[APCPress] APC: Recommendations to UN on internet governance

[Karen Higgs]

Dear all

The team in WSIS are presenting these recommendations today until
Tuesday at the Resumed PrepCom in Tunisia which preceeds the UN World 
Summit on the Information Society.

The recommendations are available in English and Spanish. They will be
available by tomorrow in French.

Karen Higgs
APC communications manager

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APC's Recommendations to the WSIS on Internet Governance
(Nov 2005, APC)
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APC has participated extensively in the internet governance process at
the World Summit on Information Society. Out of this participation and
in collaboration with other partners, including members of the WSIS
civil society internet governance caucus, APC has crystallized a set of
recommendations with regard to internet governance ahead of the final
Summit in Tunis in November 2005.

APC proposes specific actions in each of the following five areas:

1. The establishment of an Internet Governance Forum;

2. The transformation of ICANN into a global body with full authority 
over DNS management, and an appropriate form of accountability to its 
stakeholders in government, private sector and civil society;

3. The initiation of a multi-stakeholder convention on internet 
governance and universal human rights that will codify the basic rights 
applicable to the internet, which will be legally binding in 
international law with particular emphasis on clauses in the universal 
declaration of human rights specifically relevant to the internet, such 
as rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and privacy.

4. Ensuring internet access is universal and affordable. The internet is 
a global public space that should be open and accessible to all on a 
non-discriminatory basis. The internet, therefore, must be seen as a 
global public infrastructure. In this regard we recognize the internet 
to be a global public good and access to it is in the public interest, 
and must be provided as a public provision.

5. Measures to promote capacity building in developing countries with 
regard to increasing developing country participation in global public 
policy forums on internet governance.

APC's Recommendations to the WSIS on Internet Governance (English)
http://rights.apc.org/documents/apc_recommendations_ig_EN.pdf
Recomendaciones de APC para la CMSI sobre Gobernanza de internet (Spanish)
http://rights.apc.org/documents/apc_recommendations_ig_ES.pdf
French (Not yet active): 
http://rights.apc.org/documents/apc_recommendations_ig_FR.pdf

ABOUT THE APC:

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international 
network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and 
supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of 
information and communication technologies, especially internet-related 
technologies. APC and its members pioneer practical and relevant uses of 
ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries.

APC: http://www.apc.org