[APCPress] PRESS RELEASE APC/Council of Europe: New code for public participation in internet gover

[Karen Higgs]

NO EMBARGO


The Council of Europe and APC propose a code for public participation in 
internet governance

RIO de JANEIRO, BRAZIL, November 13 2007 -- Intergovernmental and civil 
society organisations propose a self-regulatory mechanism to foster 
participation, access to information and transparency in Internet 
governance at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Rio de Janeiro on 
12 November 2007.

The mechanism should ensure that all the institutions which play a role 
in some aspect of governing the internet commit to transparency, public 
participation, including participation of all stakeholders, and access 
to information in their activities. The proposal was announced at a best 
practice forum on public participation in Internet governance and access 
to information, co-organised by the United Nations Economic Commission 
for Europe (UNECE), the Council of Europe and the Association for 
Progressive Communications (APC).

The new proposal reflects the Council of Europe's commitment to the 
concept of public service value of the Internet. For Internet governance 
to satisfy democratic needs the part to be played by users should be 
recognised and strengthened, said the Council of Europe Deputy Secretary 
General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio at the IGF best practice forum on 
“Public participation in Internet Governance: Emerging issues, good 
practices and proposed solutions”. The forum explored how adherence to 
the World Summit on the Information Society principles can become common 
practice in institutions involved in Internet governance.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Aarhus Convention on 
Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and 
Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the “Aarhus Convention”) was 
presented at the Forum as a possible prototype of such a mechanism.  The 
Convention is designed to admit as signatories, both governments and 
inter-governmental institutions, as well as other types of institutions, 
said Hans Hansell, leader of the group for ICT and development at UNECE. 
“The Aarhus Convention firmly establishes access to information, 
transparency and participation in governance processes as a shared 
value, and supports institutions in implementing the convention,” Mr 
Hansell explained.

With its simple mechanism for dealing with complaints, as well as an 
information clearing house, the Aarhus Convention sets a particularly 
valuable model for the Internet governance community because 
transparency, participation and access to information, and 
accountability are the cornerstones of good governance, commented 
Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director of APC. “This is a framework 
that can underpin other processes and even support them, without 
replacing any existing institutional configuration, policies or 
regulations,” Ms Esterhuysen added.

“Like the IGF, the new agreement we are proposing can constitute a 
non-threatening platform for progress and positive change and can be 
established as a self-regulatory mechanism. Institutions which want to 
demonstrate their commitment to being transparent, inclusive and 
accountable, can become signatories,” Ms Esterhuysen concluded.

APC contact
Frédéric Dubois, Information coordinator
Mobile +1 514 660 0664, frederic at apc.org

Council of Europe contacts
Estelle Steiner, Press Officer, Mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57, 
estelle.steiner at coe.int
Sophie Lobey, Communications Officer, Mobile +33 (0)6 64 09 93 40, 
sophie.lobey at coe.int

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