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<TITLE>Open Council of Europe multi-stakeholder conference to examine alternative futures in international Internet-related public policy (18-19 April 2011, Strasbourg, France)</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">For information:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Open CoE multi-stakeholder conference to examine alternative futures in international Internet-related public policy (18-19 April 2011, Strasbourg, France)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Internet’s universality and openness is an essential condition for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information globally. Decisions relating to the management of the Internet are likely to have a bearing on fundamental rights and freedoms. The borderless nature of the Internet infrastructure and its decentralised management beg the question of how to address the challenges to its universality and openness through international cooperation. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Following the IGF discussions in Vilnius, the Council of Europe body responsible for developing media and information society policy has decided to work on a set of Internet governance principles to be included in a political statement of the organisation. It is also examining ways of international cooperation to preserve the ongoing functioning of the Internet.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana"> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">What are the most viable options for international action? Decentralised and unpredictable development of standards by corporations and civil society, lobbies and bureaucrats or traditional treaty making? What architecture for participation and deliberation? Who are the stewards or facilitators of multi-stakeholder dialogue? What are the opportunities and the risks?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">How to ensure impact? How to balance efficacy and accountability? What outputs in terms of international policy? How can we construct globally applicable solutions?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">The Council of Europe will invite representatives of governments, the private sector and civil society to discuss these issues in an open conference. Invitations will be issued in due course. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2 COLOR="#000000"> <<FLYER CI Cartagena.doc>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">For more information please contact:</FONT>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Elvana Thaçi</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Media and Information Society Division</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Council of Europe</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Tel. + 33 (0) 3 90 21 56 98</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Fax. + 33 (0) 3 88 41 27 05</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">E-mail: </FONT></SPAN><A HREF="mailto:elvana.thaci@coe.int"><SPAN LANG="en-gb"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">elvana.thaci@coe.int</FONT></U></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-gb"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="fr"></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="fr"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">Internet: </FONT></SPAN><A HREF="http://www.coe.int/media"><SPAN LANG="fr"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Verdana">www.coe.int/media</FONT></U></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="fr"></SPAN>
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