[governance] draft for a caucus intervention for Geneva

Thu Feb 16 15:48:34 EST 2006

Hallo all

Those of you in Geneva are probably just getting into the caucus meeting...

1 - On the access issue:

Yes, we did highlight this in the APC submission.  We did not propose at exactly what 
depth we believe the IGF should address it.

As Parminder and others have pointed out, you cannot delink it from rights.

And as Jacqueline points out, it is crosscutting and will inform how we approach other 
issues.

>From my perspective this is so simple.  It is about inequity, and trying to change it.  It is 
about rights, and understanding what we mean by them and trying to make sure that 
people everywhere have access to these rights without glaring disparities.

Challenging disparities, exclusion, injustice should be part of ALL our work.  Different 
institutions, communities, disciplines etc. will address it differently and to greater or 
lesser degrees.  But, if one's work is not informed by the awareness of inequity that is 
the equivalent of pretending it does not exist, or is not 'our business'. 

2 - On capacity building
I would like there to be mention of the need to build the capacity of the IG community in 
the developed world to be able to understand how IG issues relate to development 
issues and vice versa... the examples mentioned by Jacqueline would be a good 
starting point.

I find the constant assumption that the capacity of the south should be built to catch up 
with the north rather patronising.  But, I do not deny the need to build capacity in places, 
and among people where access to opportunities are limited.

But we live in one diverse world.  To be effective in it we all need to learn.

