[IGFmaglist] Virtual MAG meeting VI - Draft summary report

[William Drake]

Hi

Thanks Chengetai, the report captures the discussion well.  I would just like to raise a couple questions for the MAG concerning the “Host Country Workshops.”  

First, someone suggested—and I alas can’t remember whether it was on the MAG call or off—that it might be good to call these “Hosts Country Sessions” so as to indicate that they’re a different, special category of events.  This would seem a sensible way to indicate that they were not part of the MAG process and would not in any way diminish their standing.  Otherwise, e.g., proponents of workshop proposals that did not get slots on the program etc. might raise eyebrows.

Second, if they are understood to be a bit different in kind, would it make sense to be a bit flexible about the conclusion stated in the report that "MAG members underlined that these sessions need to be multistakeholder in nature and in line with other agreed upon guidelines for IGF sessions” ?  For example, while we normally would require a certain geographic diversity, if the host wanted to do something nationally or regionally focused, would we object?  Similarly, as I mentioned on the call, the host has invited a local university to organize an academic-oriented session, which I’ve been asked to help with.  It is a bit difficult to organize an academic-oriented session on a multistakeholder basis—a panel could have maybe 1 or 2 academics but the rest would be from other groupings, and they’d talk about the state of academic research on Internet governance?  We need guidance here as the local university didn’t understand there to be applicable guidelines and is already reaching out to academic speakers.  So to avoid confusion and discomfort, should we say that “Sessions” can be depart a bit from "agreed upon guidelines” as long as there’s transparency/reporting etc?  Whatever the feeling is either way, it’d be good to get this clarified before their planning proceeds further.

Thanks,

Bill

On Jul 10, 2014, at 5:57 PM, Chengetai Masango <CMASANGO at unog.ch> wrote:

> Dear All,
> 
> Please find attached the draft summary report for the MAG virtual meeting VI.
> 
> The Secretariat intends to post the summary report on Monday. Please let me know if they are any suggested amendments
> 
> The audio file is available here : https://intgovforum.webex.com/intgovforum/ldr.php?RCID=2700324d59e8007f6b853dd7a5b75815 
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Chengetai 
> 
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