[IGFmaglist] RESPONSE REQUESTED: IGF and the UN SG High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation

[Lynn St.Amour]

Dear MAG members,

First, thank you to everyone who responded.    Of the responses received, there was a significant showing of support, with a number of responses offering suggestions/expressing some reservations about how to proceed.   

Let me add to my earlier note a bit.  The IGF is a unique forum and we have over 13 years of 'running code’ in global interdisciplinary cooperation, in consensus bottom-up processes, based on stakeholders coming together as equals.    My thought was to find a way to share any learnings we - as individuals - might have from the IGF, and from the many related cooperation and collaboration activities we have all been a part of through the IGF ecosystem.  It was not to draft an IGF position as I am not sure that would be possible given the timeframe and past experiences.  It would though be the IGF community cooperating with and helping the HLPDC in their task.

From the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation (HLPDC) Call for Input and Engagement <https://digitalcooperation.org/call-for-input-and-engagement-around-key-focus-areas>:  "The overall objective of the Panel is to make practical proposals on how to strengthen cooperation in this digital space among governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities and all other relevant stakeholders, and thereby contribute to a broader global dialogue on how interdisciplinary and cooperative approaches can help ensure a safe and inclusive digital future.”  

I was hopeful that we could offer some practical suggestions based on, for example: 

- what we have learned from how the IGF addresses social, economic, and legal issues related to digital technologies [TUNIS AGENDA: cross-cutting international public policy issues regarding the Internet], or 
- what we have learned from our efforts to increase the participation of underrepresented or “forgotten” stakeholders in IGF activities,  or
- what we have learned about strengthening the voices of women, the youth, small enterprises, small island states and others who are often missing from these activities, or
- what have we learned about having an impact on digital technologies [TUNIS AGENDA: cross-cutting international public policy issues regarding the Internet]?

The questions above are taken from the HLPDC survey (but directed specifically at the IGF experiences).  There are other possibilities below and also taken from the HLPDC documents (though I directed them more specifically at MS models, as again this is where the IGF is unique and strong):

1) what values and principles HAVE PROVEN TO BE THE MOST CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS IN A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER MODEL and should underpin cooperation in the digital realm; 
2) how can stakeholders cooperate more effectively in MULTI-STAKEHOLDER MODELS?  
3) What are the challenges faced IN THE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PROCESSES THAT MIGHT NEGATIVELY IMPACT COOPERATION? by stakeholders (e.g. individuals, Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities) in these areas?

We could set this up as a straight-forward survey - and as a first approach just collect (and make visible) all the responses.  If warranted at a later stage, we could look at consolidating key take-aways.  

Thoughts?  Does this address the reservations?  Should we proceed along these lines - or stop?

Best,
Lynn


> On Oct 11, 2018, at 7:52 AM, Lynn St.Amour <lynn at internet-matters.org> wrote:
> 
> Dear MAG members,
> 
> in discussions with the HLPDC Secretariat, we believe that it would be helpful to know how the IGF could contribute to the HLPDC’s effort, which is meant to conclude its work mid 2019.  One suggestion is that we do a simple poll across the IGF community with just a few questions, that could then be explored further during the HLPDC's Open Forum at the IGF.
> 
> Both the IGF and the HLPDC are convened by the UN Secretary General and have complementary goals of strengthening global cooperation in a world that is very much shaped by opportunities enabled by the Internet and Digital technologies.
> 
> Thoughts?   
> 
> Please indicate if you support (or not) a poll?
> 
> If you do support, and want to suggest questions that would be helpful.
> 
> Time is of the essence, so please respond as quickly as possible.   The IGF secretariat and I will assess the level of support based on responses received before 23:59 UTC on October 14th.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Lynn
> 
> Lynn St.Amour
> Chair, United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Multistakeholder Advisory Group
> https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/
> 
> 
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