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At-Large Priority Activities - 2022

Date: Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Time: 06:00 - 07:30 UTC (for the time in various time zones click here)

How do I participate in this meeting?

English Conference ID = 1638

Zoom Registration: https://icann.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvf-Gopz8tGNLLsjlQIKBdUYG7UMeWfusX 

Recording: EN

Zoom Recording: EN

Transcript: EN

Chat: EN

Participants: 

EN: Amrita Choudhury, Aris Ignacio, Manju Chen, Pranav Bhaskar Twari, Dr Shamsuzzoha, Russell Deka T Harada, Suhaidi Hassan, Shah Zahidur Rahman, Harisa Shahid, Cheryl Langdon-Orr, Peter Mmbandu, Norman Angel, Shita Laksmi, Ali AlMeshal, Alan Barrett, Ashirwad Tripathy, Ashrafur Rahman Piaus, Aviral Kaintura, Barkha Manral, Bibek Silwal, Dr. Vladimer Svanadze, Faheem Soomro, Gopal Tadepalli, Gunela Astbrink, Harish Chowdhary, Holly Raiche, Igor Mkrtumyan, Iqra Ejaz, Kapil Goyal, Laxmi Prasad Yadav, Melchizedek Alipio, Mira Fajri, Mohammad Abdul Haque, Madiha Shafique, Mohammad Kawsar Uddin, Pavel Farhan, Phyo Thiri Lwin, Saima Nisar, Nabeel Yasin Amin, Satish Babu, Udeep Baral, Priyatosh Jana, Fidya Shabrina, Nazmul Hasan Majumder, Prerna Chhetri, Sibtain Zaheer, Amin Hacha, Kennedy Wabuge, Sana Nisar, Muhammad Umair Ali, Jahongir Jabborov, Bukola Oronti, Ahmad Umair Suhaidi, Jasmine Ko, Allan Magezi

Apologies: Maureen Hilyard 

Staff: Gisella Gruber, Athena Foo, Siranush Vardanyan, Yeşim Sağlam

Call Management: Yeşim Sağlam

You are invited to participate in the interactive APRALO ICANN79 Readout organized by the APRALO Policy Forum on Tuesday 19 March 2024 at 06:00 UTC for 90 mins, featuring At-Large, GAC, GNSO, and ccNSO panelists as well as an ICANN79 Fellow, all from the APAC region. 

Panelists will discuss their respective key takeaways from ICANN79 and participants are welcomed to join in the conversation aimed at identifying where and how end-users may play a role in any next steps to each of those takeaways. 

Moderator:

Amrita Choudhury, APRALO Chair, based in India

Panelists:

Aris Ignacio, APRALO Vice Chair, based in Philippines

Manju Chen, GNSO Councilor representing NCSG, based in Taiwan

Pranav Bhaskar Twari, ICANN79 Fellow, based in India

Dr Shamsuzzoha, representing GAC Bangladesh, based in Bangladesh

Russell Deka T Harada, representing ccNSO, based in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Agenda

  1. Roll call - Staff (2 mins)

  2. Welcome & Introduction – Amrita Choudhury (3 mins)

  3. Let's chat! - Three rounds of Q&A with panelists, including audience participation (80 min)

    1. What are one or two of your takeaways from ICANN79?

    2. What do you see as the next steps to those takeaways, and/or how would you progress them before ICANN80?

    3. How do you see individual end-users playing a role in those next steps?

  4. Sum Up: Next Steps for APRALO - Amrita Choudhury (5 min)

  5. Close

Panelists & Moderator Profiles

Aris Ignacio is currently the Dean of the College of Information Technology and Engineering at Southville International School and Colleges in the Philippines. He serves as a Board Member and current Chair at ISOC Philippines Chapter. Aris is also the Vice Chair for APRALO at At-Large in ICANN. An advocate for the youth being a major stakeholder group in Internet Governance discussions has led to facilitating the involvement of university/college students in local, regional and global Internet governance awareness and discussions, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Manju Chen is a manager at NIIEPA. She provides analysis and counseling advice regarding Internet Governance, cybersecurity, and IT policies and regulations to clients from both private and public sectors. In addition, she engages with the local Internet community in Taiwan by translating hard tech articles into easy reads, hosting events and capacity-building workshops, and participating in local Internet Governance discussions. Manju is currently representing the Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG) in the GNSO Council. She chairs the GNSO Council Committee for Overseeing and Implementing Continuous Improvement (CCOICI) and is the Council liaison to the EPDP on Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) Working Group.

