[bc-gnso] workshop at IGF, on human rights in policy development at ICANN

[Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This afternoon the IGF will have a workshop on ICANN's policy development 
process.  It's been organized by NCSG members who would like ICANN to more 
formally consider "human rights" in PDPs. Panelists:

Joy Liddicoat - Association for Progressive Communications (APC) - Civil 
Society - WEOG - Confirmed
Wendy Seltzer - Non Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) - Civil Society - WEOG 
- Confirmed
Franklin Netto - ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee - Govt - GRULAC - 
Confirmed
Avri Doria - DotGay Application Advisory Group (dAAG) - Civil Society - WEOG - 
Confirmed
Hong Xue - Institute of the Internet Policy & Law at Beijing Normal University 
(BNU) - Academy - Asia Pacific - Confirmed
Kuo-Wei Wu - ICANN Board - Civil Society - Asia Pacific - Confirmed

We saw this initiative in Toronto, regarding the Thick WHOIS PDP.   Several BC 
members here in Baku will attend and intervene when appropriate.

--Steve


(No.123) Human Rights, Internet Policy and the Public Policy Role of ICANN

The recent years have proven that the openness of Internet is a
fundamental feature for the empowerment of citizens and the
strengthening of democracies. The framing of Internet policy should be
oriented towards this goal and the policies governing the Domain Name
System are not a stranger to this debate.
On one hand, a human rights assessment on new ICANN policies could
provide the community with means to better understand the impacts of
the introduction of new policies in the ICANN environment, in addition
to economic analyses. On the other, new regulation is being proposed
in numerous countries using the DNS system as a resource to prevent or
stop illicit activities. The fine balance between law enforcement and
the protection of human rights, such as free speech and privacy, among
others, is crucial for a number of new Internet regulations that
affects the DNS.
For example there are tensions between the potential benefits of
aggregating specific forms of content for communities of people to
support their right to information, and the ease of DNS filtering to
further censor or narrow the spaces for expression and information of
already marginalised/discriminated against sections of society, for
example, the introduction of dotgay.
Especially at ICANN, free speech concerns over the implementation of
new generic top level domains and the traditional debate over privacy
and the WHOIS highlights the need for a more concrete analysis on the
impact on human rights on ICANN activities.
However, ICANN is not a human rights standard setting body yet is
responsible for public policy making, although in a very narrow
sphere. The role and responsibility of ICANN in relation to human
rights needs further exploration and multi-stakeholder dialogue to
better understand how to give effect to human rights related issues
within ICANN.
The proposed workshop will provide a comprehensive analysis of
internet policy topics handled by ICANN that have human rights
implications and examine how these implications are paramount to the
fostering of the public interest in internet policy.
@@@@@@@@@@
Agenda for Workshop no.123: Human Rights, Internet Policy and the
Public Policy Role of ICANN

10 minutes – Introductions
* Moderator: Framing the questions and setting the stage for the debates
*Each panelist: 2 line introductions from each panelist – their name,
affiliation and why they think the issue is important

60 minutes – What are the most relevant topics regarding human rights
protection on the development of the public policy role of ICANN?
* Panelists have 5 (five) minutes to present their remarks, followed
by 35 (thirty five) minutes of audience discussion

40 minutes – How to implement a human rights assessment on ICANN policies?
* Panelists have 2 (two) minutes to present remarks followed by 30
(thirty) minutes of audience discussion

10 minutes – Wrap up and way forward
*Each panelist: 1 minute takeaways
*Moderator: overall summary

Organiser(s) Name:
Joy Liddicoat - Association for Progressive Communications (APC) - Civil 
Society - WEOG
Carlos Affonso Souza - Center for Technology and Society at Getulio Vargas 
Foundation Law School (CTS/FGV) - Academia - GRULAC
Robin Gross - Non Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) - Civil Society - WEOG

Submitted Workshop Panelists:
Joy Liddicoat - Association for Progressive Communications (APC) - Civil 
Society - WEOG - Confirmed
Wendy Seltzer - Non Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) - Civil Society - WEOG 
- Confirmed
Franklin Netto - ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee - Govt - GRULAC - 
Confirmed
Avri Doria - DotGay Application Advisory Group (dAAG) - Civil Society - WEOG - 
Confirmed
Hong Xue - Institute of the Internet Policy & Law at Beijing Normal University 
(BNU) - Academy - Asia Pacific - Confirmed
Kuo-Wei Wu - ICANN Board - Civil Society - Asia Pacific - Confirmed

Name of Remote Moderator(s):
Carlos Affonso Souza - CTS/FGV