[gnso-ppsc-wg] Your feedback requested - section 3.4. Individual / Group behavior and norms

[Marika Konings <marika.konings@xxxxxxxxx>]

3.4. Individual/Group Behavior and Norms

ICANN’s Expected Standards of Behavior are outlined in the ICANN Accountability 
and Transparency Framework, see 
http://www.icann.org/transparency/acct-trans-frameworks-principles-10jan08.pdf 
for further details.

If a WG member feels that these standards are being abused, the affected party 
should appeal first to the Chair and Liaison and, if unsatisfactorily resolved, 
to the Chair of the Chartering Organization. It is important to emphasize that 
expressed disagreement is not, by itself, grounds for abusive behavior. It 
should also be taken into account that as a result of cultural differences and 
language barriers, statements may appear disrespectful or inappropriate to some 
but are not necessarily intended as such. However, it is expected that WG 
members make every effort to respect the principles outlined in ICANN’s 
Expected Standards of Behavior as referenced above.

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Comments:

MO: 12) Strengthen the language in Section 3.4 (Process Integrity) to reduce 
gaming by members who haven’t actively participated in the consensus-building 
process.

Replace this language:


“Members should be encouraged to consider whether, if they cannot participate 
faithfully in the WG’s process (e.g. attending meetings, providing input, 
monitoring discussions), they should formally withdraw. It should be noted that 
there are no rules or requirements as to what constitutes sufficient or 
adequate ‘participation’; this is an assessment that each WG member should make 
individually.”

Here is a suggestion for alternate language that would (more strongly) address 
the “uneven participation” concern.

“Members are expected to participate faithfully in the WG’s process (e.g. 
attending meetings, providing input, monitoring discussions) and should 
formally withdraw if they find that they can no longer meet this expectation.   
Working group members can request a review by the Chair if a member disrupts 
the work or decision-making of the group as a result of inconsistent 
participation.”

GD: Section 3.4 establishes the Chair of the GNSO Council as the escalation 
contact for perceived violations of the Standards of Behavior, in the event 
that the Chair and Liaison do not satisfy the complainant’s concerns.  We 
recommend that there be some intermediary steps in this escalation path, 
including (1) raising the issue with the GNSO Council representative for the 
complainant’s stakeholder group, or (2) the appropriate Vice-Chair of the GNSO 
Council, given its new bicameral structure.



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