Fwd: Internet Governance Forum "theme" proposal: global free expression
FYI FE -------------------------------------------------------- The new multistakeholder Internet Governance Forum will meet October 30-Nov. 2 in Athens Greece. Currently we are debating what "themes" or topics will be on the agenda. A group of NGOs, including Internet Governance Project, Article 19, and Reporters Sans Frontiers are trying to get the following theme on the agenda: THEME PROPOSAL: Internet content filtering and free expression a. The proposed theme Are the Internet filtering and censorship practices of states compatible with Article XIX of the UN Declaration on Human Rights? Is it possible to develop a protocol to guide private Internet service providers and hosting companies toward ethical interactions with the governments of countries that heavily regulate and censor content? How can countries with different notions of legal and illegal content reconcile these differences in a way that maximizes the freedom and value of the Internet and makes it possible for Internet service providers to operate in a more secure and stable legal environment? b. Why it is important Access to information and free communication is at the heart of the Internet's value. Conflicts over content controls have created a number of tensions, e.g., between multinational Internet service companies such as Google, Yahoo, Cisco Systems, Microsoft and various national governments. Content regulation, filtering and censorship are issues that do not fall within the scope of any existing international body, but cut across many of them; e.g., UNESCO, ICANN, ITU and WIPO. c. How it is in conformity with the Tunis Agenda Paragraph 42 of the Tunis Agenda reaffirms the UN's "commitment to the freedom to seek, receive, impart and use information, in particular, for the creation, accumulation and dissemination of knowledge." Paragraph 46 encourages "governments to reaffirm the right of individuals to access information according to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and other mutually agreed relevant international instruments, and to coordinate internationally as appropriate." Paragraph 60 expresses the recognition that "there are many cross-cutting international public policy issues that require attention and are not adequately addressed by the current mechanisms." d. How it fits within the mandate of the IGF as detailed in para 72; Paragraph 72(a) empowers the Forum to "discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet." 72(b) mandates it to "facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with different cross-cutting international public policies regarding the Internet and discuss issues that do not fall within the scope of any existing body." e. Who the main actors in the field are, who could be encouraged to participate in the thematic session There are no "main actors" in this area but a wide variety of actors, e.g., individual dissidents, national and multinational internet service providers, national governments, civil society advocacy groups, professional associations in the news media, content rating standards proponents, and international organizations. f. Why this issue should be addressed in the first annual meeting of the Forum rather than in subsequent ones Freedom of expression is fundamental to the Internet. To discuss the issue of Internet governance without raising this vital question would deprive the IGF of all credibility as well as a successful outcome to its work. Such a decision would moreover raise an outcry among freedom of expression organisations and would tarnish this forum's image from its very first meeting. --------------------------------- How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos. Get Yahoo! Photos
INTERNET AS A TOOL FOR CULTURAL INTEGRATION By Rebecca Wanjiku Internet Corporation for assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) opened its doors to the public in Wellington with particular emphasis on using internet for cultural integration. In his opening address, Vinton Cerf, ICANN board Chairman, invited participants to develop innovative applications to ensure internet is important to cultures as well as economic growth. We need new idea and new applications to create substantial growth and development, said Cerf. In the past, Internet has been marketed more as a tool for economic progression and less as a vehicle to preserving culture and social development. The meeting was officially opened by Hon. David Cunliffe, the minister in charge of communication and Information Technology in New Zealand. The principle focus of this meeting will be how improved access to ICTs can assist in regional economic and social development, said Cunliffe. The meeting precedes another gathering of communication ministers from the Pacific Island Forum scheduled for March 30th 2006. Cunliffe identified the ICANN meeting as an important forum to small isolated island populations who wish to save their cultural heritage in an increasingly globalised and networked world. The minister called all governments to participate to participate in internet issues mainly the central coordinating functions that ICANN deals with. In his speech, he drew parallels with the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) which focused much attention on the need for better access to internet resources by developing countries. The New Zealand government welcomes the Tunis Agenda and especially its call for greator online participation from least developed nations, said Cunliffe. The thorny question of Internet governance or ownership was also addressed at the opening with Cerf insisting that ICANN does not control internet assets in any way. He maintained that there are new discoveries every day and 99 per cent of internet applications are yet to be developed. Paul Twomey, ICANN president and Chief Executive Officer also emphasized that the organization merely coordinates various internet functions. This meeting is expected to further discussions on development of Internationalized Domain Names (IDN), which will allow use of African languages with proper accents on the net. The issue of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) will be discussed and is expected to shed more light on global policy and allocation. ENDS Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC for low, low rates.
KNOWING NEW ZEALAND By Rebecca Wanjiku What comes to your mind when you think of New Zealand? Kiwis? Rugby? Cricket? Maori? Or does it strike you like this well developed nation which is strict on importation that you cant even bring in a half chewed fruit? Whatever you have in mind, it may be true. They are known as the kiwis, play cricket, they whip Kenya in most rugby matches and they perform the infamous haka dance after every win. The importation laws are so strict that a Kenyan friend warned me to alert the customs officials about some candy I bought somewhere in transit. They got strict penalties for non compliance. That may be one side of New Zealand but when it comes to Information Communication Technology, they have a different story. They have three telecom providers but even in the conference hall, the internet connection is erratic, probably reminding one of connection in some of our countries. The erratic connection may lead one to the question, I thought New Zealand was way ahead in ICT development? No! New Zealand has some rural population that has no access to mobile phones let alone internet connection. Though the rural population is mainly the indigenous Maori, there are some white settlers too. According to Karen Burns, a senior analyst with the governments interoperable programme, they are working hard to ensure that the rural areas in the south and north islands is well connected with ICT. The government is trying to make it as easy as possible to access ICT. The government has an interconnected website where residents can access government services in one site, said Burns. The government has also set up special training programmes for Maori and other Pacific island residents to ensure they are well versed with technology. According to Burns, the website is accessible in English and Maori languages and the people tasked with the online services can speak a host of other languages to make it easier for everyone. New Zealand was originally occupied by the Maori before the British settled. A treaty was signed between the Maori and British that the locals would own land that was originally theirs, if they can prove the ancestral lineage. This contract, Burns says, is still honoured to date though it was signed in 1840. She adds that if a person can prove that the land was unfairly taken and prove the lineage and ownership, the courts have a right to enforce it. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.
