[governance] Remote and e-participation: we must make it happen

[Ginger Paque]

   If we could do just one thing that would make a difference to our
   communication problems, to our understanding of the world, to the conflict
   we live in – what should it be? We could bridge the digital divide –
   dedicate more tools and resources to facilitate increased participation and
   inclusion in national, regional and global policy processes. One of the
   strongest resources we have for bridging that divide is e-participation.
   E-participation brings people into the processes that govern the world,
   ensuring that the diversity and complexity of voices are heard. Real
   problems are addressed and citizens are involved in the ownership of the
   solutions.

   Since its inception at the World Summit on the Information Society
   (WSIS), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) process has made frequent
   mention of the digital divide. As the IGF matures, we have learned that the
   divides are various and go beyond the traditional one of Internet access.
   One of the divides is between those who can impact Internet policy and those
   who cannot. Even at the most successful IGFs we do not have more than 2000
   participants. What about the remaining billions who will be impacted by
   Internet policy but have no input into the process? This is where
   e-participation and its potential fit in. E-participation can be as simple
   as broadcasting/webcasting (remote observation). However the IGF has made
   concrete steps towards moving from remote observation to actual remote
   participation. Workshop, and even main session presentations are now
   delivered remotely, as are audience interventions in main sessions and
   workshops. E-participation is used from the beginning of the IGF work year
   for open consultations by e-mail, mailing lists, and websites, to encourage
   input into the planning and organisation of the agenda each year. This year,
   over 35 remote hubs around the world will meet in parallel and connect to
   the IGF main meeting in Nairobi, in addition to hundreds of individual
   remote participants.

   Now that we have tested and proven the basic concept and technical
   structures of e-participation, it is time to study the principles that
   should guide this important tool. So Diplo is organizing Workshop 67 to be
   held on 29 September at 9 a.m. Nairobi, (EAT UTC/GMT +3) where participants
   and panellists will analyse and propose basic principles for e-participation
   in global policy processes, as well as noting guidelines for e-participation
   that emerge during the workshop.

   The output of this roundtable will be a draft list of principles for
   later discussion. These principles will not simply be guidelines, such as:
   'all panels should have a remote moderator to interact with remote
   participants and facilitate their interventions in the sessions', although
   we expect to hear and note such guidelines as well. Rather, the objective of
   the workshop is to gather input for principles such as (informal draft
   possibility) 'E-participation, and specifically remote participation should
   be offered to ensure inclusion of unheard voices in global policy process
   meetings.'

   Your ideas and input are important to this process. If you will not be in
   Nairobi for the IGF, please try to join us remotely, following the links
   that will be available at *www.intgovforum.org* during the IGF, from
   27-30 September. You are also invited to post your ideas here for inclusion
   in the discussion. How can and should e-participation be used to reduce the
   digital divide? What should be the standard e-participation framework for
   international policy conferences and policy processes? Your voice is
   important. Let us know!



Ginger (Virginia) Paque
Diplo Foundation
www.diplomacy.edu/ig
VirginiaP at diplomacy.edu

*Join the Diplo community IG discussions: www.diplointernetgovernance.org*
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