[governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
Adam Peake
ajp at glocom.ac.jp
Wed Jan 10 02:32:52 EST 2007
At 12:36 PM +0530 1/10/07, Parminder wrote:
> > We are writing to you because we understand you were asked by the UN
>> Secretary General to begin informal consultations on how to start a
>> process aimed at enhancing cooperation on international public policy
>> issues related to the Internet.
>
>Is it generally known that Secy Gen did ask Nitin Desai to begin
>consultation? ( I, for instance, did not know) Should we proceed from
>this...
Yes.
UN press release announcing set up of the IGF secretariat and enhance
cooperation
<http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10366.doc.htm>. Relevant
part:
"On a separate issue, the Secretary-General has also decided to ask
Mr. Desai to consult informally on how to start a process aimed at
enhancing cooperation on international public policy issues related
to the Internet. The Summit had requested the Secretary-General to
start such a process. "
The words suggested for the question in the letter reflected this.
(and also one reason I think just asking the simple question is
best... but as said, more is OK if that's what all want.)
Adam
>Parminder
>
>________________________________________________
>Parminder Jeet Singh
>IT for Change, Bangalore
>Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
>Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890
>Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055
>www.ITforChange.net
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Milton Mueller [mailto:Mueller at syr.edu]
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 7:53 PM
>> To: ajp at glocom.ac.jp; parminder at itforchange.net; governance at lists.cpsr.org
>> Subject: Re: [governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
>>
>> Parminder:
>> Thank you for an extensive effort on this draft. Perhaps some of the
>> delay in getting there stemmed from what I think is your overestimate of
>> the amount of work required.
>>
>> I really think in this case we need to be very concise and to the
>> point. Something like,
>>
>> " Dear Nitin:
>> <insert a line or two of pleasantries if you wish>
>>
>> We are writing to you because we understand you were asked by the UN
>> Secretary General to begin informal consultations on how to start a
>> process aimed at enhancing cooperation on international public policy
>> issues related to the Internet.
>>
>> The IGC would very much appreciated an update on progress and news of
>> the current state of play with respect to "enhanced cooperation." What
>> concrete measures have been taken and what role is contemplated for
>> civil society in them?
>>
>>
>>
>> >>> parminder at itforchange.net 1/9/2007 1:21 AM >>>
>> > Where are our coordinators? Wouldn't it be appropriate for them to
>>
>> > initiate action on this, e.g. develop a draft?
>>
>>
>>
>> I apologize for being amiss on this issue after promising on 30th last
>> to do
>> a draft in 3-4 days.
>>
>>
>>
>> A draft is enclosed for your consideration, and also pasted in the body
>> of
>> this email below.
>>
>>
>>
>> A couple of points about the draft.
>>
>>
>>
>> Firstly, I have made it elaborate rather than concise - arguing the
>> case and
>> making a formal claim to know the present position against clear
>> commitments, as a stakeholder of the WSIS and post WSIS process.
>>
>>
>>
>> Secondly, between the options of considering 'enhanced cooperation'
>> (EC) as
>> THE required public policy process(es) spoken of in paras 60 and 61 of
>> Tunis
>> agenda, or considering it as one of the processes which gets discussed
>> in
>> more details in the subsequent parts, I have taken the latter option.
>> Tunis
>> agenda can be read either way, and there can be multitude of opinions
>> on
>> this issue. However, I preferred to avoid putting all our 'public
>> policy'
>> eggs in the EC basket. Also there is the problem that the opening para
>> 69
>> that mentions EC for the first time seem to capture it in a somewhat
>> exclusive governmental framework. The overall paras 61 however is more
>> multistakeholder inclusive. In any case, other paras talk about
> > different
>> public policy mechanisms/ processes etc for ccTLDs (63) and gTLDs
>> (64)..
>> Keeping EC as just one of the envisaged/possible mechanisms of public
>> policy
>> also helps us to keep a way out of a situation where a slightly
>> improved
>> GAC, is attempted to be passed off both as the EC as well as all that
>> was
>> ever meant in Tunis agenda as any kind global public policy space or
>> process
>> ..
>>
>>
>>
>> Parminder
>>
>>
>>
>> (draft below, and also enclosed as attachment)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus
> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Nitin Desai
>>
>> Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, United Nations.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Mr Desai,
>>
>>
>>
>> Wishing you a happy and fulfilling 2007!
>>
>>
>>
>> The Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) would like to congratulate you for
>> the
>> very successful first meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). A
>> good
>> amount of the credit for this goes to your personal leadership, and
>> that of
>> your advisory team. The first meeting of the IGF was a crucial
>> mould-setting
>> exercise, and we appreciate the fact that all parties approached it
>> positively, and with due care. We have been able to set the stage for a
>> new
>> multistakeholder exercise in global governance which is indeed
>> path-breaking, not only in the area of governance of the Internet, but
>> in
>> general as an outstanding example for future reforms in global
>> governance.
