DRAFT: PLEASE COMMENT JOVAN/VLADA Re: [governance] May consultation: IGC input RP and access

Mon Apr 30 06:06:38 EDT 2012

I forgot to add the URL of the report.

http://unctad.org/meetings/en/SessionalDocuments/a67d65_en.pdf

Anriette

On 30/04/12 12:03, Anriette Esterhuysen wrote:
> Hi all
> 
> I think this is a good time to refer to the report of the CSTD working
> group on IGF improvements.
> 
> This reports emphasises remote participation and accessibility. It also
> emphasises language issues. I quote the text below.
> 
> Anriette
> 
> 2. Enhance measures for broader participation
> 
> 42. Remote participation is an integral part of the IGF. While remote
> participation has improved, in particular through remote moderators and
> hubs, there is still room for improvement in the following areas:
> 
> (a) The Secretariat should continue to ensure the availability of
> adequate technical and human resources, including remote moderators;
> (b) Chairs and moderators should give remote and on-site participants
> equal recognition and the opportunity to participate;
> 
> (c) Low-bandwidth connections to remote participation tools should be
> accommodated;
> 
> (d) Linguistic diversity in remote participation should be fostered by
> ensuring that online meeting platforms interface with on-site
> interpretation;
> 
> (e) Mechanisms that facilitate remote participation, such as live
> transcripts, should be kept as an integral part of the IGF. Such
> mechanisms are invaluable not only to remote participants, but also to
> non-English-speakers and to people with disabilities, whether they are
> on site or not.
> 
> 43. It is important to ensure the accessibility of the IGF’s facilities
> to persons with disabilities.
> 
> 44. To improve participation in the IGF of diverse linguistic and
> cultural groups, it is important to expand linguistic diversity
> functions in the work of the IGF. For example, this could be achieved by
> (resources permitting):
> 
> (a) Increasing the translation of key documents into United Nations
> official languages;
> 
> (b) Exploring the use of simultaneous machine translations based on
> realtime English transcripts;
> 
> (c) Encouraging the use of any of the United Nations official languages,
> not only English, as the working language in some workshops.
> 
> 3. Improve the online visibility and accessibility of the IGF
> 
> 45. A first step in this direction should be to enhance the IGF’s
> website by providing interactive functionalities and making it more
> attractive and inclusive. It should also maintain its conformance with
> open standards and further improve accessibility to persons with
> disabilities.
> .
> 
> 
> On 30/04/12 11:29, Adam Peake wrote:
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I sent a note to encourage Judy (thanks Judy :-)) and other MAG
>> members to get these two issues on the agenda of next month's meeting.
>>  First thing is to get a placeholder for discussion.
>>
>> I think a joint statement/recommendations from Diplo and the IGC on
>> remote access would be very positive. Not a controversial issue, the
>> Internet technical community and business will I'm sure support.
>> Something all want to get right.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Adam
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 7:42 AM, Ginger Paque <ginger at paque.net> wrote:
>>> Adam, thanks for this clear, concise presentation of two very important
>>> facets of meeting planning for the IGF 2012
>>>
>>> 1. Accessibility to and within the venue is very important, and lessons
>>> learned from Nairobi should be applied. As Judy has already commented, the
>>> Dynamic Coalition for Access and Disability (DCAD) is active in addressing
>>> this topic with the IGF secretariat, the OC, MAG and workshops. Can we
>>> coordinate with them to support their work?
>>>
>>> 2. Regarding remote participation, my main concern, that RP be
>>> institutionalized as part of the IGF process seems to be addressed. In
>>> Nairobi, and again for Baku, Bernard Sadaka has been contracted by the IGF
>>> Secretariat to manage RP. He is very aware of the shortcomings in previous
>>> IGFs, and is working to address them, as he is determined to improve the
>>> quality of RP for the IGF. Bernard's involvement is important, but not
>>> sufficent for making RP a real success. We need to make a step forward, as
>>> Adam suggests, to make specific recommendations for improving RP. As a
>>> start, there was a workshop last year on e-participation/remote
>>> participation principles, and a continuation of that one has been proposed,
>>> No. 52 Remote Participation: Reality and Principles
>>> http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/116-workshop-proposals/998-igf-2012-workshop-proposal--no-52-remote-participation-reality-and-principles
