Blessed Monday colleagues! With the transition, would be interesting to know how "much Kenya and Africa" cares and dares to act when it comes to the jurisdiction. I may relate this with the UN bodies. Kenya hosting one of the UN organs is a source of not only diplomatic prestige but also power position. On the Internet front, perhaps this is the time to be the heart and not observers of the next phase.

From the India Civil Societies Statement (attached), share in comments by Parminder below;"Recently, the US gave up its role of signing entries to the Internet's root zone file, which representsthe addressing system for the global Internet. This is about the Internet addresses that end with.com, .net, and so on, and the numbers associated with each of them that help us navigate theInternet. We thank and congratulate the US government for taking this important step in the rightdirection. However, the organisation that manages this system, ICANN1, a US non-profit, continuesto be under US jurisdiction, and hence subject to its courts, legislature and executive agencies.Keeping such an important global public infrastructure under US jurisdiction is expected to becomea very problematic means of extending US laws and policies across the world.We the undersigned therefore appeal that urgent steps be taken to transit ICANN from its currentUS jurisdiction. Only then can ICANN become a truly global organisation2. We would like to makeit clear that our objection is not directed particularly against the US; we are simply against animportant global public infrastructure being subject to a single country's jurisdiction....." Be blessed! Regards/Wangari--- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth".

On Wednesday, 9 November 2016, 5:00, parminder <parminder@itforchange.net> wrote: All As you know, the issue of jurisdiction of ICANN is under consideration at ICANN's community process (in the accountability track where there is a sub group discussing this issue). ICANN is currently meeting in Hyderabad, India, from 3rd to 9th November. Today, on the last day of ICANN's Hyderabad meeting, the enclosed statement was issued by key Indian civil society organisations engaged with Internet governance issues, supported by two key global networks involved in this area. The statement expresses the urgent need for transiting ICANN from being under the jurisdiction of one country, presenting the rationale of why this is important to do. It also lists some possible options of doing so, towards beginning a serious action-oriented deliberation on this very important matter. Unlike what is often understood, the jurisdiction issue is not just a matter of sovereign prestige and self respect of the states but concerns vital matters impacting people's rights. This is especially so as the society gets more and more digitised in all areas. We welcome comments and feedback. The statement has been issued by the following Indian civil society organisations. Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore IT for Change, Bangalore Free Software Movement of India, Hyderabad Society for Knowledge Commons, New Delhi Digital Empowerment Foundation, New Delhi Delhi Science Forum, New Delhi Software Freedom Law Center India, New Delhi Third World Network - India, New Delhi It is supported by the following global networks: Association For Progressive Communications Just Net Coalition We will soon expand this effort to enlist more global support. Best, Parminder _______________________________________________