<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>To add a comment on NGO accountability (not synonym for transparency), and to support Parminder's point</div><div>and putting my <i>Top 500 NGOs</i>' hat on:</div><div>- INGO accountability Charter has a rather limited list of participants (large INGOs) precisely for the reason it is a paid "stamp". When looking in details, this charter has very limited constraints. The non-profit sector has clearly not endorsed it. For some good reasons. Listed corporations that do rely on public investment are under legal obligations in terms of accountability and transparency, and still, we do know that they are far away from being as transparent in terms of governance, interests and influence (lobbying politics, governments, trade unions, and civil society).</div><div>- There is no UN binding law, obligation or regulation, or whatever official request from NGOs listed as ECOSOC accredited by the UN. NGOs are basically free to provide info or not, and upload it within the database where one can find links related to NGOs accredited. The UN has no legal authority over NGO/NPO accountability or transparency. Once again, an ECOSOC accreditation is a simple ticket to provide NGOs with a possibility to join, listen, and sometime express within some of the UN forums/agencies/programs...</div><div><br></div><div>As we rank NGOs/NPOs/SocEnt/PPPs (with a public interest orientation) since 2012, we have been into many of these issues, and so far governments and listed corporations have a much greater degree of public accountability obligation than the non-profit sector. The non-profit sector obeys more on a voluntary basis, some of them providing, sometime, a good level of public data and information. There is room for progress. That would benefit the non-profit sector, and the IG sub non-profit sector could lead on this issue.</div><div><br></div><div>JC</div><div><br></div>
<br><div><div>Le 7 juin 2015 à 08:18, parminder a écrit :</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">
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<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On Sunday 07 June 2015 10:30 AM,
Roberto Bissio wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:CAArNAf5aCPH5HcxbjSd0ZFSOJER6Ag=UaBG7F7qQKiw2qB5MtA@mail.gmail.com" type="cite">
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<div>Dear Parminder,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>There are many mechanisms for CSO accountability.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>NGOS accredited to the UN have to regularly report on
funding, bilaws, authorities and activities.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
Further, an INGO accountability charter exists: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org/">http://www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org/</a>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Social Watch was a member, until we could not afford the
membership fee, which is unfairly burdensome on poorer
organizations from the South. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Some fee is required if you are to assess the reporting of
the organizations. Otherwise everybody declares what it wants
and the transparency is meaningless.</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
Roberto<br>
<br>
This is the reason that what is sought is a simple no cost statement
of voluntary declaration of (1) interests, and (2) objectives and
(3) funding sources, very much on the lines of the basic requirement
that you mention below, and I would add as per your note
"affiliations to networks or institutions " (somewhat like the<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/homePage.do">
EU transparency register</a> .) And this with no fee or costs to
those who enter the register -- the project should be run on
independent funding by whoever runs it, and I have offered to help
raise resources. And it being an online activity, the project
requires very little resources. <br>
<br>
While in any case required for civil society, such a practise
becomes even more important in the IG space where (1) there is a
special - even 'equal footing' - claim to be on policy tables , and
(2) where the geo-political investments as well as corporate
investments into CS spaces by far exceed any other area. Funding
sources of both JNC and BestBits have been publicly questioned in
the recent past, on these very lists. What better way to go forward
than having basic transparency declarations instituted to that there
is a better basis for minimum cooperation and working together as we
go forward. In this regard, it is important to recognise that for
good or bad, or maybe that is just some unique characteristics of a
civil society space which is both in the making in some way, and
otherwise unique in some other ways, political divisions have been
especially deep within the IG civil society space. (The reasons for
this are structural, although repeated efforts are made to lay the
blame on individual behavioural causes, and thus escape the real
political basis of the differences .) I know that these things are
not unknown in other areas, but still - stated very roughly - a
better mainstream conception of civil society is generally
obtainable in other areas. All these characteristics of the IG civil
society space make instituting some basic transparency guidelines -
on a voluntary basis - important for healthy development of civil
society in the IG area, whose political role in the emerging
digitally-mediated society is going to be extremly important. This
should be a common commitment to ourselves, in all humility with
regard to the increasingly important political role that civil
society in the IG space plays.<br>
<br>
parminder <br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:CAArNAf5aCPH5HcxbjSd0ZFSOJER6Ag=UaBG7F7qQKiw2qB5MtA@mail.gmail.com" type="cite">
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<div><br>
</div>
<div>While it makes sense to demand accountability from
organizations involved in the top levl of international
advocacy, there are too many situations in the world where
this could mean another additional and unfair request, on top
of the many requests of regular reports that most countries
have to grant incorporation. Demanding more from CSOs when
neither governments nor corporations have to meet similar
requirements seems unfair to me. But maybe it makes sense to
have a list explaining wether the members are incporprated,
where and under what title (for profit, non-profit, etc) and
affilitiaons to networks or institutions they want to declare
or wether it is an individual or an informal grouping. Do
remember that it is an human right (right to association) to
form groups of any kind, and they are (or should be) deemed as
"innocent" until proven guilty. Too many states turn the table
around and presume that associations are illegal until they
register and demonstrate they are "clean". We should not
unwillingly support that trend.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>best,</div>
<div>Roberto</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 4:20 AM, Michael
Gurstein <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:gurstein@gmail.com" target="_blank">gurstein@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="white" link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-CA">
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Ian
and all,</span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">The
reason why there is a request for disclosure is so
as to know the background or context from which
opinions/positions/actions emerge. It is the same
argument I think, as that concerning real identity
vs. anonymity as per the current Facebook
controversy. It is an extremely useful and in some
cases essential item of information to know who (the
identity) it is that one is interacting with. </span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">My
own feeling on the issue is that unless there are
strong and persuasive arguments in favour of
anonymity then knowing the “identity” of who (or
what) ever one is interacting with is a basic
requirement. I don’t know that it has ever been an
issue in our various IG discussions but if it did
arise my guess is that most would opt for people
using their “real” names/identities for their