ICANN IN MOROCCO By Rebecca Wanjiku The last time ICANN held its meeting in Africa, there was a unanimous call for the internet oversight body to increase its outreach programs and presence in Africa. Two years after Cape Town 2004, ICANN appointed an Egyptian, Baher Esmat as the Global partnership Liaison for Middle East, Ann-Rachel Inne from Niger as the Liaison for Africa, and will hold the next meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco. For the North African country hosting the ICANN meeting will be a challenge as well as an opportunity to showcase their ICT prowess. We met the criteria set by ICANN to host meetings. We have good internet connection as well as tourist facilities, said Hamida Benlemlih, project manager at the Moroccan telecommunication ministry. According to Hamida, the meeting will give visitors a chance to see Morocco and witness the progress made in bridging the digital divide. She admits that Morocco experiences a gap between the urban and rural areas in terms of ICT accessibility but notes that the government has made considerable progress. In Morocco, 4.5 million can access ICT out of a population of 32 million. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.
ICANN TO USE MORE LANGUAGES By Rebecca Wanjiku The Internet oversight body is embarking on an ambitious project aimed at ensuring its materials and resources can be accessed in local languages all over the world. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has promised to increase availability of their newsletter and website in various languages. Currently, some materials have been translated to Kiswahili. Though ICANN has not specified the languages it is planning to embark on, it has invited participants to scrutinise its strategic plan and raise their concerns. The move to increase the number of languages is calculated to facilitate effective and multilingual communication and allow participating communities to interact. Translation will improve ability of stakeholders to participate in ICANN processes including in languages other than English, said Kurt Pritz ICANN vice president in charge of business operations. Kurt told participants of the meeting in Wellington that the project will create an operational policy and guidelines to steer future translation efforts. Translation is not an end rather a means to an end, added Kurt. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.
ICANN TO IMPROVE LOCAL PRESENCE By Rebecca Wanjiku Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is planning to improve technical skills in developing countries through training to country code Top Level domain (ccTLD) managers. In 2006/2007, ICANN aims at improving access to technical advice and resolution of technical issues in local communities. The community response program with be created and designed to ensure that developing countries access update technical information. With the ccTLD managers, the training will be geared towards improving security and stability of the internet. The training and other services are expected to be delivered in tandem with other existing local and regional initiatives. ICANN will also utilise the regional liaisons to create communications network. The liaison will be trained on the technical issues and will be expected to be the bridge between ICANN and local communities. Anne-Rachel Inne has been appointed Liaison for Africa. In this respect, ICANN will conduct six workshops all over the world and create communication link between regional liaisons and key personnel in developing countries. Through regional liaison, ICANN will seek to facilitate community participation in ICANN activities and allow ICANN to respond to user needs. The Internet oversight body will also endeavour to participate in regional initiatives as well as sponsoring or co hosting. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
FROM WGIG TO ICANN WITH A MISSION When the Working Group on Internet Governance was formed after the Geneva phase of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), there was a lot of anxiety about what would happen to ICANN and its global operations. WGIG was formed by Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General and was tasked with giving recommendations on the way forward. Baher Esmat was a member of WGIG and has been appointed by ICANN as the Global partnership Liaison for Middle East. He discusses his experience and the new appointment. Q. what was your experience at WGIG? WGIG gave me very good experience. It was the first taskforce within the UN that incorporated civil society, private sector and governments. There were 40 members who discussed, disagreed and had consensus on some issues. Our role was to define Internet Governance, identify public policy issues and put forward recommendations and proposals to enhance mechanisms for IG. Q. What was your role in the IT sector before appointment? I worked at the Egyptian ministry of communication, mainly on telecomm planning and infrastructure services. I also chaired a taskforce of IPv6 set up by the minister. The taskforce included government officials, academia as well as private sector. Its main objective is to raise awareness on IPv6 within the community. We conduct seminars and training sessions locally and at regional level. Egypt has a pilot project with ISPs and institutions of higher education to upgrade networks and experiences as well as successes will prove the country is ready for IPv6. The taskforce is drafting a plan for infrastructure owners to have a smooth transition. Q. Why transition and not migration? Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and IPv4 are not so different. Transition means that IPv4 will still be operable in cases where people have not upgraded. Migration may be construed to mean that all systems will have to switch to IPv6. Q what is the difference between the two versions? IPv6 is modern, has more address spaces and has more features that can help mobile users. This means that mobile users will not lose connectivity while connecting in remote areas. Security will also be improved. It will simply improve accessibility. Q Expectations? I have vast experience working in Telecomm both in government and private sector. It this respect, I believe am well position to participate on issues regarding country code Top Level Domains (CCTLD), Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) as well as internet Governance in genera. I expect Middle Eastern governments to be more involved in the process and to forge new partnerships. Our outreach plan is getting more participation and raising awareness to ICANNs activities and how it can respond to issues raised by various countries in the region. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
participants (2)
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Florence Etta -
Rebecca Wanjiku