[IGFmaglist] IGF Main session theme proposal

Mon Apr 11 08:58:06 EDT 2016

+1
On 11 Apr 2016 12:14 am, "Zeina BOUHARB" <zbouharb at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> Internet Governance Awareness and Capacity building is indeed a basic
> topic to be addressed and should always be present in every yearly event,
> But maybe it should take place during the day 0. It is an introductory
> session on IG and stakeholders' groups for the newcomers to be able to
> follow and understand the main themes and workshops during the main event.
> It might cover all key themes and organizations involved in Internet
> Governance as well as SDGs and the role of ICT in achieving them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Zeina BOUHARB
> OGERO Telecom/ MoT
> Beirut -Lebanon
> Mobile: + 961 3876436
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Lynn St.Amour <Lynn at Internet-Matters.org>
> *To:* IGF Maglist <igfmaglist at intgovforum.org>
> *Sent:* Saturday, 9 April 2016, 21:30
> *Subject:* Re: [IGFmaglist] IGF Main session theme proposal
>
> Dear MAG members,
>
> Klaus Stoll (attended the MAG meeting in Geneva) wanted to propose a topic
> for one of the main sessions at the IGF, and so sent the following email.
>
> His email address is: Klaus Stoll <kdrstoll at gmail.com> if anyone wants to
> follow up with him/propose this session.
>
> Best,
> Lynn
>
> > On Apr 7, 2016, at 3:54 AM, Klaus Stoll <kdrstoll at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Dear Lynn
> >
> > Greetings. I just want to follow up on our short conversation after the
> IGF MAG meeting.
> >
> > I wanted to propose Internet Governance Awareness and Capacity Building
> as the theme for one of the Mexico IGF Main sessions.
> >
> > We still today talk about the so called “digital divide”, the gap of
> access to digital technology between regions and the resulting lack of
> development opportunities. A global divide that has much more significance
> has arisen: The divide between those who are aware enough and have the
> capacity to take advantage the digital opportunities and those who are not,
> The Digital Literacy Divide. We are living in a digital world where the
> waste majority is digitally illiterate, meaning they have not even the most
> basic knowledge of how the new digital world is functioning. They are only
> able to participate in the digital world as passive consumers but they are
> unable to take advantage of the digital opportunities.
> >
> > I also attach below a short text that goes more into details.
> >
> > In case the IGF wants to do a session on this topic, I am available to
> support its implementation.
> >
> > Yours
> >
> > Klaus
> >
> >
> > The need for Internet Governance Awareness and Capacity Building
> >
> > The Internet has become a crucial tool for Civil Society today. NGO’s
> are Civil Society’s voice and vehicle for development, justice and
> sustainability, and are becoming increasingly dependent on the Internet to
> pursue their mission and maintain their sustainability.
> >
> > Internet governance is where crucial decisions are made and policy is
> set, and it is being built on an emerging model of multi stakeholder
> engagement. Civil Society’s role in Internet governance is unique. Civil
> Society’s first key contribution to Internet governance is its role as the
> main advocate and defender of the Internet’s core values of freedom,
> stability, security, accessibility, and affordability. Civil Society’s
> second key contribution to Internet governance is representation. Internet
> governance today resembles a country where 1% of the population governs 99%
> of the population, and most don't even know that the 1% exists! Legitimate
> Internet governance depends on awareness and participation by all of its
> stakeholders. Civil society’s strength is its people, with community groups
> and NGO’s as their organized voice. NGO’s need to be the key educators,
> mobilizers, opinion builders and organizers of multi stakeholder based
> Internet governance. Civil Society and NGO’s, as the sleeping giant of
> Internet stakeholders, need to expand their breadth and depth of engagement
> in Internet governance.
> >
> > Civil Society and the Internet have become interdependent, and Internet
> governance needs Civil Society as a guardian of its key values. It is Civil
> Society’s voice and engagement that give Internet governance legitimacy. In
> turn, Civil Society depends on the same values within the Internet in order
> to fulfil its visions and Mission.
> >
> > Civil Society’s future is at stake in Internet governance today. The
> Internet is changing in ways that will have a major impact on Civil Society
> and its NGO’s. The immediate change will come from the decision of the US
> Government to hand over the oversight and accountability over the
> Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS), the IANA Functions, to a yet unbuilt
> multi stakeholder process. The future of the Internet will depend on this
> new structure. NGO’s are currently not sufficiently represented and engaged
> in Internet governance to either protect or to advance civil society
> stakeholder interests. Civil Society’s influence and role determining the
> future of the Internet depend on how effective it engages with ongoing
> Internet governance processes.
> >
> > Civil Society is the Internet’s largest stakeholder group, it has the
> most to lose, and the most to contribute. The weaker NGO participation in
> Internet governance, the harder it is prevent Internet policy from being
> captured by interests opposed to the free and open goals of Civil Society.
> A weak policy role also weakens NGO sustainability, blunts NGO activities,
> and, in developing and emerging economies, weakens overall socio-economic
> development.
> >
>
>
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