[governance] the GAC's problems

[Jeanette Hofmann]

Hi,

some months back I had an interesting conversation with somebody who 
really tries to make the GAC work. As Ray points out, the GAC suffers 
from communication holes between ICANN meetings. One of the issues is 
that public administrations still have fundamental problems with email 
in general and mailing lists in particular. This is not primarily a 
matter of individual skills as one of authority.
In principle, GAC members would have to consult with the higher level in 
their ministry each time they contribute to a debate via a mailing list.
Depending on the country and the ministry, it can be dangerous for a GAC 
member to offer an opinion on political issues without assent by a senior.

Another issue is the lack of capacity and competence in many poor 
countries. The low participation from Latin American countries in Mar 
del Plata is a case in point. Even when the GAC meeting takes place in 
their neighborhood, many countries cannot afford to attend or might not
find it important enough.

In a way, the GAC faces the same problem as the other groups involved in 
ICANN. It is a small minority who follows the process on a continuous 
basis. Not many countries find ICANN's tasks important enough to 
allocate ressources for a permanent participation.

jeanette
_______________________________________________
governance mailing list
governance at lists.cpsr.org
https://ssl.cpsr.org/mailman/listinfo/governance