Pranav Bhaskar Tiwari is an ICANN79 Fellow hailing from India. He is a Non-Resident Fellow at The Dialogue, actively contributing to their work on telecom, intermediary liability, and online gaming. As a lawyer with specialized training in Intellectual Property and Technology Laws, Pranav also holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe credential. Pranav’s career is further distinguished by his extensive engagement with stakeholders in the tech policy arena and his sustained involvement in global technology leadership training fellowships at institutions such as the Internet Society, the University of Chicago and now ICANN. He specializes in research-based advocacy, focusing on critical areas like cybersecurity, online safety, data protection, and the implications of emerging technologies.

Dr. Shamsuzzoha is the GAC representative from Bangladesh and has been actively involved in ICANN issues for the last 4 years. He is a telecommunication engineer by profession and a telecom policy expert. Currently, Dr Shamsuzzoha is acting as the Deputy Director in the Engineering & Operations Division of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). He has significant contributions in developing several telecom and internet-related policies in Bangladesh over the last 15 years. Recently he has led the formulation and issuance of the administrative and management guidelines for the ccTLDs of Bangladesh.

Russell Deka T Harada is currently working as Director, ICTS, PNG University of Technology, and is ccTLD (.PG) Manager. Living in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for 27 years but born in Japan. He has spent most of his professional life on ICT in Education in PNG. He is ccNSO News session presenter.

Amrita Choudhury is the Chair of APRALO.  She is an active participant in national and global digital policy and internet governance discussions. She serves as the Director of CCAOI, Chair Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA), Chair, Chair Asia Pacific Regional IGF (AprIGF), President of Internet Society India Delhi Chapter. Amrita has co-founded the India School on Internet Governance (inSIG) and is a Coordination Committee member of  the  IndiaIGF (IIGF). She advises youth initiatives such as Youth IGF India. She has in the past served as a UN IGF MAG Member. For more details visit: https://in.linkedin.com/in/amrita-choudhury-b0865511/



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  1. Shah Zahidur Rahman

                                          Takeaways from APRALO ICANN79 Readout

                                                                    By Shah Zahidur Rahman, Pavel Farhan and Phyo 

                                                                             19 March, 2024


    The APRALO ICANN79 Readout provided an opportunity for stakeholders across the Asian, Australasian, and Pacific Islands region (APAC Region) to  discuss on ICANN79 The moderator for the panel discussion was Amrita Choudhury, APRALO Chair, while the panelists included Aris Ignacio, APRALO Vice Chair from the Philippines; Manju Chen, GNSO Councilor representing NCSG from Taiwan; Pranav Bhaskar Twari, ICANN79 Fellow from India; Dr. Shamsuzzoha representing GAC Bangladesh from Bangladesh; and Russell Deka T Harada representing ccNSO from Papua New Guinea (PNG). 

    Among the key insights and critical themes discussed were:

    1.Enhancing Policy Development Process (PDP) Management:

    • Proactive Measures: The initiative to undergo project management training reflects a proactive approach by the GNSO Council to improve its role as the manager of Policy Development Processes.
    • Training Objectives: The training aims was to equip council members with skills and knowledge to effectively oversee ongoing projects, identify potential issues, and ensure timely completion.
    • Strategic Implementation: By integrating project management practices, the council can adopt strategically managed resources, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and enhance the overall efficiency of policy development efforts.

    2.Optimizing General Policy Recommendations:

    • Process Refinement: Discussions focused on refining the process of formulating general policy recommendations to make them more actionable and conducive to board adoption.
    • Stakeholder Engagement: Improved communication channels facilitate greater engagement and collaboration among the council, community members, the board, and working group chairs.
    • Feedback Mechanisms: Establishing effective feedback mechanisms ensures that policy recommendations align with community needs and operational realities, enhancing the likelihood of successful implementation.

