[governance] Letter to the MAG on visiblity of 'rights

Tue Aug 12 03:34:19 EDT 2008

Yes.

It's an important letter.

Please endorse.

Thanks,

Adam

>Hi All
>
>A little while ago, on this list, we discussed 
>about writing to the MAG expressing our concern 
>on dilution of rights¹ issues¹ 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 IGC¹s consideration and possible endorsement.
>
>The letter can be seen at 
><http://www.socialtext.net/internet-bill-of-rights/index.cgi?rights_as_core_theme_of_the_igf>http://www.socialtext.net/internet-bill-of-rights/index.cgi?rights_as_core_theme_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 owned¹, 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 yes¹ or 
>no¹ 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 
>Internet¹ 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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