[governance] IGF workshop: Internet for All (v 2.0)
Michael Gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Wed Jul 2 13:52:45 EDT 2008
Just to be clear,
This below is an updated version of the one that Karen sent and should be
the one used for comments and suggestions.
MG
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Gurstein [mailto:gurstein at gmail.com]
> Sent: July 2, 2008 12:47 AM
> To: 'governance at lists.cpsr.org'; 'karen banks'
> Subject: RE: [governance] IGF workshop: Internet for All
>
> I think that Karen who seems to be off line sent an earlier version of
> this.
>
> "Internet for All - Exploring a Rights-based Approach"
> Internet for All is the proposed theme for the IGF, Hyderabad and is
> adapted from UNESCO's 'Education for All' initiative. 'Education for All'
> takes a rights based approach to education and presents nuanced view the
> enabling conditions for providing education for all
> (http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=47044&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC
> &URL_SECTION=201.html ) . The proposed "Internet for All-Exploring a
> Rights-based Approach" workshop will explore what a 'Rights-based'
> approach to Internet for All (including other related concepts such as
> e-Inclusion and 'Universal Service') would mean and whether it could
> provide the basis for Internet policy in this area.
>
> Universal service and universal access are widely accepted telecom policy
> principles. However, these are less clear in area of the Internet where
> the Internet involves areas of much more active 'use' and multi-layered
> types of interaction and development than the simple connection' with the
> telephone. To mention only one aspect of this a draft resolution
> recommended for ECOSOC by the 11th session of the CSTD
> http://www.unctad.org/sections/wcmu/docs//ecn162008_r004_en.pdf recently
> noted that 'a new form of digital divide is emerging in terms of
> difference in quality and speed of access to ICTs' (the OECD has also been
> grappling with definitional issues regarding universal access in terms of
> the Internet http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/32/57/40629067.pdf ).
>
> Other issues to be explored from a 'rights' perspective include a
> determination of the enabling conditions for realizing effective use of
> the available 'access' and the characteristics of the Internet to which
> one has access. A rights based approach to "Internet for All' or what may
> be referred to as a 'right to the Internet' may include issues that go
> beyond mere access as for example the enabling conditions such as
> training, capacity building and the development of the social,
> organizational, and managerial infrastructure that can make access
> meaningful and useful. The "Education for All' movement recognizes that
> conditions such as these are pertinent to ensuring education for all
> beyond simple access to schools..
>
> This corresponds to quality and appropriateness of the substantive content
> and presentation of the Internet - language including use of non-Roman
> scripts are of particular significance here and correspond in the
> 'education for all' context to what is spoken of in a recent UNESCO
> document as 'the right to learn in the mother tongue'
> (http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001297/129728e.pdf).
>
> The WSIS declaration of Principles speaks of an "information society where
> everyone can create, access, utilize and share information". Does this
> translate into a right to do so? What would be the implications of a right
> on Internet policies, for instance with respect to the network neutrality
> debate. Similarly, issues such as online security, privacy and FoE may be
> possible to explore from a rights perspective in the context of the
> possible significance in enabling or restricting an 'Internet for all'.
>
> A further set of issues more directly linked to an e-Inclusion definition
> of 'Internet for all' would include groups needing special consideration
> such as people with disabilities, whose right to access to 'new
> information and communications technologies and systems, including the
> Internet' as is recognized by the recently concluded 'International
> Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities'.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: karen banks [mailto:karenb at gn.apc.org]
> Sent: July 1, 2008 2:17 AM
> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org
> Subject: [governance] IGF workshop: Internet for All
>
>
> Hi everyone
>
> Please find below a reworked text for the
> 'internet for all' workshop - which has evolved
> and in fact changed focus significantly since first posted to the caucus
> list.
>
> The caucus group working on this proposal
> (internet for all) have also been working with
> the Bill of Rights Coalition - who are
> submitting a 'mainstreaming-rights-into-IGF proposal'
>
> We have discussed at length how best to approach
> human rights and IG - how to bring a rights
> perspective to the IGF - and we will have a long
> way to go - but it is certainly a good start.
>
> The caucus folk and Bill of Rights folk will also
> express inhterest in helping to shape the main
> session of openness, security and privacy
>
> The proposal below is not in the workshop
> proposal format (yet) but parminder has asked the
> secretariat for a short extension - wherein we
> will need to get the proposal into the template and identify some
> speakers..
>
> karen
>
> "Internet for All - Exploring a Rights-based Approach"
>
> Internet for All has been proposed as the overall
> theme for the IGF, Hyderabad. The program
> document also states that this description is
> adapted from the UNESCO's 'Education for All'
> initiative. Education for All takes a rights
> based approach to education, and also a very
> nuanced view of 'what kind of education' as well
> as the enabling conditions that are required for
> providing education for all (
> http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=47044&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&
> URL_SECTION=201.html
> ) . This workshop will explore what does a
> 'Rights-based Approach to Internet for All'
> means, and whether it provides the basis of an
> appropriate and viable set of guidelines in the area of Internet policies.
>
> Universal service and universal access are widely
> accepted policy principles in case of telecom
> policies. However, the meaning and context of
> these terms in case of Internet is still not
> clear. Unlike telephony, Internet is much more
> than a 'connection' that 'either you have or you
> don't'. A draft resolution recommended by the
> 11th session of CSTD for adoption by the ECOSOC
> (http://www.unctad.org/sections/wcmu/docs//ecn162008_r004_en.pdf
> ) recently noted that 'a new form of digital
> divide is emerging in terms of difference in
> quality and speed of access to ICTs' ( OECD has
> also been grappling with definitional issues
> regarding universal access in terms of the
> Internet ( http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/32/57/40629067.pdf ).
>
> Apart from the issues about what width of the
> pipe can constitute universal entitlement or a
> right, if at all, there are also at least two
> other sets of issues which need to be explored
> from a rights perspective (1) enabling conditions
> for making effective use of the available access
> and (2) the kind of the Internet one has access
> to. A rights based approach to "Internet for
> All' or what may be called as a 'right to the
> Internet' therefore has to explored in terms of
> many issues that go beyond mere access to the
> Internet, while including this important element.
>
> Enabling conditions could be in terms of training
> and capacity building as well as the social,
> organizational, and managerial infrastructure.
> The "Education for All' movement recognizes such
> conditions that are outside and beyond mere
> access to schools which are pertinent to ensuring education for all.
>
> Other set of issues are about what kind of
> Internet does one have access to. This
> corresponds to quality and appropriateness of
> education in the 'education for all' movement.
> For instance, is one entitled to an Internet that
> recognizes one's own language? It is significant
> to note in this respect that a recent UNESCO
> document speaks about ''the right to learn in the
> mother tongue' (
> http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001297/129728e.pdf
> ). The WSIS declaration of Principles speaks of
> an "information society where everyone can
> create, access, utilize and share information".
> Does it translate into a right to do so? What
> implication would such a right have on Internet
> policies, for instance with respect to network
> neutrality debate. Similarly, issues like online
> security, privacy and FoE may be possible to
> explore from a rights perspective to 'Internet for all'.
>
> Another set of issues are with respect to groups
> needing special consideration like people with
> disabilities, whose right to access to 'new
> information and communications technologies and
> systems, including the Internet' is recognized by
> the 'International Convention on the Rights of
> Persons with Disabilities' which came into force recently.
>
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