[npoc-voice] Update on proposed Recommendation to the UN General Assembly about Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Update on proposed Recommendation to the UN General Assembly about Internet Governance Forum (IGF) The IGF Conference in Turkey is over and at the last minute participants decided to devote more time into refining the proposed Recommendation to the UN General Assembly for an Open Ended Mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) /[detailed in a previous npoc-voice posting/]. The two issues of concern were the proposed "open ended" duration of an ongoing IGF, and issues about its mandate, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability, all of these are things that normally constitute the bare bones of an proposed entity. Plans are to have a proposal document ready by the start of November, to be submitted to the UN General Assembly, and endorsed as widely as possible. The new "neutral website" for this effort is at www.igfcontinuation.org , and designed to accept sign-ons of organizations, countries, and individuals. The IGF has been one venue where civil society and NGOs have come together to discuss Internet issues of substance that are important for the work of civil society. Internet policies are crucial to the ability of civil society and NGOs to pursue their missions and carry out their mandates, as witnessed by the situation faced by civil society in Turkey, where this IGF was held. As an NGO member of NPOC you have a stake in this and are urged to become engaged, here on npoc-voice, at igfcontinuation.org, and where ever dialogue around this IGF proposal is occurring. While the IGF itself has no policy power, dialogue within the IGF helps raise awareness, focus concerns, and shape the context in which policy issues are handled. You can start by expressing your views here, and carrying this discussion to your own constituencies. You are a stakeholder and have a stake in the outcomes of this process. Let your voice be heard. Sam Lanfranco, Chair, NPOC Policy Committee
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