[Chapter-delegates] [Report] ISOC-ICC briefing 13 July - ECOSOC decision on IGF and enhanced cooperation

Tue Jul 20 08:10:40 PDT 2010

Dear all,

This is to update you on recent developments regarding the future of the
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and enhanced cooperation (EC). 

On the 13 July, the Internet Society (ISOC) and the International Chamber of
Commerce (ICC) organized a briefing lunch for ECOSOC (Economic and Social
Council) delegations on the IGF and EC.  On 16 and 19 July, ECOSOC Member
States decided to recommend to the UN General Assembly, meeting next autumn
in New York, to renew the mandate of the IGF and adopt CSTD resolutions on
the future of the IGF and EC (adopted in May 2010).

Background information:

The Internet Governance Forum and the enhanced cooperation process are at an
important juncture.

The UN World Summit on Information Society (WSIS Tunis 2005 preceded by WSIS
Geneva 2003) created the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a multistakeholder
forum for the discussion of "public policy issues related to key elements of
Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness,
security, stability and development of the Internet." The IGF's current five
year mandate expires at the end of 2010.

In the Tunis Agenda for Information Society, formal outcome of the WSIS, the
UN Member States also recognized "the need for enhanced cooperation (EC) in
the future, to enable governments, on an equal footing, to carry out their
roles and responsibilities, in international public policy issues pertaining
to the Internet, but not in the day-to-day technical and operational
matters, that do not impact on international public policy issues."

Both processes - IGF and EC - are currently under review by UN's Department
of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Internet Society has participated
in both of these processes since their inception. The decision on the future
course of the IGF and enhanced cooperation rest now with governments,
through the Member State representatives at the UN ECOSOC and ultimately the
UN General Assembly meeting, September-December 2010 in New York.

Outcome of the ISOC-ICC briefing session:

The ISOC-ICC briefing gathered roughly 50 participants. ECOSOC has around 50
member states. We expected 15 to participate and 20 showed up, including
China, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UK, Canada and France. 4 NGOs
were also present, as well as participants from Business such as CISCO, SAS
and Verizon.

The panelists (Bertrand de La Chapelle, France; Art O'Reilly, ICC; Constance
Bommelaer, ISOC; Nick Thorne, ICANN) all advocated in favor of the renewal
of the IGF's mandate. The different perspectives in discussing the issues
and trying to connect with the audience also made the panelists' speeches
very complementary and non duplicative. Full details on the recommendations
ISOC made to ECOSOC delegations on the future of the IGF and enhanced
cooperation are available in the briefing document ECOSOC delegates all
received electronically on the same day:
<http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/wsis/docs/igf_20100713.pdf>
http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/wsis/docs/igf_20100713.pdf

Dynamic interactions of the panelists and the audience led to two important
conclusions.

.                      First, ECOSOC delegations in New York have limited
expertise in Internet-related issues. The WSIS and the IGF processes were
both initiated in Geneva, which is still the hub for Internet governance
discussions in the UN. There, governmental, civil society and business
entities participate in integrated network, together shaping the direction
of Internet governance discussions.

.                      Secondly, New York based UN delegations have
expressed their desire to deepen their relationship with Internet
stakeholders and participate in a second briefing session before the UN
General Assembly, next autumn.

Outcome of the ECOSOC meeting:

Delegations were invited to make official statements before discussing the
draft CSTD resolution. You will find attached a copy of the remarks made on
behalf of Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social
Affairs to the Economic and Social Council. 

The UN Economic and Social Council decided to adopt the CSTD resolution as
submitted. This resolution, which still needs to be confirmed by the UN
General Assembly at its autumn session, plans two distinct processes to
shape the future of IGF as well as of enhanced cooperation:

-        Enhanced cooperation: the UN Secretary General will convene "open
and inclusive consultations involving all member states and all other
stakeholders to proceed with the process towards the implementation of
enhanced cooperation in order to enable governments, on an equal footing to
carry out their roles and responsibilities in international public policy
issues pertaining to the Internet, but not in the day-to-day technical and
operational matters, that do not impact on international public policy
issues, through a balanced participation of all stakeholders in their
respective roles and responsibilities, as stated in para 35 of the Tunis
Agenda. These consultations will be held before the end of 2010, the
outcomes of which will be submitted to the 66th UN General Assembly for
consideration through ECOSOC."

-        Internet Governance Forum: the CSTD is invited to establish, "in an
open and inclusive manner, a working group to seek, compile and review
inputs from all UN member states and all other stakeholders on improvements
to the IGF in line with its mandate as set out in the Tunis Agenda for the
Information Society, and report to its next substantive session in 2011 with
recommendations as appropriate. This report is to constitute an input from
the Commission to the General Assembly, through ECOSOC, for consideration,
should the mandate of the IGF be extended." 

Analysis: 

-        The Internet Society, through its different submissions on enhanced
cooperation and the IGF process, has continuously made two major points.
The first is that "enhanced cooperation" is already taking place among the
various stakeholders, and has improved since the WSIS. Enhanced cooperation
is consistent with the Internet model, and is happening at the global,
regional and national levels.  Second, ISOC sees the IGF itself as an
example of enhanced cooperation among all stakeholders.

-        On these different issues (IGF and EC), ISOC has consulted its
membership which regard cooperation and collaboration as central to
advancing the development of the Internet for all mankind.

-        While EC and the IGF have been recognized as "two distinct
processes", ISOC believes it is important to be very vigilant in the
implementation of both follow-up processes (UN DESA consultations on
enhanced cooperation + UN CSTD working group on IGF) that would be
established by the United Nations, encouraging UN member States to preserve
the openness and inclusiveness experienced in the framework of the IGF. 

-        Several questions remain pending: If the UN must organize
consultations on enhanced cooperation before the end of 2010, how, when, and
where will that be accomplished?  Are they likely to be organized on the
side of IGF 2010? Similarly, if the CSTD is to present a report on possible
improvements of the IGF to its next session in May 2011, will it consult on
the side of the IGF 2010 and elaborate a first draft report for its
intercessional meeting in November 2010? How will the members of the CSTD
working group be chosen? 

-        ISOC will continue engaging with its members on IGF follow-up and
enhanced cooperation to seek their insights on these evolving and crucial
processes. 

Useful links: 

Briefing agenda:
<http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/wsis/docs/igf-invitation_20100713.pdf>
http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/wsis/docs/igf-invitation_20100713.pdf 

ISOC ICC briefing paper:
<http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/wsis/docs/igf_20100713.pdf>
http://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/wsis/docs/igf_20100713.pdf

ISOC ICC press release:  <http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=1883>
http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=1883

Best,

Constance 

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