[IGFmaglist] Resignation as MAG member and recommendations

[Gunela Astbrink]

I wish to share that I resigned from the MAG a few days ago for personal 
and other reasons.

It has been a privilege to play a role in helping to set the agenda for 
the IGF in 2020 and 2021 and I very much appreciate the opportunity.

To ensure an orderly transition, I will continue until the end of IGF 2021.

Through my two years serving as a MAG member, I have learned much about 
the way the IGF operates.

I wish to raise three points and make recommendations in terms of:

- Accessibility for persons with disability
- Support for new MAG members
- Time zones and meetings

*Accessibility for persons with disability*

Our global population includes over one billion persons with disability 
according to WHO.
The Secretary-General in 2019 launched the UN Disability Inclusion 
Strategy 
https://www.un.org/en/content/disabilitystrategy/assets/documentation/UN_Disability_Inclusion_Strategy_english.pdf
An annual report outlines progress made on specific indicators. The 2021 
report shows that only 14% of UN entities meet the indicators and 6% 
exceed the indicators.
Top four report recommendations:
A. Embedding disability inclusion in strategic plans and establishing 
institutional ownership.
B. Building the knowledge and capacities of staff on  disability inclusion.
C. Improving physical and digital accessibility.
D. Supporting meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and 
their representative organizations.

I would like to relate this to the IGF and while there are many relevant 
higher level disability inclusion policy issues, I will concentrate on 
just three practical issues in terms of digital accessibility.

- Undertake a comprehensive website accessibility evaluation and 
possible remediation based on the evaluation. The evaluation to be done 
by persons with disabilities will report accessibility errors such as 
'read more' that may not be picked up by automated systems. 'Read more' 
does not work for persons with visual impairment using screen reading 
software.
* Recommendation:* Contract a company specialising in website 
accessibility that employs persons with disability to undertake the IGF 
website accessibility evaluation.

- Run webinars for the IGF community when writing and uploading content 
to the IGF website. This will help build awareness and make sure that 
content is as accessible as possible in future.
*Recommendation:* The IGF Secretariat contract a company with proven 
disability expertise to run the webinars.

- Develop and apply an 'accessibility filter' policy when planning any 
new online tools.
*Recommendation:* Any new tool should be developed by a company that has 
documented experience in accessibility and staff with disability to test 
the tools. This requirement should be part of any tender documentation.
Please note: A US guideline and European standard covers ICT 
accessibility in public procurement. As governments include this 
requirement in their tenders, major IT companies respond. A Microsoft 
example: 
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-en-301-549-eu

While these recommendations may seem disability-centric, having digital 
accessibility is good for the whole community - just like physical 
accessibility to buildings is good for everyone.


* Support for new MAG members*

As an incoming member, I asked for and received informal mentoring by 
experienced MAG members at my first MAG meeting in January 2020.
I have witnessed new MAG members in 2021 finding their way - more 
difficult with limited face-to-face meetings. In recent MAG meetings, 
there have been calls for increased training and support for new MAG 
members.
*Recommendation:* A welcome kit be provided to new MAG members with a 
summary of responsibilities, key dates and activities with the amount of 
time needed during the year. A well-defined system of targeted mentoring 
by experienced MAG members be provided.


* Time zones and meetings*
It is difficult to hold global online MAG meetings to accommodate 
everyone's needs in terms of time zones. However, a large part of the 
Asia-Pacific region tends to be more disadvantaged with regard to time 
zones. This region represents a very large population base as well as 
many small island developing states.
*Recommendation:* Consider options to meet all MAG members' needs when 
planning meeting times. For example, revert to holding meetings 
alternating between three different times rather than two.

Finally, it's vital there be an incoming MAG member, while contributing 
to all Internet governance planning and discussions, who continues 
raising accessibility issues to ensure that accessibility for persons 
with disability is met in the IGF as per the UN Disability Inclusion 
Strategy.

Wishing all MAG members, past, present and incoming all the very best in 
furthering Internet governance.

Wishing us all a successful 2021 IGF.

Kind regards,
Gunela Astbrink