[governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
Parminder
parminder at itforchange.net
Wed Jan 10 10:55:40 EST 2007
We still wait for more comments/ suggestions on the proposed letter to Nitin
Desai on enhanced cooperation. Meanwhile, I have tried to pull the texts
proposed by Milton and Bill together. To this text I have added the fact of
the mandate of the Tunis agenda in para 1 (para 2 from Bill already had such
a mention)
The proposed text is
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 'enhanced cooperation' on international public policy issues
related to the Internet, as required by the paragraph 71 of the Tunis
agenda.
The IGC would very much appreciate an update on progress and news of the
current state of play with respect to "enhanced cooperation". In particular,
we would welcome information on a)any concrete steps taken so far, like, any
discussions and consultations that have been held with governments and other
stakeholders on the substance and modalities of enhanced cooperation, and b)
the plans for involving civil society in the process per the clear mandate
in paragraph 71.
(ends)
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: Adam Peake [mailto:ajp at glocom.ac.jp]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:03 PM
> To: Parminder; 'Milton Mueller'; governance at lists.cpsr.org
> Subject: RE: [governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
>
> 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.
> >>
> >> > >
> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >> > ____________________________________________________________
> >>
> >> > You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
> >>
> >> > governance at lists.cpsr.org
> >>
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> >>
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> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >> > For all list information and functions, see:
> >>
> >> > http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance
>
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