[governance] [1 of 6] Has the work of the MAG been consistent

[Milton L Mueller]

Excellent summary, Jeremy
I am deeply dissatisfied with the nature and functioning of the MAG. I think it should be smaller; I think its members should be elected or selected bottom up from the stakeholder groups, not top down by the UN; I think there shouild be strict term limits; I think Intergovernmental orgs should be on a par with all other stakeholders and should not be able to roam through it at will; I think "special advisors" should be abolished; I think all of its meetings should be open to observers, either f2f or remotely. 

How's that for starters?

--MM
________________________________________
From: Jeremy Malcolm [jeremy at ciroap.org]
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 7:57 AM
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org
Subject: [governance] [1 of 6] Has the work of the MAG been consistent with the mandate set out in the Tunis Agenda and subsequent decisions?

The MAG has put out a request for comments (at http://intgovforum.org/cms/the-preparatory-process/510) on improvements to the MAG and other IGF preparatory processes.  The IGC coordinators are now commencing one thread per question for discussion of the issues raised.  The results will go towards the development of a statement in due course.  This message is to kick off the first of the six threads.  The next thread will begin once this one is sufficiently advanced.

Has the work of the MAG been consistent with the mandate set out in the Tunis Agenda and subsequent decisions?

Background points for the assistance of newcomers:


 *   The Tunis Agenda simply called for the UN Secretary-General to "establish an effective and cost-efficient bureau to support the IGF, ensuring multi-stakeholder participation."
 *   Most of the important "subsequent decisions" made about its structure and working methods were made in February-March 2006.
 *   There were to have been "about 40" members, though this has crept up to 57 currently.
 *   The members of the MAG are appointed by the UN Secretary-General, based on nominations from stakeholders.  No formal application criteria have ever been posted.
 *   The balance between members from government, the private sector, general civil society and the technical community favours government and the technical community.
 *   The Chair ex officio is the UN Secretary-General's advisor on Internet governance issues.
 *   The MAG meets several times per year in Geneva, in private sessions - though intergovernmental observers attend freely.  Most members attend at their own expense.
 *   Meetings utilise the "Chatham House" rule whereby statements made in the meetings can be repeated outside, but not the identities of the speakers.
 *   There is a closed electronic mailing list, anonymised excerpts from which are posted online periodically.
 *   So far, the MAG's work has mainly consisted of agenda-setting for the annual IGF meeting and the selection of speakers. Decisions on these matters are made by rough consensus as declared by the Chair.
 *   The MAG has not taken any significant roles outside of the above, such as  developing outputs for the IGF or liaising with external institutions.
 *   Formally, the MAG's role is simply to advise the UN Secretary-General and does not exercise any authority on its own behalf.

So questions to be addressed in this thread include:


 *   Are we happy with the above arrangements?
 *   How could they be improved?

Let the discussion commence.

--
Jeremy Malcolm
Project Coordinator
Consumers International
Kuala Lumpur Office for Asia Pacific and the Middle East
Lot 5-1 Wisma WIM, 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg, TTDI, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 7726 1599
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