>>> , with organizers including Diplofoundation and the DCAD.
>>>
>>> For RP, I think it is very important that we find a way to have a liaison
>>> for practical input into the RP preparation process. I am very happy to work
>>> on this with Vlada (Diplo's coordinator for e-participation) and anyone else
>>> who is interested, from the IGC, the RPWG, DCAD or elsewhere,  As Adam has
>>> suggested, establishing some guidelines is a good starting point, so I will
>>> dig up the RPWG guidelines, the output from last years RP principles
>>> workshop, and other notes, so we can have a concrete input to the next OC,
>>> which we can ask CS MAG members to support for immediate implementation. I
>>> will post something here late this week. I invite anyone else who is
>>> interested to email me privately with their input, so we include all ideas.
>>>
>>> This is one possibility, which I will start working on. Other approaches,
>>> are of course welcome, and I am happy to adapt as we go along. I'm just
>>> proposing to get the ball rolling in the meantime. Thanks to Adam for this
>>> specific suggestion, and to everyone who is working to make the revitalized
>>> MAG and IGF12 a success. Katitza... We are counting on your continued push
>>> and expertise too.
>>>
>>>  Gracias!  Ginger
>>>
>>>
>>> On 29 April 2012 05:17, Adam Peake <ajp at glocom.ac.jp> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> As yet no agenda for the May meetings on the IGF website. Expect the
>>>> main topic will be to review and finalize the draft programme paper
>>>> (link should be
>>>>
>>>> http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2012/Programme%20Paper-1.02%20April%20copy.pdf)
>>>> so it can be sent out with Mr. Sha's usual invitation to attend the
>>>> annual IGF. I think that's the usual pattern. And then there should
>>>> also be discussion of the workshop proposals.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps our MAG members could ask what's planned.
>>>>
>>>> But for now I suggest we ask that remote access and accessibility of
>>>> the Baku venue be put on the agendas of both the open consultation and
>>>> the MAG meeting.
>>>>
>>>> Earlier in the year there was some good discussion about improving
>>>> remote access (after my naïve comments...)  Would be good if someone
>>>> could present what was learnt from Nairobi as positive statement about
>>>> how best to conduct remote access in Baku.  The host country will need
>>>> to know, and to prepare.  Perhaps Ginger, Marilia (the diplo team?)
>>>> could prepare some recommendations?
>>>>
>>>> There were accessibility problems in Nairobi, all kinds of hassle for
>>>> people with disabilities.  Shouldn't happen again.  Might suggest to
>>>> the Secretariat and host country to have a discussion with the PWD
>>>> caucus and panelists of the Nairobi session where concerns were
>>>> raised.  The UN should be expert, but as we saw in Nairobi, they
>>>> aren't always.  Would be good to have this on the agenda and
>>>> acknowledged as a priority.
>>>>
>>>> Adam
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>     governance at lists.igcaucus.org
>>>> To be removed from the list, visit:
>>>>     http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing
>>>>
>>>> For all other list information and functions, see:
>>>>     http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
>>>> To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
>>>>     http://www.igcaucus.org/
>>>>
>>>> Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Jovan Kurbalija, PhD
>>>
>>> Director, DiploFoundation
>>>
>>> Rue de Lausanne 56 | 1202 Geneva | Switzerland
>>>
>>> Tel. +41 (0) 22 7410435 | Mobile. +41 (0) 797884226
>>>
>>> Email: jovank at diplomacy.edu  | Twitter: @jovankurbalija
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The latest from Diplo: From the fundamentals of diplomacy to the most
>>> prominent new trends: check our three online courses starting in May 2012:
>>> Bilateral Diplomacy, Diplomacy of Small States, and E-diplomacy. Apply now
>>> to reserve your place: http://www.diplomacy.edu/courses
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
> 

-- 
------------------------------------------------------
anriette esterhuysen anriette at apc.org
executive director, association for progressive communications
www.apc.org
po box 29755, melville 2109
south africa
tel/fax +27 11 726 1692

-------------- next part --------------
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.igcaucus.org
To be removed from the list, visit:
     http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing

For all other list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance
To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see:
     http://www.igcaucus.org/

Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t