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

Tue Aug 12 10:50:30 EDT 2008

Yes

Wolfgang

________________________________

Da: Adam Peake [mailto:ajp at glocom.ac.jp]
Inviato: mar 12.08.2008 09:34
A: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Parminder
Oggetto: Re: [governance] Letter to the MAG on visiblity of 'rights

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 OErights¹ 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 OEowned¹, 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 OEyes¹ or
>OEno¹ 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 OERights 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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