[APCPress] APC Press statement -- Internet Governance Forum -- Please kindly distribute

[Frédéric Dubois]

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APC asserts `access´ to the internet & capacity-building are key to 
participative internet governance


ATHENS, Greece - The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), a 
network of civil society organisations working with ICTs and the 
internet for social justice and sustainable development thinks that the 
IGF is a valuable space for policy dialogue.

As stated in APC’s Internet Rights charter, all people have the right to 
have access to the internet. For this to happen, it requires government 
leadership, market engagement, and most importantly, citizen and civil 
society participation. The IGF succeeded in being a platform where 
diverse groups could interact and debate.

As the first Internet Governance Forum (IGF) that took place Athens in 
early November 2006 draws to a close, APC would like to insist on two 
issues be given priority:

Firstly, APC believes that the problem of affordable access to 
communication infrastructure and services need urgent attention. People 
in developing countries spend up to 15% of their disposable income on 
communication services, such as mobile telephony, while those in the 
developed world spend around 3%.

Secondly, APC asserts that capacity building is of prime importance to 
ensure participation in internet development, governance and policy. For 
example, policy that relates to access for people with disabilities, 
freedom of expression, technical standards and multi-lingualism.

APC appreciated the fact that access to the internet was considered by 
governments, the private sector and civil society as a priority for the 
future development of the internet. But more is needed.

There has to be a specific focus on building internet backbone 
infrastructure in the poorest and least connected regions of the world.

The internet is an essential public infrastructure. It can help people 
make phone calls, share information, run businesses, keep governments 
accountable, and express cultural richness and diversity. The 
participation of all stakeholders in the actual development, 
implementation and use of the internet can thereby only be secured by 
heavy investment into broadband infrastructure.

APC recommends that IGF II organisers make this one of two priorities in 
its agenda, the second being capacity building.

APC believes that capacity building, which was a crosscutting theme in 
IGF I, needs even greater focus in IGF II.

Capacity building is not just about training workshops, or knowledge 
transfer; it is about sustainable skills development.

It requires building a common knowledge base; providing accessible 
information resources; dialogue between people with different 
experiences and skills, and participation in national, regional and 
global policy forums. It requires building networks and communities of 
expertise working on internet development and policy.

The Association for Progressive Communications expresses its commitment 
to human rights on the internet by joining a dynamic coalition that will 
explore issues such as digital identities, the link between protection 
of privacy and development, and the importance of privacy and anonymity 
for freedom of expression.

APC also reaffirms its commitment to environmental sustainability by 
proposing that the internet governance forum explores the important 
emerging issue of the impact of internet development on human health, 
safety and the environment.

APC’s Internet Rights charter: http://rights.apc.org/charter.shtml
APC open access issue paper: 
http://rights.apc.org/documents/open_access_EN.pdf

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