[bestbits] [governance] Multistakeholder Roles and Responsibilities

[matthew shears]

I agree with Joana and Jeremy - there are two communications we should 
do pretty quickly:

1) take the Best Bits WCIT statement and adapt it - or at least the 
first part on transparency and access, etc. - to the WTPF.  I personally 
don't see the participation challenges for civil society being much less 
than they were at the WCIT - which is ironic because the WTPF is not a 
treaty-making conference - and the IEG is not adequate by any means (I 
am on the IEG and will be attending next week).  I'm sure CDT would be 
happy to take a first cut at this text.

2) follow-up on the letter to the SG and the meeting we had in Dubai in 
which participation in the WTPF was discussed.

If there is agreement on text on 1 above I can raise points from it or 
read it in the IEG meeting next week for Best Bits.

While I understand the Brazilian telecoms regulator's view there are a 
number of points in the SG's 4th report that refer to 
multistakeholderism in Internet governance issues and there are two 
opinions submitted so far that take positions I believe are contrary to 
civil society's interests in terms of stakeholder participation and 
enhanced cooperation.   I think civil society messaging on these issues 
is as important for the WTPF as it was for the WCIT.

And finally, who on this list is going to the UNESCO WSIS/IGF meeting at 
the end of February?  Thought it might be good to have a gathering 
during that week to compare notes on WSIS+10/IGF and discuss WTPF?

Best

Matthew




On 31/01/2013 09:01, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:
> On 31/01/13 05:15, Joana Varon wrote:
>> Sorry for the late reply after the sympathy some have expressed on 
>> drafting a letter highlighting the promises of Dr Touré at the WCIT 
>> SC meeting. I was approaching the Brazilian government for support on 
>> our demand for space and participation of civil society organizations 
>> on ITU processes.
>>
>> Though showing solidarity with the cause, Brazilian government (or 
>> our telecom regulatory agency responsible for representing the 
>> country at ITU) has signaled that WTPF is not the proper sphere to 
>> submit extensive contribution regarding CS participation, the 
>> plenipotentiary would be so. So, as far as I know, Brazil will submit 
>> a contribution to WTPF only generally speaking about openness and 
>> transparency, but not presenting a particular proposal for change in 
>> the mechanisms for civil society participation.
>>
>> In that sense, they have also addressed the existence of Informal 
>> Experts Group for WTPF, highlighting that:
>> ...
>>
>> Well, this is surely not satisfactory, so, with that in mind, I 
>> wonder if we should go for that joined CS letter focusing on WTPF and 
>> stressing previous commitments from the Secretary General, do we 
>> still have time? Or, for the ones how are more aware of UN bodies 
>> internal procedures, do we have to wait the loooong time for the 
>> plenipot? What could we grasp right now?
>>
>
> (I'm quoting almost your whole message because I intend on forwarding 
> my reply to the wcit12 list too, as an almost identical discussion is 
> going on there.)
>
> The deadline for comments on the Secretary General's report is 
> tomorrow, so we may be hard pressed to do anything by then! Having 
> said that, we could ask for special dispensation to contribute a 
> belated submission, as was granted for the Best Bits statement to WCIT.
>
> Personally I am unlikely to have time to take the lead on a letter but 
> I am supportive of the idea and would have comments to give on a draft 
> if say you or Emma from CDT were to send some draft text. The IGC has 
> not successfully done a statement for a while, and Best Bits is in 
> transition (watch this space), so probably it would probably not be 
> under either of those umbrellas, but rather a generic civil society 
> letter to which groups could sign on.
>
> I agree that the invitation to participate in the IEG is no 
> substitute, though for those who can, good on them.  Avri said she is 
> on the group and there is CDT, but unless you count ISOC (I don't), 
> there is no other civil society that I know of.  Doubtless largely due 
> to the lack of funding, as always (that's why I won't be there).
>
> -- 
>
> *Dr Jeremy Malcolm
> Senior Policy Officer
> Consumers International | the global campaigning voice for consumers*
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