[governance] consultations on enhanced cooperation
parminder
parminder at itforchange.net
Wed Oct 13 08:28:18 EDT 2010
Hi All
I did not ask for disengagement, but getting together with other
stakeholders to write to SG/USG saying this process is not acceptable,
and contrary to both WSIS-TA and to the ECOSOC resolution under which
this consultation is being carried out... But when one puts forward
strong reservations about a process, possible non-engagement with the
particular inappropriate process that is being referred to is obviously
an implied threat.
A strong combined statement by CS, technical community and business
sector would have some force. And then we can also talk to govs who will
see our side and sympathise.
I am hardly one to advocate disengagement as such with the process of
enhanced cooperation.
parminder
On Wednesday 13 October 2010 05:41 PM, William Drake wrote:
> Hi
>
> I agree with Ginger, a boycott would raise few eyebrows and have
> little to no impact. Disengagement doesn't count for much when
> they're barely thinking about us in the first place. If anything, it
> could be taken as evidence we don't care, or are too weak to even
> raise a voice. In a similar vein, in Vilnius I had some IO
> secretariat people tell me that the lack of response to ITU's online
> "consultation" a couple years ago concerning possible CS participation
> therein showed we were disinterested and pretty much irrelevant, hence
> no opening of ITU was needed.
>
> While coordination could be hard for various reasons, IGC might
> consider trying to work with the ICC and ISOC on this. We've made
> common cause in the past (mostly in WSIS) on process issues concerning
> the treatment of non-state actors etc, and any joint effort would
> probably resonate much more loudly than CS complaining solo.
>
> Best,
>
> Bill
>
>
> On Oct 13, 2010, at 1:41 PM, Ginger Paque wrote:
>
>> In Venezuela it was very obvious that boycotting an election, or a
>> process, leaves your 'opponent' with a 'legal' dictatorship. We
>> cannot willingly give up our voice.
>>
>> In our recent poll, the most important issue for the IGC members was
>> precisely 'enhanced cooperation', as I reinforced in my opening
>> statement at the Vilnius IGF. We must raise our voice with a strong
>> statement.
>>
>> We must also look for agreement/support/enhanced cooperation with
>> other non-governmental groups--academia, CS, business, etc. so that
>> those who agree make separate and united statements.
>>
>> This is a pivotal point imho. We must act decisively and in true
>> 'enhanced cooperation'. We must work in a way that fosters
>> cooperation, with a strong, reinforced--not inundated, valid position.
>>
>> We need concrete steps to move forward. How are other groups: APC,
>> and others working with this issue?
>>
>> Best, gp
>>
>>
>>
>> On 10/13/2010 6:33 AM, Milton L Mueller wrote:
>>>
>>> Agree that this is a farce.
>>>
>>> Do we refuse to comment at all and take it to the public sphere, or
>>> inundate them with written comments criticizing the approach?
>>>
>>> --MM
>>>
>>> *From:* parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 13, 2010 1:08 AM
>>> *To:* governance at lists.cpsr.org
>>> *Subject:* [governance] consultations on enhanced cooperation
>>>
>>> Hi All
>>>
>>> Find as enclosed an open letter to all stakeholders to participate
>>> in what is supposed to be an open consultation on 'enhanced
>>> cooperation' in NY on 14th December.
>>>
>>> However, the process is hardly open. It does not seem to be even as
>>> open as many traditional UN activities are. Both the Tunis Agenda,
>>> and the CSTD/ ECOSOC resolution (quoted in the letter) speaks of
>>> 'enhanced cooperation' itself as involving ' a balanced
>>> participation of all stakeholders '.
>>>
>>> It should be obvious that a consultation on 'enhanced cooperation',
>>> EC, (which is different from the process of enhanced cooperation )
>>> should be even more open and participative that even EC itself. In
>>> fact it should be more or less, within limits of logistics
>>> constraints, completely open, though probably also structured enough
>>> that all governments, for instance, do get to speak all they want to
>>> (that is what they normally like to ensure/protect, UN style)
>>>
>>> However, the letter says that non -governmental stakeholders will
>>> only be allowed to give written contribution, plus a very tokenistic
>>> gesture of allowing just one representative (?? whose rep) to speak
>>> during the consultations to summarize the contributions of all non
>>> governmental stakeholders (whew!) (in maybe about 5 minutes?). So
>>> basically they are calling for an inter-governmental consultation.
>>> This is not at all an open consultation, and i think we should not
>>> give it legitimacy as such.
>>>
>>> In fact, the letter clearly speaks of a "consultation with UN member
>>> states, Permanent Observers and other inter-governmental
>>> organizations to be held on....."
>>>
>>> So, it is simply not the "open and inclusive consultations involving
>>> all member states and other stakeholders....." that the recent
>>> ECOSOC resolution called for, which resolution has been quoted in
>>> the letter itself.
>>>
>>> I think all non-governmental stakeholders should refuse to accept it
>>> as an open consultation, and write to the SG/ USG immediately about
>>> it. If no changes in the format are forthcoming they may all
>>> together even agree not to participate in the consultations at all -
>>> not even submitting written contributions, and forgoing the 'one rep
>>> speaks for all nongov stakeholders' offer.
>>>
>>> On the other hand, if there are any genuine concerns of governments
>>> that the format should allow enough speak and discussion time for
>>> gov reps, which they may feel does not happen in fully open spaces,
>>> we can discuss and take them on board to devise a mutually
>>> acceptable format.
>>>
>>> Parminder
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *
>> **Ginger (Virginia) Paque
>> *IGCBP Online Coordinator
>> DiploFoundation
>> www.diplomacy.edu/ig <http://www.diplomacy.edu/ig>
>>
>> *The latest from Diplo...*
>> http://igbook.diplomacy.edu <http://igbook.diplomacy.edu/>is the
>> online companion to /An Introduction to Internet Governance, /Diplo's
>> publication on IG. Download the book, read the blogs and post your
>> comments.
>>
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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
> <mailto:william.drake at graduateinstitute.ch>
> www.williamdrake.org
> ***********************************************************
>
>
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