[governance] Statement by IGC supporting rights and principles for upcoming IGF OC

Fri Aug 28 07:41:23 EDT 2009

Hi

In terms of practical suggestions, I wonder if it's worth suggesting that the IGC (and/or IRP coalition) is given the opportunity to work with all main session panel coordinators, panelists and moderators to ensure that the human rights dimension of the subject matter at hand is considered in all panel sessions.  In my mind, human rights are relevant to all of them (access, diversity, critical resources etc), both in terms of the protection of human rights standards and in terms of making sure that the internet supports the positive dimensions of human rights and development (access to information, education, resources etc). (We'd also need some internal organisation amongst us to attend and contribute to sessions to ensure that rights dimensions are included in discussions).  

The human rights framework can also be used to balance competing "public interest" concerns, for example between security and freedom of expression, and contains specific guidance on when it is acceptable to limit certain rights in the name of protecting others.  We could ask for such guidelines to be used or borne in mind in relevant discussions.

We could also call for some space in the "emerging issues" session to reflect on the meaning of "rights and principles" in the context of internet governance, drawing on discussions held in the regional and international IGF.  This would address the issue of "righst and principles" being rejected as a main session due to a lack of consensus about its meaning.

Finally, we could call for space in the "Internet governance in the light of WSIS principles" session to reflect on the extent to which the IGF has reflected the WSIS recognition of the centrality of human rights to the information society.

What do people think?

NB, after today I'm away for a few days, but would be happy to draft a short statement when I'm back next week.  I can't find the statement that we submitted in April - does anyone have a copy or know where to find it?

All the best,

Lisa

________________________________

From: Ginger Paque [mailto:gpaque at gmail.com]
Sent: Fri 28/08/2009 11:57
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Lisa Horner
Subject: Re: [governance] Statement by IGC supporting rights and principles for upcoming IGF OC

Hi Lisa and all,
I was thinking of a similar statement to Lisa's and the IGC statement in April. Normally we submit the statement by email so the translators have a copy, but it should also be read at the meeting. Since this meeting is specifically for planning of the workshops and agenda, it should offer specific suggestions in support of all rights related events (the IRP workshop, for instance) and its inclusion, if too late for this year, in laying the groundwork for next year. Personally, I think that if it is short, concise and to the point people retain the message better.
Thanks for coming back to this,
Ginger

Lisa Horner wrote: 

	Hi all

	Sorry for the delayed response to this.  What kind of statement were you thinking of Ginger?  Something to submit by email, or feed in orally to the Geneva planning meeting?  

	Do people feel that it should be something different to the statement that Anja put together a couple of weeks ago (pasted below).  Maybe we want to include specific rights and issues - we started with free expression, and Katitiza emphasised the importance of privacy.  We might also want to link it to what's already been proposed for the "security, openness and privacy" session (also pasted below) - does anyone have any specific comments on what's been proposed so far?

	Just to note again, the IRP coalition is meeting in Geneva on Sunday 13th - all are welcome, in person and virtually.  

	All the best,
	Lisa

	Previous statement:

	The undersigned would like to express their surprise and disappointment that Internet Rights and Principles was not retained as an item on the agenda of the 2009 IGF in any way. Although this topic was suggested as a theme for this year's IGF or for a main session by a range of actors during and in the run-up to May's Open Consultations, this widespread support is not reflected in the Draft Programme Paper, which does not include Internet Rights and Principles even as a sub-topic of any of the main sessions. The WSIS Declaration of Principles, 2003, and the Tunis Agenda, 2005, explicitly reaffirmed the centrality of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to an inclusive information society. To make these commitments meaningful, it is of great importance that a beginning is made to explicitly building understanding and consensus around the meaning of Internet Rights and Principles at the earliest. We recommend that the Agenda of the 2009 IGF provide the space to do so.

	The proposed IGF session:

	Security, Openness and Privacy:

	The discussion of this cluster of issues will be the focus of the afternoon of the second day. It will be introduced by a compact panel of practitioners to set the stage for the discussion and bring out options for how to deal with the policy and practical choices related to the different clusters of issues. The discussion should cover practical aspects of the coordination needed to secure the network (e.g. to fight spam) and their relationship to issues pertaining to openness (e.g. ensuring the open architecture of the Internet). 

	Issues to be discussed will include: 

	·         The respect for privacy as a business advantage;

	·         Identity theft, identity fraud, and information leakage. 

	·         Web 2.0; 

	·         Social networks;

	·         Cloud computing and privacy, e.g. control of one's own data and data retention;

	·         Cultural and technical perspectives on the regulation of illegal Web contents; 

	·         Regulatory models for privacy; 

	·         Ensuring the open architecture of the Internet; 

	·         Net Neutrality; 

	·         Enabling frameworks for freedom; 

	·         Ethical dimensions of the Internet.

	________________________________

	From: Ginger Paque [mailto:gpaque at gmail.com]
	Sent: Sun 23/08/2009 15:01
	To: 'governance at lists.cpsr.org'
	Subject: [governance] Statement by IGC supporting rights and principles for upcoming IGF OC

	This article from "New Scientist" gives a good overview of the importance of the Internet for Communication, and the need to keep it as a "free space". While we may disagree on any specific topic, I think we all agree on the general idea that freedom of expression and communication must be protected. Internet Governance is an important tool for that protection, as it can strategize across borders. It reminds me that I think that the the IGC should take a strong stance on the issue of Internet rights. There will be Open Consultations for the IGF in Geneva in September. I think we should have a short, concise statement of support for rights and principles to be emphasized in the agenda at Sharm El Sheikh. It is probably too late to make any significant changes to the agenda, but I think it is important to keep our point in the discussion, even if it is just in laying the groundwork for next year.

	Any thoughts, suggestions, comments? Can someone propose a working draft?

	Best, Ginger

	http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327224.100-worldwide-battle-rages-for-control-of-the-internet.html?full=true&print=true

	WHEN thousands of protestors took to the streets in Iran following this year's disputed presidential election, Twitter messages sent by activists let the world know about the brutal policing that followed. A few months earlier, campaigners in Moldova used Facebook to organise protests against the country's communist government, and elsewhere too the internet is playing an increasing role in political dissent.

	**Now governments are trying to regain control. By reinforcing their efforts to monitor activity online, they hope to deprive dissenters of information and the ability to communicate.**

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