Anriette

> Hi
> Access and affrodability IMO are not IG issues, but many of the ways
> in which they can or cannot be handled are: for example
> interconnection rates, south-south traffic, FLOSS This is why it came
> out as a cross-cutting issue. It's a principle that needs to be stated
> - we have internet governance to ensure the principles - the stability
> & security of the Internet, human rights, access, etc. Jacqueline
> 
> On 2/16/06, William Drake <drake at hei.unige.ch> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Karen and I have gone around on this a bit since WGIG.  While it is
> > of course an issue of paramount importance, I don't see access as an
> > IG issue, there are no applicable international shared rule systems,
> > it's a function of heterogeneous and uncoordinated national policies
> > and corporate decisions.  Accordingly, it hasn't really been treated
> > as such in WGIG/WSIS. Of course, one could say there should be
> > international rules, but that's different, and I would think there
> > is an obligation to say just what such rules might consist of.   I
> > know Milton agrees with me and think some others did when this came
> > up previously. There also arguably would be some danger of implying
> > that international telecom rules, such as the ITU's treaty
> > instruments, that are supposed to encourage telephone access, apply
> > to the Internet.   Clearly it's an issue meriting further
> > consideration and people can reasonably disagree on it.  We can talk
> > about this in our drafting meeting today, but I don't think we'll
> > reach a hard consensus on the point in the time available.  Maybe
> > there's some mention that could be worked out to connect with and
> > support APC's statement without declaring full stop that the caucus
> > all agrees this is an IG issue per se.
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Bill
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org
> > > [mailto:governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org]On Behalf Of Gurstein,
> > > Michael Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 5:49 PM To: Governance
> > > Caucus Subject: Re: [governance] draft for a caucus intervention
> > > for Geneva
> > >
> > >
> > > As I expected, but a bit earlier than I assumed, mission creep for
> > > the IGF has already been initiated and by CS rather than by any of
> > > the other actors.
> > >
> > > I'm not necessarily disagreeing with Karen and Parminder that
> > > "access" (and thus "development") issues should be discussed at
> > > the IGF--if not there, where; and of course, it is difficult to
> > > distinguish issues of "access" and "capacity building" from
> > > "development" (and I guess that then means a not too big a lurch
> > > over into overall issues of ICT4D, yes?)...
> > >
> > > BUT, wasn't the division of responsibility to have been Internet
> > > Governance/Policy with the IGF and ICT4D with the Global Alliance
> > > (whose gestation has been even more lengthy and wrapped in shrouds
> > > of UN intrigue--an "extensive consultation", hmmm...--than the
> > > IGF...
> > >
> > > Again, maybe it would be best to have all the issues addressed in
> > > the IGF and leave the GA to moulder with the other "high level but
> > > participative UN blah blah's", but if that is the case, then the
> > > responsibilities that flow from that, and for everyone including
> > > (or especially) CS folks to figure out and make representations
> > > around all the issues of inclusion, "representivity", support
> > > mechanisms for participation, a possible role in direct policy
> > > development and even project implementation etc.etc. (which flows
> > > more or less directly from including the ICT4D "mandate") rears
> > > its head more or less immediately.
> > >
> > > That is, CS like everyone else can't have it both ways--having all
> > > the issues of importance (to the various components of CS) on the
> > > table in the IGF, without at the same time recognizing that some
> > > of those issues have much much broader constituencies and much
> > > more immediate physical impacts on folks on the ground than the
> > > rather more rarified (and dare I say "virtual") issues of things
> > > like spam and the allocations of responsibilities within the DNS,
> > > and that this being the case, maintaining the IGF as a rather
> > > exclusive talk shop for Internet (and travel funded) cognoscenti
> > > isn't going to (ahem) fly.
> > >
> > > MG
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org
> > > [mailto:governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org] On Behalf Of karen
> > > banks Sent: February 15, 2006 10:41 AM To: Jeanette Hofmann;
> > > Governance Caucus Subject: Re: [governance] draft for a caucus
> > > intervention for Geneva
> > >
> > >
> > > hi
> > >
> > > i've looked over very quickly and can support
> > > everything here - we would have additional points
> > > to make, or would emphasize some points more than
> > > others, but can do so in a separate intervention.
> > >
> > > the two points i would add, or, think are missing
> > > - are the importance of a rights based approach
> > > to the forum (with specific reference to privacy
> > > and freedom of expression) and the importance of
> > > an overriding development orientation to the work
> > > of the IGF (i don't see any reference to
> > > developing country priorities in this text,
> > > excepting that of capacity building and
> > > participation - which are of course important,
> > > but nothing that indicates issue focus/priority)
> > >
> > > anyway, if this is too difficult - i can raise in our
> > > intervention..
> > >
> > > APC will post it's survey response today, very
> > > late.. and i'll post a copy here..
> > >
> > > In some ways, we are still thinking, so the
> > > responses are not necessarily final final positions or
> > > perspectives ..
> > >
> > > karen
> > >
> > > At 22:48 14/02/2006, Jeanette Hofmann wrote:
> > > >Hi, here comes attached and below, and as usual
> > > >very late, a potential caucus statement. Jeremy helped drafting
> > > >it.
> > > >
> > > >*Please let us know if the text is acceptable or
> > > >which parts need further editing or should be
> > > >deleted because they are controversial.
> > > >
> > > >*The text is still a bit long. Suggestions for shortening are
