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

Tue Aug 12 05:23:09 EDT 2008

Yes

Bill

On 8/12/08 9:34 AM, "Adam Peake" <ajp at glocom.ac.jp> wrote:

> 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_t
>> heme_of_the_igf>http://www.socialtext.net/internet-bill-of-rights/index.cgi?r
>> ights_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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