Stakeholder consultation on public participation in internet governance
GENEVA, Switzerland, Apr 30 (APCNews)
“Towards a code of good practice building on the principles of WSIS and the Aarhus Convention”
23 May 2008, 14:00-17:00, Room C2 – International Telecommunications Union Headquarters, Geneva
The Stakeholder Consultation on Public Participation in Internet Governance will discuss the results of the exploratory research into a “Code of good practice on public participation, access to information and transparency in Internet governance”, undertaken through a trilateral initiative of the Council of Europe, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), initiated at the 2nd Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Rio de Janeiro in November 2007.
The aim of the proposed “Code of good practice on public participation, access to information and transparency in Internet governance” would be to enable all the institutions which play a role in some aspect of governing the Internet to commit to ensuring transparency, public participation (of all stakeholders) and access to information in Internet governance.
The objective of the consultation is to present some initial research, consider the purpose and scope of the proposed instrument and discuss with panellists and participants its possible opportunities, limitations and risks. Any related initiatives in the field of Internet governance, such as on participatory issues, human rights including freedom of expression, content control, as well as the proposed Internet Bill of Rights, should be discussed and analysed with respect to their compatibility or complementarity with the proposed instrument.
The consultation also aims to identify other interested stakeholders from different stakeholder groups with a view to associating them with the initiative. It will lay the groundwork for a proposed workshop to be held at the 3rd Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Hyderabad, India, 3-6 December 2008, which will present a concrete proposal for the envisaged Code of Good Practice.
Chairperson:
- Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
Speakers:
- Prof. David Souter, Department of Communication and Media, London School of Economics (Consultant expert)
- Dr. Michael Remmert, Project Manager, “Good Governance in the Information Society”, Directorate General of Democracy and Political Affairs, Council of Europe
- Mr. Michael Stanley-Jones, Environmental Affairs Officer, UNECE secretariat to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (“Aarhus Convention”)
- Discussants: Ms. Karen Banks, Network Development Manager, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
- Dr. William Drake, Director, Project on the Information Revolution and Global Governance/PSIO, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
- Ms. Donata Rugarabamu, Senior Legal Officer, Secretariat of the Basel Convention, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (invited)
Additional speakers and discussants are being sought from outside the UNECE region.
Please contact Michael Stanley-Jones (e-mail: michael.stanley-jones [at] unece.org) for further details.
(END/2008)