AW: [governance] UN General Assembly 2009 FYI
Parminder
parminder at itforchange.net
Sat Dec 19 12:26:18 EST 2009
William Drake wrote:
> Hi
>
> Thanks for the useful pointer, Wolfgang. Some great stuff here, even a resolution on the NIEO! Then it was off to the Palm for a nice lunch, presumably...
>
> Anyway, I notice that A/C.2/64/L.62 of 5 November, from the G77 and China, was withdrawn. Inter alia, it
>
> 14. Requests the Secretary-General to consider providing from the regular budget the necessary support to ensure the sustainability of the core activities and operations of the secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum, in order to carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate;
>
> However, A/C.2/64/L.62 of 4 December, from the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee, was adopted on 9 December. Inter alia it
>
> 17. Encourages Member States, the private sector and all other relevant stakeholders to consider strengthening the secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum in order to support its activities and operations, in accordance with its mandate, including by providing additional funds, where possible, to the Trust Fund in support of the secretariat;
>
> So I guess the concept remains voluntary contributions rather than regular budget.
That in my view is formalization of a rather objectionable practice of
private funding for public policy related bodies. Why, when we do not
accept (rather, frown upon deeply) such practices in our national
political/ governance systems, should we accept/encourage them at the
global levels? A clear indicator of rabid neoliberalization of global
society, and its more or less tame acceptance by most.
Incidentally, IGC has made statements seeking stable public funding for
the IGF, so we must be officially disappointed by this development.
I do not know whether any other UN resolution has ever included similar
statements, though there might well be some in the spirit of 'global
compact' . But programmatic stuff of fighting poverty and voluntary
compliance to some codes etc is different, and it is relatively less
objectionable to seek private funding for it. IGF, on the other hand, is
a global public policy space. It is perhaps a new chapter of global
governance that we now officially seek private funds for public policy
systems and structures. Somehow it now seems that 'voluntary' funding
is a good term and public funding a bad term. (We remember here how last
year some such 'voluntary' funding was openly sought to be leveraged for
influencing IGF agenda!)
parminder
> In addition, the doc
>
> 15. Invites the Economic and Social Council to consider the report of the Secretary-General on enhanced cooperation on public policy issues pertaining to the Internet;
>
> I'm not sure what to make of this one. When the EC report was originally submitted during last year's CSTD there were objections and hence no formal consideration due in particular to the ITU uber alles language. So are we to conclude that such objections have been withdrawn? Anyone know what the deal is here? Bertrand?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
> PS: For those who've not read the SG report, here's some of the ITU's recommendations (which pale in comparison to what's been proposed within ITU):
>
> The current Internet governance framework could be enhanced to ensure greater and
> more active participation of Governments in the formulation of international public
> policy for information and communications technologies. Measures taken could
> ensure better cooperation between Governments and other stakeholders in the policy
> formulation process...It should be noted that there already exist intergovernmental bodies under the
> United Nations umbrella that have strong participation of Governments, the
> experience and also the necessary mandate. An improved governance framework
> could leverage such existing structures to enhance Government participation, rather
> than attempting to create new ones. Also, caution must be exercised when
> suggesting that the Internet Governance Forum could play a decision-making role or
> provide oversight functions in Internet-related public policy issues.
>
> An improved governance framework could be formed within which all countries
> would have an equal say in Internet-related public policy issues and in the
> management of critical Internet resources....An intergovernmental organization such as the International Telecommunication
> Union (ITU) has the necessary mandate and hence could play a leading role in the
> creation of such a governance structure. Resolution 102 of the 2006 ITU
> Plenipotentiary Conference instructs the ITU.
>
> The root signing authority is of critical importance to the security, stability and
> reliability of the Internet. The role and functions related to policies governing the
> harmonized and global coordination of such services for country-code top-level
> domains (ccTLDs) must be assumed by a relevant intergovernmental body with
> the mandate from Governments and the experience in providing such services so that
> concerns and interests of sovereign States can be taken into account.
> This delegation decision could be a result of coordination among all relevant
> stakeholders, through discussions and debates at appropriate forums such as
> intergovernmental council meetings.
>
> A country would retain sole control over the management of its assigned ccTLD in
> accordance with paragraph 63 of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
> which states that countries should not be involved in decisions regarding another
> country’s ccTLD; and that their legitimate interests, as expressed and defined by
> each country in diverse ways, regarding decisions affecting their ccTLDs, need to be
> respected, upheld and addressed through a flexible and improved framework and
> mechanism.The delegating body could retain an advisory role, if required, at the request of the
> country concerned. Any difference that may arise between the two entities could be
> resolved through an international/intergovernmental organization with the necessary
> mandate.
>
> On Dec 18, 2009, at 1:17 PM, Kleinwächter, Wolfgang wrote:
>
>
>> http://www.un.org/ga/second/64/proposals.shtml
>>
>> Sorry here is the link which works (you have to scroll down and to go to the various draft to fiond the two resolution which refer to the IGF and related IG issues.
>>
>> wolfgang
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>
> ***********************************************************
> William J. Drake
> Senior Associate
> Centre for International Governance
> Graduate Institute of International and
> Development Studies
> Geneva, Switzerland
> william.drake at graduateinstitute.ch
> www.graduateinstitute.ch/cig/drake.html
> ***********************************************************
>
>
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