[governance] IGF workshop: Internet for All (v 2.0)

[Parminder]

Dear All,

 

I have been able to get an extension, and we have 2 more days to discuss
this proposal. I am enclosing the draft once again. Pl do indicate your
comments and inputs. 

 

This proposal was prepared by a working group of the IGC. It is being
supported by the Bill-of-Rights Dynamic Coalition. We are also exploring
other co-sponsors and at least one UN organization has expressed interest.
One developing country government has also given informal consent to
cosponsor which will be confirmed in a few days.

 

Parminder 

 

 

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&U
RL_SECTION=201.html>
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=47044&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&UR
L_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>
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>
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>
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'. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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