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

[Jeanette Hofmann]

I support the endorsement of this letter too.
jeanette

William Drake wrote:
> 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 Œrights¹ 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 Œowned¹, 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 Œyes¹ or
>>> Œno¹ 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 ŒRights 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.
>>>
>>>
>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>> 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:
>      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:
     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