>>
>>
>>
>> IGF has got firmly established as an open platform, inclusive to all,
>> which
>> gives an opportunity to discuss and debate public policy issues related
>> to
>> the Internet, and explore possibilities as well as constituencies for
>> needed
>> change and reform. Some of these issues can even reach high enough
>> degree of
>> consensus among the involved parties that can drive change on its own -
>> for
>> instance agreements on new technology or legal standards,
>> incorporating
>> agreed issues of public interest, that are acceptable to all
>> stakeholders,
>> civil society groups, business and the governments. However, the fact
>> remains that most public policy processes at the IGF, at least after
>> they
>> reach a level of maturity of debate and deliberation in the IGF,
>> require
>> inputting into an appropriate political arena of global public policy
>> making. It is the lack of progress in this area in the post WSIS period
>> that
>> continues to cause concern to us.
>>
>>
>>
>> The Tunis agenda clearly recognizes 'that there are many cross-cutting
>> international public policy issues that require attention and are not
>> adequately addressed by the current mechanisms' (paragraph 60 of Tunis
>> agenda). It further affirms, for this purpose, the 'need to initiate,
>> and
>> reinforce, as appropriate, a transparent, democratic, and multilateral
>> process, with the participation of governments, private sector, civil
>> society and international organizations . (p 61). The Tunis agenda
>> also
>> expressly calls for 'creating an environment that facilitates this
>> development of public policy principles' (p 70). The intent and mandate
>> of
>> the Tunis agenda in terms of the importance and urgency to proceed with
>> the
>> task of developing public policy principles for the Internet, and
>> processes/mechanisms for their development and application, is quite
>> evident.
>>
>>
>>
>> As one form or possibility for this exercise, paragraph 71 lays out
>> such a
>> clear mandate that it is worth quoting in full.
>>
>>
>>
>> The process towards enhanced cooperation, to be started by the UN
>> Secretary-General, involving all relevant organisations by the end of
>> the
>> first quarter of 2006, will involve all stakeholders in their
>> respective
>> roles, will proceed as quickly as possible consistent with legal
>> process,
>> and will be responsive to innovation. Relevant organisations should
>> commence
>> a process towards enhanced cooperation involving all stakeholders,
>> proceeding as quickly as possible and responsive to innovation. The
>> same
>> relevant organisations shall be requested to provide annual
>> performance
>> reports.
>>
>>
>>
>> However, as we enter the year 2007, there has been no word, much less
> > action, on the broader issue of developing public policy principles
>> and
>> processes for the Internet, and specifically, the more clearly
>> mandated
>> issue, with timelines, of initiating the 'process towards enhanced
>> cooperation'. As a matter of paramount global public interest, as well
>> as a
>> stated commitment of the WSIS, we, the IGC, as stakeholders of the WSIS
>> and
>> post-WSIS process, request to be informed on the status of these
>> issues, in
>> terms of the action that has been taken, and is intended to be taken.
> >
>>
>>
>> We also wish to claim the full participation of civil society in the
>> envisaged process of 'enhanced cooperation' and other public policy
>> processes, which is implied and mandated in the concerned parts of the
>> Tunis
>> agenda, and we request you to ensure such participation. We note with
>> concern that some parties have tried to claim 'enhanced cooperation' as
>> a
>> government-only process. This is completely at variance with the
>> overall
>> envisaged approach to public policy issues for the Internet (p 60 and
>> 61) as
>> well as in terms of the specific process of 'enhanced cooperation' (p
>> 71).
>> We also offer our complete cooperation, and assistance as may be
>> required by
>> you, for initiating these processes, in order to ensure incorporation
>> of
>> public interest in the development of the most powerful technologies of
>> our
>> times, that holds much promise for just and equitable social change.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanking you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>>
>> > From: Milton Mueller [mailto:mueller at syr.edu]
>>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 6:49 AM
>>
>> > To: ajp at glocom.ac.jp; governance at lists.cpsr.org
>>
>> > Subject: [governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
>>
>> >
>>
>> > >>> ajp at glocom.ac.jp 12/28/2006 4:17 AM >>>
>>
>> > >Any thoughts on writing to Nitin Desai asking for an update on
>>
>> > >enhanced cooperation? And working on statements/contributions to
>> the
>>
>> >
>>
>> > >February consultation? (about 6 weeks away.)
>>
>> >
>>
>> > I strongly agree with Adam that this is a desirable thing. Enhanced
>>
>> > cooperation, no matter how bullshit a formulation it is, was supposed
>> to
>>
>> > be one of the key outcomes of WSIS, and represents a critical point
>> of
>>
>> > contention between EU and USA.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > There are (legitimate) worries about governments being passive
>> watchers
>>
>> > of IGF "shows", expressed by Jeanette earlier. Enhanced coop is one
>> of
>>
>> > the few areas where state politics can intersect with post-WSIS
>> Forum
>>
>> > politics. At worst, making this inquiry may also bring us face to
>> face
>>
>> > with the possible truth that the govts have no intention of doing
>>
>> > anything and are playing games with WSIS/IGF. If so, we need to call
>>
>> > their bluff
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Where are our coordinators? Wouldn't it be appropriate for them to
>>
>> > initiate action on this, e.g. develop a draft?
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Adam has already laid out the basic outlines of what needs to be
>> said:
>>
>> >
>>
>> > >a letter asking for
>>
>> > >progress/update, why aren't we being told, and we would like to be
>>
>> > >involved. And cc'ing govt and others we know interested to see if
>>
>> > >they will also then ask the same questions might be helpful.
>>
>> > >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > ____________________________________________________________
>>
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