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

Tue Aug 12 19:02:25 EDT 2008

I fully support the Letter of th Dynamic Colation Bill-of-rights.  
Moreover, it the Conclusion by the Chair in Rio could be reminded as a  
request from the audience.
-- 
Jacques Berleur
Executive Secretary
ASJEL
c/o Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix
61, rue de Bruxelles
B - 5000 NAMUR
URL: http://http.info.fundp.ac.be/~jbl

Parminder <parminder at itforchange.net> a écrit :

> 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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