<HTML dir=ltr><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=unicode">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16640" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<P dir=ltr>Hi</P>
<P dir=ltr>This is an issue we're currently looking at under the banner of the Freedom of Expression Project (looking at the comms environment as a whole, but obviously internet governance is a huge part of that). The TACD rights charter is great, covering the same kinds of issues as our project policy principles and the APC rights charter. I agree that there's important work to be done in reaching out to consumers groups around IG issues, and a strong presence at the IGF would be beneficial.</P>
<P dir=ltr>We're working closely with the Consumers Union in the US, and through them with other groups who are members of TACD (Public Knowledge, EFF, Epic etc), and with Consumers International. I've just come back from the US national conference for media reform where lots of IG issues (net neutrality, filtering etc) are on the agenda. These are often looked at through the lens of consumer rights, which seems to have greater resonance than human rights in many arenas. We're looking at ways of bridging the gap between consumer rights and human rights in ways that can strengthen the two movements and the influence they have on communications policy. </P>
<P dir=ltr>It'd be great to hear from anyone doing work in this area, or from any consumers groups on this list.</P>
<P dir=ltr>Thanks,</P>
<P dir=ltr>Lisa</P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Lisa Horner</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Head of Research and Policy Unit</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: purple; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Global Partners and Associates </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">4th Floor</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Holborn</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AH</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Office: + 44 207 861 3960 Mobile: +44 7867 795859</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal dir=ltr><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><A href="mailto:lisa@global-partners.co.uk" target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">lisa@global-partners.co.uk</SPAN></A> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: gray; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><A href="http://server.global-partners.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.global-partners.co.uk/" target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: gray">www.global-partners.co.uk</SPAN></A> </SPAN><BR></P>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> karen banks [mailto:karenb@gn.apc.org]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Mon 09/06/2008 08:45<BR><B>To:</B> governance@lists.cpsr.org; William Drake; Governance<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [governance] Rights workshop<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3>hi bill<BR><BR>[...<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite">There are a number of initiatives addressing rights issues in relation to the Internet. Several organisations have developed frameworks and charters (APC's Internet rights charter, the CRIS Framework, the Freedom of Expression project's Principles document to name but a few) that map existing rights in the context of the Internet and propose possible rights based approaches.<BR><BR>No TACD. Folks who are spearheading this proposal might want to reach out to them...?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>yes - i can update anna fielder (the TACD rep on the OECD civil society coord group) on the proposal - consumer rights groups in general are not very involved in ICT policy work or IG work.. but we've started to address this in outreaching to consumers union and consumers international around access to broadband<BR><BR>robert guerra kindly introduced me to canadian CU groups which i haven't followed up on<BR><BR>it would be good if all workshop proponents - and the caucus in general - look at how we can bring the consumer rights groups into the IGF more generally..<BR><BR>karen </DIV></BODY></HTML>