span></sup></a><span style="font-size:10pt" lang="ES-AR"> </span><span lang="ES-AR"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-d-EIIQWsUiemNhVGwxbFRBeGc/view"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(17,85,204)">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-d-EIIQWsUiemNhVGwxbFRBeGc/view</span></a></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<br clear="all"><div><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font color="#073763" face="verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2" color="#073763" face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font color="#073763" face="verdana, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font color="#073763" face="verdana, sans-serif"><b>Sheetal Kumar</b></font></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><font color="#073763" face="verdana, sans-serif">Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL</font><div><div><font size="1" color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif">Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL</font></div><div><font size="1" color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif">T: +44 (0)20<font color="#666666"> 3 818 3258</font> 0337</font><font size="1" color="#666666" face="verdana, sans-serif">| M: +44 (0)7739569514 | </font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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