[governance] Letter to the MAG on visiblity of 'rights issues' in the IGF program

[Parminder]

Hi All

 

A little while ago, on this list, we discussed about writing to the MAG
expressing our concern on dilution of 'rights' issues' in the IGF agenda and
program, and there was general support that such a letter should be sent.
The Dynamic Coalition on Internet Bill of Rights has prepared such a letter
that they plan to send to the MAG on the 15th August, so that its content
can be included in the official consultation document for September MAG
consultation..

 

 I put this letter for IGC's consideration and possible endorsement. 

 

The letter can be seen at
http://www.socialtext.net/internet-bill-of-rights/index.cgi?rights_as_core_t
heme_of_the_igf , and the final text is also given below this email

 

Two things are important to note in this respect.

 

(1) The letter is primarily been prepared, and is 'owned', by the dynamic
coalition,  and at this stage, with only three days to go for the submission
deadline of the 15th, we can only accept to endorse it or not endorse it in
the shape that it is. It will not be possible to take in suggestions for any
changes to the text as a condition for endorsement. 

 

(2) The fact that we are endorsing a letter prepared by the dynamic
coalition, and that this is not directly an IGC letter, also means that in
endorsing we need not be agreeing with each and every word of it. The
option, as I said, is to broadly endorse such a letter or not to do so.  

 

I am putting this up for rough consensus. Please only indicate whether you
do accept IGC endorsing the letter or not. A direct 'yes' or 'no' reply is
required. While substantiating arguments may be stated, conditional
acceptance will not be registered. 

 

Reponses to this may be sent within the next 48 hours. At close of 48 hours
from now the co-coordinators will judge whether a rough consensus on
endorsing the letter is obtained or not, and take action accordingly. 

 

Thanks

 

Parminder 

 

 

Rights as core theme of the IGF


Dear IGF Secretariat and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group,


The Dynamic Coalition on the Internet Bill of Rights respectfully requests
that the issue of rights and the internet is made a core agenda topic for
the IGF. The Dynamic Coalition notes that, through the "openness" theme,
rights have been a central topic in the previous IGFs, and is concerned that
this topic appears to have been pushed down the draft agenda for this year's
IGF in Hyderabad.

We are greatly concerned by the significant reduction of emphasis on
"openness" and "diversity" in the current agenda for Hyderabad. In
particular, "openness and privacy" are only mentioned as a half of a
sub-item of the general "Promoting Cyber-security and Trust" main theme.
Rather than promoting positive discussion about how to expand the
opportunities that the internet offers for realizing our fundamental rights
and freedoms as enshrined in international law, the title of the main
security theme plays on negativity and fear of the internet. We are
concerned that the sessions will focus on security measures, without
adequate discussion of how to ensure that these do not erode the capacity of
the internet to support and advance human rights, for example to expression,
culture, privacy and development.

Given that, in addition to the IBR Dynamic Coalition, several other
coalitions and IGF participants are also concerned with the limited
consideration of rights on the program, we respectfully ask the Secretariat
and Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group to reconsider the draft agenda and to
add "Rights and the Internet" as a core theme for Hyderabad, and to work
towards incorporating 'Rights and the Internet' into the IGF Cairo agenda as
an overarching theme.

We recognize that development of the draft agenda is well underway, but feel
that it would still be possible to adapt the agenda without undue impact on
the ongoing workshop merger process, by reorienting the sub-theme main
session "Fostering Security, Privacy and Openness" to focus on rights. The
issue of security would be better addressed in the partnering sub-theme
session, coupled with the issue of cybercrime. The main plenary session
could then bring these two strands together. Another possibility to give
rights a more prominent stance would be to change the title of the main
theme, "Promoting Cyber-security and Trust" to, "Balancing Security and
Trust with Openness and Freedoms (or Rights)".

As we wrote in the Dynamic Coalition report submitted to the Secretariat on
30th June, the coalition would like to offer its support in helping to shape
such a session in partnership with the workshop organisers who have opted to
merge with it. We also stand ready to engage in a dialogue with the
Secretariat and Advisory Group in order to ensure that rights receive
adequate attention at the IGF.

We thank you for your consideration and await your response.

Kind regards,
The Internet Bill of Rights Coalition


About the Internet Bill of Rights Coalition


The Internet Bill of Rights Dynamic Coalition is acting as an umbrella
coalition for all individuals and groups who are concerned with rights
issues and internet governance. The internet has unleashed a raft of
opportunities to protect and expand our human rights as protected by
international law, and offers significant new possibilities for development
and empowerment. However, the internet also presents us with serious
challenges, including how to balance the social goods that stem from the
openness of the internet with the need for security, and how to ensure that
the benefits that the internet brings are shared by all. The Dynamic
Coalition on the Internet Bill of Rights is working to address these issues,
with a view to ensuring that human rights are integral to internet
governance processes and decisions.

Our membership is diverse in terms of stakeholders, geography and view
points. For example, some people in the coalition are concerned with
ensuring that our rights our protected when we use the internet, some are
working to ensure that rights underpin the norms that guide internet
governance, and others are seeking to establish rights to the internet so
that all have access to the benefits and opportunities it supports. Yet all
of our members are keen to see a greater focus on rights in the main agenda
of the IGF so that these important issues can be given the attention that
they deserve.

The topic of the "Internet Bill of Rights", as a specific IGF main agenda
item and long-term goal, has already received a significant degree of wide
spread interest and support. This has included an appeal by illustrious
people at the second WSIS in Tunis, massive participation in the Coalition's
workshops in Athens and Rio, a dedicated international conference in Rome
with attendees from over 70 countries, and an official declaration by the
governments of Italy and Brazil. We also note that organizations such as the
Council of Europe and the Association for Progressive Communications have
made similar requests for a stronger focus on rights at the IGF.

 

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