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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hi All<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The initial proposal was to give IGC’s
submission to the IGF Hyderabad synthesis paper on two subjects. One on ‘rights
and the Internet’ has already been proposed. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>A draft for a second input on the crucial
issue of ‘review of the IGF’ is proposed for member’s
consideration as below. Thanks. Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>IGC’s input -2 to the synthesis
paper for IGF, Hyderabad.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Review of the IGF<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Tunis Agenda (TA) calls for examining “the desirability of
the continuation of the Forum in formal consultation with Forum participants,
within five years of its creation, and to make recommendations to the UN
Membership..”. In this regard, we have two sets of comments. One set is regarding
the process of the ‘examining’ or review of the IGF, and another
consists of our substantive comments on the role, mandate and structure of the
IGF.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Process of review <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>As mentioned in the TA, the process of review should be centered on
consultations with Forum (IGF) participants. These consultations should be both
formal and informal. It is important to lay out clear formal processes, apart
from informal ones. It may also be very useful to go beyond IGF participants to
reach out to other interested stakeholders, who for different reason may not
attend the IGF meetings. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In reaching out, the process of consultations should especially keep in
mind constituencies that have lesser participation in IG issues at present, not
due to the fact that they are not impacted by IG and therefore may not have
legitimate interest in it, but because of various structural issues. In this
context, it is especially important to reach out more to constituencies in
developing counties. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Since the IGF has had ‘development’ as a central theme, it
is important to make special efforts to reach out to various actors involved in
development activity, including those of civil society. Other groups with lower
participation in IG issues like women, ethnic minorities and disability groups
should also be especially reached out to. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>It is not therefore enough to announce open consultations, but tangible
efforts to reach out to different stakeholders and constituencies should be
made. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If it is found necessary to do a expert evaluation to help the process
of review, the process of selecting the ‘experts’ should be based
on transparent rationale, and follow an open and transparent process. It is not
advisable to rely on a <i><span style='font-style:italic'>pro bono</span></i>
evaluation, by any agency that offers it, for such a politically sensitive and
important assessment. In selecting ‘experts’ possible biases should
be anticipated and accounted for. Due to the primarily (global) public policy
mandate and role of the IGF, the selected experts should have adequate
expertise in matter of global public policy and policy institutions. In view of
the geo-political significance of IG, it may be useful to have a reputed public
policy institution in the global South do the evaluation in partnership with
one such institution from the North. Even if reliance on existing global
institutions is sought, there should be adequate balancing of perspectives, and
partnerships are a good way to ensure it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>It is important that the process of review starts at the earliest,
preferably with the forthcoming IGF meeting in Hyderabad. IGC held a workshop
on ‘role and mandate of the IGF’ at Rio (see <a
href="http://intgovforum.org/Rio_event_report.php?mem=30">http://intgovforum.org/Rio_event_report.php?mem=30</a>
), and plans another one with the same title in Hyderabad. The outcomes from
this workshop should feed into the main workshop on ‘Taking stock and
going forward’. IGC offers its assistance in organizing this main
session on the basis of its work in this area, including that which it will
undertake for its proposed workshop in Hyderabad. IGC also offers all help in
reaching out to civil society actors and constituencies for a comprehensive
process of review of the IGF, and will like to be formally associated with the
review process in this regard. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Substantive
comments on the IGF mandate, role and structure <o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>To the basic question of the review about desirability of continuation
of the IGF, the Caucus is of the firm view that the IGF is a very important
global institution in the global IG space, as well a bold new experiment in
global policy landscape, and therefore it should continue indefinitely beyond
its first mandated period of five years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Caucus also completely agrees with the mandate given to the IGF by
TA, and the context of its establishing. We understand that the mandate is
ambitious and complex, whereby a process of evolution towards its complete
fulfillment may be needed. However, it is important to keep an eye on the full
mandate as we go forward, and continuously make progress in achieving in its
letter and intent. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>It is important that as a deliberative forum IGF remains open to
addressing all issues that are in the IG space. Very likely, more controversial
is an issue, more appropriate it may be to bring it to the IGF where it can be
handled by use of reason, mutual understating and accommodation. Outcomes from
deliberations at the IGF can, thereupon, be used for global Internet policy
making, which will help make policy-making processes more participative and
democratic. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Tunis agenda calls for <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>“</span></b>development
of multi-stakeholder processes at the national, regional…. level”
similar to the IGF. It is heartening to note that some such national and
regional processes are already taking shape<a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1'
href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></sup></span></a>.
IGF should further encourage such processes and seek to establish formal
relationships with these initiatives. However, this should be done in a manner
that expands the multi-stakeholder nature of global internet policy
institutional framework rather than narrows it. Since the fear of governmental
domination is considerably higher at national levels, IGF should use global
civil society groups and processes to guide appropriate multistakeholderisation
of emerging national IGF spaces. IGC offers its assistance to the IGC in this
regard.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>As Internet policy issues become more complex and demanding the role of
the IGF is expected to considerably grow, within its existing mandate, from the
largely cautious ‘stakeholders perspectives/ differences matching’
and ‘bringing the parties to the table’ roles that it performs at
present. A greater need for the IGF to get deeper in substantive issues is
already becoming evident. It is important in this regard for the IGF to have a
more substantive inter-sessional work program rather than just of planning for
the annual IGF event. It will be useful for this purpose for the MAG to operate
in substantive themes based Working Groups, and also incorporating outside
expertise in these WGs as required. Some start in this direction is expected to
be made in the run-up to IGF, Hyderabad, whereby WGs of MAG members plus some
outsiders are expected to prepare for main sessions. This useful start should
be taken forward for more structured AND substantive inter-sessional work. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>As a global policy related institution it is important for the IGF to
have stable public funding, and to insulate itself against any possibility of
special interests influencing its working through control over funding. Such
funding should not only enable appropriate and streamlined functioning of the
IGF secretariat, the annual event and other proposed and inter-sessional
activities, it should also be used to ensure equity in participation in the IGF
across geographies and social groups. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>We congratulate the IGF secretariat on doing exemplary work in the last
few years, on a very thin resource base, and in difficult conditions where
different stakeholder groups involved in the IGF have very different
orientations and expectations of the secretariat. A lot of the IGF secretariat’s
work is indeed path-breaking in the UN system. However, it is very evident that
the secretariat needs much better resource support that they have at present,
if we are to fulfill all our expectations from this unique global institution.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='mso-element:footnote-list'><br clear=all>
<hr align=left size=1 width="33%">
<div style='mso-element:footnote' id=ftn1>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1' href="#_ftnref1"
name="_ftn1" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span></a>
To mention some of them. </p>
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