[Chapter-delegates] [FOR COMMENT] ISOC input on IGF program, agenda and format

[Bill Graham]

Thank you, Carlos.  I have emphasized that point in the final paper.

Regards
Bill
On 23-Aug-08, at 4:55 AM, Carlos Vera wrote:

> Excelent comments. We at ISOC Ecuador would like to recommend to  
> include a note to focus of the IGF issues. For several reasons, IGF  
> have some emergent issues that includes another topics not related  
> to IG such us health, infrastructure, education and so. In despite  
> of this are very important issues, are not relevant to discussion  
> here.
>
> Personally on several meetings including the IGF in Rio, we were  
> able to observe large and complicated discussions on those not IG  
> related issues. Trying to avoid this is not simple but necessary to  
> concrete the work on IG.
>
> Carlos Vera
> ISOC Ecuador
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Graham" <graham at isoc.org>
> To: "ISOC Extended Board" <isoc-ext-board at elists.isoc.org>; "Chapter  
> Delegates" <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org>
> Cc: "ISOC Staff" <staff at elists.isoc.org>
> Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 6:27 PM
> Subject: [Chapter-delegates] [FOR COMMENT] ISOC input on IGF  
> program,agenda and format
>
>
> All,
>
> In June, the IGF Secretariat posted a paper on the program, agenda and
> format for the next IGF in Hyderabad, December 3-6.  See:
>
> <http://intgovforum.org/hyderabad_prog/ProgrammePaper. 
> 05.06.2008.pdf>.)
>
> A public comment period was established, and the paper will be
> discussed at the open consultation meeting in Geneva on September 16,
> and at the MAG meeting the following 2 days.  Although the comment
> period ended on 15 August, some issues of concern have come up in the
> last week that convince me we should make a formal contribution, which
> will be posted to the IGF Secretariat web site, even though it may be
> too late to make it into the Secretariat's summary of contributions.
>
> Below you will find a draft of the input I would recommend that we
> (ISOC) provide to the IGF.  I would invite you to provide your
> comments on the points made or to propose additional points for
> consideration.  To ensure that it is available to be read widely
> before the mid-September meetings, I would appreciate it if you can
> send them to me at the latest by the end of your day, THURSDAY, AUGUST
> 28.  Of course, if you can send them earlier I will appreciate it.
> That will give me time to do a final revision after considering your
> inputs, and get it to the Secretariat before September 1.
>
> Looking forward to hearing from you.
>
> Bill
> ==========================================
> Notes for comments to IGF Hyderabad meeting paper
>
> ISOC is pleased to note the decision to focus on the overall theme for
> Hyderabad as “Internet for all” as the in analogy with UNESCO’s
> “education for all.”  ISOC hopes the MAG will keep in mind that it is
> important the ultimate meeting agenda and sessions not lose focus on
> this important overall theme.  These comments should be read in
> support of this need.
>
> ISOC supports the concept of Main Session Workshops as an innovation
> for Hyderabad.  We believe this type of session will allow
> presentations to be more detailed, and thus more supportive of the
> cross-cutting theme of capacity building.  By urging those who
> proposed workshops to work together with the MAG to organize the main
> session workshops, we believe a diversity of views will also be
> presented.
>
> ISOC believes great care needs to be taken in organizing the Main
> Session Debates.  The concept of open debate is not without cultural
> bias; it is more natural and easier for some cultures to engage in
> debate as a form of interaction than for others.  Care must be taken
> not to bias the ability or propensity to participate.  With that goal
> in mind, ISOC would like to present the following suggestions:
> --      Moderators must be sensitive to both the content and tone of
> the debate, and be quick to deal with inappropriate types of exchange
> --     Those wishing to raise topics for debate and questions on the
> topics should be encouraged to log those in advance of the session.
> This material can serve as a guide for the debates.
> --     Give special consideration to requests by the rapporteurs of
> independent (i.e., non-main session) workshop to report into the main
> session debates the results of their workshops.
> --     Care must be taken to ensure that the debates address the
> breadth of their subjects, and not get bogged down on one topic.
> --     Similarly, the moderator must ensure that the debates are not
> dominated by any one point of view or any one stakeholder group.
> --     The MAG should take on the responsibility of preparing the
> debate moderators, and be available to provide advice if needed during
> the sessions.
>
> ISOC supports the decision to schedule workshops in parallel to the
> main sessions, and the objective of maximizing the opportunity of open
> dialogue and the exchange of ideas; trying to create feedback loops
> between the different types of sessions; etc., as set out by the
> paper.  In a multi-stakeholder environment such as that of the IGF,
> one of the critical tools for participation is of course
> interpretation into a variety of languages, ideally the six official
> languages of the United Nations.  While we fully understand the cost
> implications and thus the impossibility of having interpretation
> provided for all sessions by the IGF Secretariat, we applaud the
> decision to schedule the main session workshops and debate in
> facilities where full six language interpretation can be provided.  In
> addition, we would encourage workshop organizers to consider possible
> ways to encourage and enable participation by non-English speakers.
>
> We also support the plan to make efforts to improve the possibility of
> remote participation in the IGF.  We believe that this can be a
> significant way to add value to the event as a focal point for global
> discussion of Internet governance issues.  We would urge that planning
> for remote participation also consider whether it could be possible
> for speakers to participate directly in the main sessions, either as
> speakers or participants in the debates.
>
> The format of the session is appropriate and will facilitate the
> objectives of the Hyderabad meeting.  We believe care should be taken
> in scheduling independent workshops on themes related to the main-
> session workshops.  The following suggestions are offered as an
> obviously incomplete list of areas requiring attention:
> --      Where possible, independent workshops on a theme (e.g.,
> Promoting Cyber-Security and Trust) should be scheduled before the
> main session workshops and debates on the same topic, with the goal of
> enhancing the level of discussion in the main sessions.
> --      Where not possible to do so (primarily on the theme of
> Reaching the Next Billion), independent workshops on that theme should
> not be scheduled at the same time as the main sessions on the same
> theme, to avoid overlap for participants wanting to attend both.
>
> The two final main session topics (Taking stock/way forward and
> Emerging issues) are obviously the least well developed.  ISOC hopes
> that these can be fleshed out during the September Advisory Group
> meeting, so participants will have a chance to prepare for them.  [Any
> specific suggestions we’d like to see included in the Emerging Issues
> session particularly?]
>
> Finally, ISOC would like to express gratitude in advance to the Indian
> government.  From the information provided to date, it is clear that
> India has learned much from the first two sessions of the IGF, and has
> arranged to hold the third IGF in an excellent facility, including
> several innovations taking into account lessons learned from the
> Athens and Rio meetings.  We look forward to participating actively in
> the third IGF, and to the success of the meeting.
>
>
>
> ========================
> Bill Graham
> Global Strategic Engagement
> The Internet Society
> graham at isoc.org
> tel  +1.703.439.2157
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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