AW: [governance] role in MAG

Thu Sep 18 04:36:33 EDT 2008

Parminder you have my full support and indeed there is ni contradiction between your position as IGC Co-Chair and being a Special Advsier to the IGF Chair. In contrary this will strengthen CS input into th IGF process and will give the IGC more visibility and global recognition.

Wolfgang 

________________________________

Von: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
Gesendet: Mi 17.09.2008 23:02
An: governance at lists.cpsr.org
Betreff: [governance] role in MAG

Hi All

As a caucus co-coordinator, I consider it important to inform the caucus that the IGF secretariat had asked me to be a special advisor to the MAG chair, which I role I have accepted. I did so after some amount of thinking and clarifying with the secretariat that my IGC co-coordinator and advocacy role should and will in no way be affected by this responsibility.  For the sake of transparency, I am sharing as below the email that I wrote to the IGF secretariat in this regard. I have been told that my understanding of the role as per my email is quite fine. 

I have convinced myself that the role of a special advisor does not conflict with my role of IGC co-coordinator. In any case, I still see the later as primary, and will act accordingly, if any circumstances of conflict, however unlikely, were to arise. In this regard, I am given to understand that almost the only really strict principle of MAG working is that of following Chatham house rules. 

Parminder 

(PS: Due to some internal reasons, I was asked by the secretariat to not share this information till the MAG meeting started today.)

(Below is the email I wrote a few days back in response to the invitation to be a special advisor to the MAG chair) 

Dear Markus

As you would have judged, my taking some time to think about accepting the gracious invitation to be a Special Advisor to the Chair of MAG had to do with the civil society advocacy work I do. I had to consider if this work will in any way get affected by my working in this capacity. I also needed to consult my organization. 

I will of course in no way be able to change anything in terms of my advocacy work - as IGC co-coordinator, where I have a little more time to go,  or, even more so, the work I do on the behalf of my organization and the network of South-based civil society groups that I work with. As in engagement with any institution, advocacy positions may carry differing perspectives on various aspects of the institution's work, in this case IGF's. 

However, I have no doubt that I see the IGF as an extra-ordinarily important forum - even more so from a futuristic perspective - in providing new possibilities in the area of democratic global governance, apart from its cardinal role in global IG.  It is exciting as well as eminently useful, in terms of my keen interest in these areas, for me to be a part of such an evolving institution. I am also completely in agreement with the mandate that WSIS has given to the IGF, and will like to see it steadily evolve in fulfilling this role, even as we figure out how best it can be done.  

I understand that as a special advisor my services are available to the chair to help him carry out his responsibilities. I will be able to provide assistance especially in terms of civil society perspectives, and reaching out to civil society groups and persons. 

As I understand it, I will not be seen as necessarily representing the 'official' MAG position if there is one, as I understand even MAG members can keep their individual distances from, as they deem fit. However I do understand the responsibilities of constructive engagement with basic purposes and activities of the IGF; and, also the need to observe the agreed rules of the MAG's internal activities, and other tasks, if any, especially those undertaken in confidence.  

I did not meant to make it sound like a formal acceptance speech, but the specific circumstances of involvement with civil society advocacy activities makes the issue of formal involvement with concerned institutions as something that requires some amount of careful thought. 

I gladly accept to be a special advisor to the MAG Chair, with the above understanding of the role. And I very much look forward to working with the Chair, the IGF secretariat, and the MAG. 

Best Regards

Parminder 

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