[governance] Should the IGF be reformed?

Tue Mar 20 10:44:14 EDT 2018

I cant also agree more with your statement.

Regards,

*WISDOM DONKOR (S/N Eng.)*
*Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation*
E-government, Internet Governance & Open Government Data and platforms
Specialist
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On Tue, Mar 20, 2018 at 2:20 PM, Michael ILISHEBO <
governance at lists.riseup.net> wrote:

> Anriette,
>
> I can't agree more with your statement.
>
>
>
>
>
> *Michael L. Ilishebo,*
>
> *Kitwe, Zambia*
>
> *Social Media Handles*
>
> *Twitter: @ilishebo*
>
> *Skype: michael.ilishebo*
>
>
>
>
> *"walk a mile,for a while,with a smile"*
>
> On Tue, Mar 20, 2018 at 3:40 PM, Anriette Esterhuysen <anriette at apc.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear Ayden
>>
>> I attach the oral statement deliver by Julian Casasbuenas this morning on
>> behalf of the APC. In it we say that the IGF should not be taken for
>> granted. It is not perfect, but it is much better than anything else we had
>> before and at this point I don't see a substitute. We need to challenge it
>> and improve it.
>>
>> What are the spaces you refer to when you say important, consequential
>> discussions are happening elsewhere? And how inclusive are these
>> conversations? And how cross-issue (e.g. linking rights, with development,
>> trade, education, etc.).
>>
>> There are other important events, e.g. RightsCon.. but it has its own
>> important role to play and is not a substitute for the IGF.
>>
>> The IGF's link to the UN system and UN resolutions (at the Human Rights
>> Council, the General Assembly and so on) remains valuable to those of us
>> who try and work with our governments, as well as challenge them. Through
>> this link we can make connections with  the SDGs...  you might be skeptical
>> about all of these spaces and processes - I am often skeptical myself.. but
>> ultimately I think that policy and agreed goals, and the accountability
>> they can link to, make a difference.
>>
>> There is a kind of paradox around the IGF. Who is the  IGF? Is it the
>> MAG, a rotating body with a limited mandate, focused on the programme? The
>> Secretariat, a small team with a huge operational load and unclear
>> political support? Is it UNDESA, the official "home" for the IGF but a body
>> that is not actively involved in internet governance?
>>
>> When you talk about self-awareness, who is the self ? Everyone who
>> participates, organise sessions, etc. are also part of the IGF.
>>
>> One of the IGF's innovations is that it does not have a top down
>> institutional structure, but that is also a weakness when it comes to
>> changing it.
>>
>> Nevertheless, I still think that it is a very powerful space, and if we
>> lose it (and I am referring to specifically to civil society, with emphasis
>> to those of us from the global South) it would leave a gap that will not be
>> filled very easily. And considering how many other spaces for civil society
>> are closing, I think we should work hard to keep this one open.
>>
>> I agree with Raul. We still need the IGF.
>>
>> Best
>>
>> Anriette
>>
>>
>>
>> On 20/03/2018 11:49, Ayden Férdeline wrote:
>>
>> I take no pleasure entering into this conversation and painting a purely
>> negative picture, but I do think the time for saving the IGF has passed.
>> I'm not convinced that it can be reformed, though I hope I am wrong,
>> because there is definitely a need for an institutional home for
>> stakeholders to effectively collaborate upon the development of global
>> public policy for the Internet. Civil society aside - I know we engage in
>> the IGF - I think other stakeholders have moved on. It is my perception
>> that important, consequential discussions are happening elsewhere and
>> unlikely to return to the IGF.
>>
>> I have only attended two IGFs, in Guadalajara and in Geneva, but it has
>> been my perception that the IGF has never recognised its own shortcomings
>> nor taken steps to address and overcome them. This lack of self-awareness,
>> I believe, has hindered its own legitimacy.
>>
>> If the IGF can be reformed that would be wonderful. We need a venue which
>> can credibly generate and communicate policy recommendations. I'm just not
>> convinced the IGF is up to the job, be that because of a lack of funding, a
>> lack of agility, or another reason altogether.
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>> Ayden Férdeline
>> linkedin.com/in/ferdeline <http://www.linkedin.com/in/ferdeline>
>>
>>
>> ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
>> On 20 March 2018 9:39 AM, Akinremi Peter Taiwo
>> <governance at lists.riseup.net> <governance at lists.riseup.net> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for Sharing Arsene. The Internet Governance Forum actually needs
>> to be an avenue for concrete outcomes that feed into policies. I think
>> those points raised by Raul was part of MAG discussions yesterday at the
>> WSIS which I was privileged to attend. But though it goes beyond
>> discussion to implementation.
>>
>> Regards.
>> Peter
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 20, 2018 at 8:39 AM, Anriette Esterhuysen <anriette at apc.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for posting Raul's blog, Arsene. It is very good.
>>>
>>> Also posting here, in case we forgot to earlier  this year, the link to
>>> APC's submission to the  stock taking. We will be reading a short version
>>> today.
>>>
>>> http://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/index.php?q=filedepo
>>> t_download/5916/1057
>>> The synthesis paper on submissions prepared by the secretariat is here:
>>>
>>> http://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/index.php?q=filedepo
>>> t_download/5915/1068
>>>
>>> Anriette Esterhuysen
>>>
>>> APC.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 20/03/2018 00:12, Raoul Plommer (via governance Mailing List) wrote:
>>>
>>> I was asking him this as well and I think we'll know the result in the
>>> next week. Let's keep each other posted on this. :)
>>>
>>> -Raoul
>>>
>>> On 19 March 2018 at 15:37, Arsène Tungali <governance at lists.riseup.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2018/03/lets-reform-igf
>>>> -ensure-healthy-future/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> A blog from Raul (ISOC) about the need to reform the IGF. I know this
>>>> is what so many other people believe we should do. Let’s talk about it!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Can we discuss what are the changes that we would like to see happen to
>>>> make the IGF as strong and powerful as it used to be? As of now, no one
>>>> know where the IGF 2018 will take place and we are in March! All i know and
>>>> heard from Chengetai is that they have 3 countries in mind but are yet to
>>>> decide!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Now that the new MAG was announced, what are our expectations of its
>>>> members? What do you think of new and past members? What can we expect from
>>>> our CS representatives there?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Arsene
>>>> -----------------
>>>> Arsène Tungali,
>>>> about.me/ArseneTungali
>>>> +243 993810967 <+243%20993%20810%20967>
>>>> GPG: 523644A0
>>>> Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone (excuse typos)
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> *Akinremi Peter Taiwo*
>> [ West Africa Coordinator ]
>> African Civil Society on Information Society (*ACSIS*)
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