contributions.</span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">If
the above is the case then I think that by extension
we can give some content to what we mean by “real
identity”. </span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">To
some degree the components of the “real identity”
required for effective communication/interaction
will vary from context to context—for romantic
purposes age, appearance, gender would likely be
necessary; for financial contexts formal elements as
might be required or contracts such as citizenship,
financial and credit information are part of that
“real identify”. </span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">I
would argue that in our IG context “real identity”
should include a knowledge of the
financial/contractual contexts (i.e. who is paying
the piper) from which individual participation is
being presented.</span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">M</span></p><div><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #e1e1e1
1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext" lang="EN-US"> <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:bestbits-request@lists.bestbits.net" target="_blank">bestbits-request@lists.bestbits.net</a>
[mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:bestbits-request@lists.bestbits.net" target="_blank">bestbits-request@lists.bestbits.net</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Ian Peter<br>
<b>Sent:</b> June 7, 2015 6:03 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> parminder; <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" target="_blank">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>;
BestBitsList; Forum@Justnetcoalition. Org; A
general information sharing space for the APC
Community.<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [bestbits] [governance]
Civil society transparency</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="h5"><div> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
<div>
<div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hi
Parminder,</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Following
from the discussion, here is what I think
is possible and realistic in this space.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Firstly,
I think the question of transparency and
disclosure of conflicts of interest is
important.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">However,
I don’t think people need to declare
interests to involve themselves in
discussion here or in any of our open
mailing lists, and the real concerns start
to arise only when people are seeking
office as civil society representatives.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Here,
most of the office bearing exists in the
various coalitions – APC, Best Bits, JNC,
NCSG, IGC. I would urge each of these
groups, when holding elections, to require
candidates to register any conflicts of
interest. I know Best Bits is moving to
elections for its Steering Committee again
soon, perhaps it could formulate some sort
of basic disclosure requirement for its
purposes? And I guess JNC must be moving
towards holding its first elections for SC
replenishment soon? And IGC could easily
add such a requirement for its candidates
for co cordinator elections (presumably
late this year).</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">But
these are requirements for individual
groups, and the form of such is for each
group to determine. I think however that
such a requirement would be a good idea.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">As
regards CSCG – our calls for candidates
are for appointments to outside bodies,
and I agree that some form of disclosure
of any conflicts of interest would be a
good idea. Currently it would appear that
our next task would be MAG replenishment
(and a small one at that), probably early
next year. I will suggest to the members
that we should require some sort of basic
disclosure statement. But that of course
is up to the members (APC, BB, JNC, NCSG,
IGC) to determine.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I’m
not sure we can go much further. But if
some work can be done on a simple model of
a form of disclosure, that would be good.</span></p>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Ian
Peter</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div><div><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
<div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:whitesmoke"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:parminder@itforchange.net" title="parminder@itforchange.net" target="_blank">parminder</a> </span></p>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:whitesmoke"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Sent:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">
Sunday, May 24, 2015 5:31 PM</span></p>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:whitesmoke"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">To:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:ian.peter@ianpeter.com" title="ian.peter@ianpeter.com" target="_blank">Ian Peter</a> ; <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" title="governance@lists.igcaucus.org" target="_blank">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>
; <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:bestbits@lists.bestbits.net" title="bestbits@lists.bestbits.net" target="_blank">BestBitsList</a> ; <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:forum@justnetcoalition.org" title="forum@justnetcoalition.org" target="_blank">mailto:forum@justnetcoalition.org</a>
; <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:apc.forum@lists.apc.org" title="apc.forum@lists.apc.org" target="_blank">A general
information sharing space for the
APC Community.</a> </span></p>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:whitesmoke"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Subject:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">
[governance] Civil society
transparency</span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><div><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Ian,
and reps of civil society networks on the
Civil Society Coordination Group (CSCG) ,<br>
<br>
I propose that CSCG sets up a civil
society transparency project, somewhat on
the lines of the EU Transparency Register,
pl see <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/homePage.do" target="_blank">http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/homePage.do</a>
.<br>
<br>
It should in fact go beyond the EU
initiative which is a general one for all
lobbying groups, whereas we here are
concerned with civil society which should
set the highest example of transparency
and accountability. The 'register' can
have self filled information on objectives
of an organisation, principles followed by
it, if any, its funding, partners, and so
on.... <br>
<br>
This is at present just my proposal, but I
hope one or more civil society networks in
the IG space can own it and push it...
CSCG would be well placed to run this
project as a neutral space so that there
is no accusation of bias that any such
initiative is being employed for partisan
purposes. In any case, a simple initiative
for openness, transparency and
accountability can hardly be partisan.<br>
<br>
The register can have optional higher
level features whereby a group/ org can
declare its means of public
accountability, whether and how its
internal governance is done, how matters
can be taken by with their oversight
bodies, like board etc, and whether they
have any means whereby they respond to
public question on their work, etc.<br>
<br>
For such genuine cases where such
transparency can harm an organisations
work, or security, such organisations, and
only such organisations, can be exempted
employing a clear process and set of
criteria.<br>
<br>
Remember, both the UN report on
improvements to the IGF and the NetMundial
Statement highlight the issue of
transparency. I also recently read in
these lists how we should make bridges
with the OpenGov movement which is almost
wholly about this one thing. Time we begin
practising what we preach. <br>
<br>
I look forward to hear responses to this
proposal..<br>
<br>
parminder </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
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