> > > >welcome too.
> > > >
> > > >Since I am travelling tomorrow, it would be good
> > > >if somebody - perhaps somebody already in
> > > >Geneva? Bill? - took over the editing function.
> > > >
> > > >-------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >I Founding principles for the Forum on Internet Governance
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >*       Added Value: The goal of the forum is to
> > > >add value to the existing institutional
> > > >arrangements relevant to Internet governance by
> > > >extending participation to a broader community
> > > >and by improving the quality of dialogue,
> > > >discussion and development in this field.
> > > >
> > > >*       Capacity-building: The IGF must
> > > >contribute to building capacity in Internet
> > > >governance amongst all stakeholders directly
> > > >engaged in Internet Governance and ICT policy
> > > >issues as well as within the wider communities
> > > >affected by them. The IGF must overcome the
> > > >specific barriers to effective participation, in
> > > >particular from developing countries, found in
> > > >the current institutional structures of Internet Governance.
> > > >
> > > >*       Multi-stakeholder approach and openness:
> > > >The forum must be open to the participation of
> > > >all relevant actors from all sectors and regions
> > > >including governments, private sector, civil
> > > >society and international organizations. The
> > > >multi-stakeholder approach should not only be
> > > >applied to the forum but to all bodies and
> > > >processes related to the forum such as the
> > > >secretariat and a potential program committee.
> > > >
> > > >*       Inclusiveness and remote participation:
> > > >Physical attendance should not be required for
> > > >participation. In order to strengthen the
> > > >inclusiveness of its collaboration, the forum
> > > >should integrate new forms of remote
> > > >participation to enable contributions from
> > > >stakeholders who are unable to attend in person.
> > > >
> > > >*       Equality of participation: It is vital
> > > >to the legitimacy of the forum that all
> > > >stakeholders participate on an equal basis.
> > > >Since the forum is expected to act as a
> > > >facilitating body without binding decision
> > > >making capacity, equal footing for all
> > > >participants is the most effective working
> > > >principle to enable high quality results.
> > > >
> > > >*       Thematic autonomy: The Forum must be
> > > >free to choose its topics as it considers
> > > >appropriate. Most topics relevant to Internet
> > > >Governance are cross-cutting issues, which touch
> > > >upon the responsibilities and competences of
> > > >existing organizations. However, the forum
> > > >should not be seen as their competitor. The IGF
> > > >will function as a facilitator that promotes
> > > >enhanced cooperation amongst all involved bodies
> > > >by generating and diffusing "best-practice" and
> > > >"lessons learned" forms of knowledge.
> > > >
> > > >*       Forum as process: The forum should be
> > > >designed as an ongoing process with most of its
> > > >work taking place throughout the year in smaller
> > > >thematic groups over the Internet. Its face to
> > > >face meetings should constitute just one element in this process.
> > > >
> > > >*       Accessible location: The highest
> > > >priority in choosing locations for the forum
> > > >should be accessibility to all potential
> > > >participants. In considering perspective
> > > >locations issues such as: proximity to
> > > >governmental missions and the local hotel and
> > > >transit infrastructure should be balanced with
> > > >concerns about travel costs and the availability of entrance
> > > >visas.
> > > >
> > > >*       Transparency: For the sake of its
> > > >legitimacy, the forum must take an open and
> > > >transparent approach to its structure,
> > > >procedures, membership and to all of its
> > > >deliberations and recommendations. The forum
> > > >must publish regular and frequent reports detailing its
> > > >activities.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >II Tasks of the Forum on Internet Governance
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
> > > >calls on the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to
> > > >play a multidimensional, catalytic role in
> > > >relation to existing Internet governance
> > > >mechanisms.  Among other things, the Forum should:
> > > >
> > > >*       Facilitate the exchange of information
> > > >and best practices between bodies dealing with
> > > >different international public policies
> > > >regarding the Internet and discuss issues that
> > > >do not fall within the scope of any existing
> > > >body. In this regard the Forum should make full
> > > >use of the expertise of the academic, scientific and technical
> > > communities;
> > > >
> > > >ï'§     Interface: with appropriate
> > > >inter-governmental organizations and other
> > > >institutions on matters under their purview;
> > > >
> > > >ï'§     Strengthen and enhance the engagement of
> > > >stakeholders in existing and/or future Internet
> > > >Governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing
> > > >countries;
> > > >
> > > >ï'§     Identify emerging issues, bring them to
> > > >the attention of the relevant bodies and the
> > > >general public, and, where appropriate, make recommendations;
> > > >
> > > >*       Contribute to capacity-building for
> > > >Internet Governance in developing countries,
> > > >drawing fully on local sources of knowledge and expertise;
> > > >
> > > >*       Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis,
> > > >the embodiment of WSIS principles in Internet Governance
> > > >processes.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >jeanette
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> > >
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> 
> 
> 
> --
> Jacqueline Morris
> www.carnivalondenet.com
> T&T Music and videos online
> 

------------------------------------------------------
Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director
Association for Progressive Communications
anriette at apc.org
http://www.apc.org
PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109
Tel. 27 11 726 1692
Fax 27 11 726 1692

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