[governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
Jeanette Hofmann
jeanette at wz-berlin.de
Sat Jan 13 06:06:20 EST 2007
As I said before, the letter should also mention the secretariat, which
did the main work anyway. Is there any reason not to mention it?
jeanette
Parminder schrieb:
> This is the text of the letter planned to be sent out.
>
> (starts)
>
> From the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus
>
> To
>
> Nitin Desai
> Special Advisor to the Secretary-General
> United Nations
>
>
> Dear Mr Desai
>
> Wishing you a happy and fulfilling 2007!
>
> The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (CS-IGC) would like to
> congratulate you for the very successful first meeting of the Internet
> Governance Forum. A good amount of the credit for this goes to your personal
> leadership, and that of your advisory team.
>
> 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
> of 'enhanced cooperation' on international public policy issues related to
> the Internet.
>
> The CS-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 measures taken so far, and
> (b) the plans for involving civil society in the process as per the clear
> mandate in paragraph 71 of the Tunis Agenda.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Vittorio Bertola
> and
> Parminder Jeet Singh
>
> (On behalf of the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus)
>
> (ends)
>
>
> McTim, I have removed the reference to Tunis agenda in para 1 but not in
> para 2. I think the issue is not just that Nitin knows it is there, but to
> claim WSIS legitimacy for our demand.
>
> Avri, since brevity is the general style adopted, I haven't mentioned a call
> for an open consultative process which is implied in the last line.
>
> And I haven't put 'secretariat' along with Nitin and AG because, well... it
> becomes a bit long, and somewhat perfunctory.
>
> I will send it tomorrow evening, if there are no other comments, in pdf
> format enclosed in an email to nitin.
>
> Pamrinder
>
> ________________________________________________
> 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: Lee McKnight [mailto:LMcKnigh at syr.edu]
>> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:29 PM
>> To: aizu at anr.org; Parminder; governance at lists.cpsr.org
>> Cc: Adam Peake; Milton Mueller
>> Subject: Re: [governance] Action on Enhanced Cooperation, please
>>
>> I'll second Izumi on the spelling out, and then closing/sending this
>> out.
>>
>> Lee
>>
>> Prof. Lee W. McKnight
>> School of Information Studies
>> Syracuse University
>> +1-315-443-6891office
>> +1-315-278-4392 mobile
>>
>>>>> aizu at anr.org 1/11/2007 8:52 AM >>>
>> Parminder, thanks for the further edit.
>>
>> I think we can send this now.
>>
>> One minor suggetion is to spell out IGC, and add Civil Society to
>> make it clear, so "Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (CS-IGC)
>> would
>> like to..." reads better.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> izumi
>>
>>
>>
>> 2007/1/11, Parminder <parminder at itforchange.net>:
>>>
>>>
>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > To be removed from the list, send any message to:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > For all list information and functions, see:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance
>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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>>>>
>>>> For all list information and functions, see:
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>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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>>> To be removed from the list, send any message to:
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>>>
>>> For all list information and functions, see:
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>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> >> Izumi Aizu <<
>>
>> Institute for HyperNetwork Society
>> Kumon Center, Tama University
>> * * * * *
>> << Writing the Future of the History >>
>> www.anr.org
>> ____________________________________________________________
>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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>>
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>
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