    3.Revision of SubPro Recommendations:

    • Iterative Review Process: The revision process involves iterative review and refinement of recommendations that were not initially adopted, ensuring that they address any concerns raised by the board.
    • Cross-Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaboration among counselors and experts from various stakeholder groups promotes inclusivity and diversity of perspectives in the revision process.
    • Strategic Alignment: The revised recommendations aim to align more closely with the board's expectations and priorities, increasing the likelihood of adoption and implementation.

    4.Cross-Community Collaboration on Registration Data Policy:

    • Transparent Decision-Making: Establishing clear timelines and processes for policy development enhances transparency and facilitates community participation in decision-making.
    • Multi-stakeholder Engagement: Cross-community participation ensures that diverse viewpoints are considered, leading to more robust and inclusive policy outcomes.
    • Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Open dialogue and collaboration help resolve differences and build consensus around contentious issues, fostering a sense of ownership and buy-in from all stakeholders.

    5.Application Support Program for New gTLDs:

    • Inclusive Outreach: Increasing support amounts and expanding outreach efforts aim to make the application process more accessible to a wider range of applicants, including those from underserved regions.
    • Capacity Building: Providing resources and guidance to potential applicants helps build capacity and empower communities to participate effectively in the application process.
    • Sustainable Implementation: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the support program requires careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing evaluation to address emerging needs and challenges.
    • Recognition of the importance of effective communication and outreach in the successful implementation of the next round of gTLDs.
    • Emphasis on the need to inform eligible candidates about the application support program and its criteria.

    6.Capacity Building and Outreach:

    • Educational Initiatives: Capacity building efforts include educational programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns aimed at increasing understanding of internet governance principles and ICANN's role.
    • Targeted Outreach: Tailoring outreach efforts to specific demographics and regions ensures that resources reach those most in need and maximizes the impact of capacity building initiatives.
    • Collaboration Opportunities: Partnering with local organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies strengthens outreach efforts and leverages existing networks to reach a broader audience.

    7.Role of Individual End Users:

    • Empowerment Through Participation: Encouraging individual end users to actively engage in policy development processes empowers them to shape decisions that directly impact their online experiences.
    • Advocacy for Inclusivity: Promoting inclusivity and diversity within ICANN's processes ensures that a wide range of perspectives are considered, leading to more equitable and representative outcomes.
    • Community Building: Engaging individual end users fosters a sense of community and belonging within the At-Large community, strengthening collective advocacy efforts and promoting shared interests.
        • The need for raising awareness about policy development and other ICANN-related activities was highlighted.
    • Particular emphasis was placed on educating newcomers, such as fellows and new members, about ICANN's issues and activities to encourage their active participation in discussions and initiatives.

    8. Community Engagement and Collaboration:

    • Participatory Governance: Community engagement is essential for promoting transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance practices within ICANN.
    • Stakeholder Representation: Ensuring diverse stakeholder representation in policy discussions, strategic planning, and review processes enhances the legitimacy and effectiveness of ICANN's decision-making mechanisms.
    • Continuous Improvement: Regular review and evaluation of engagement processes enable ICANN to adapt to changing needs and priorities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness to community feedback.

    9. ICANN Grant Program:

    • The ICANN grant program was a significant focus and deemed a hot topic during the event.
    • Described as global and highly competitive, it was emphasized that proposals should align with ICANN's mission.
    • There was a strong emphasis on encouraging the community to submit proposals for projects that align with ICANN's mission.
    • It was suggested that clear identification of the types of projects suitable for the program is necessary to ensure alignment with ICANN's objectives.


    10. Organizing Activities on DNS Abuse:

    • there is a need for organizing activities, particularly related to DNS abuse, both on global forums and on localized levels. This includes participation in DNS abuse forums and organizing localized events.


                                                               Potential Next Steps for further development / follow-up by APRALO


    Enhancing Policy Development Process (PDP) Management:

    a. APRALO Policy Forum (APF) needs to take the PDP skill development program initiatives for its members considering the current ongoing ICANN PDP                   work. 

    b. Encourage small  teams to get involved with dedicated PDP work to learn how effectively they can do PDP management and further to share that experience with the regional ongoing PDP development process.   

    Optimizing General Policy Recommendations:

    a. APF to guide its members and  prepare a handbook having some techniques for effective policy recommendations including comments and inputs to the        PDP.

     Cross-Community Collaboration on Registration Data Policy:

    a. APRALO to aware and emphasis on the need for clarity and resolution of ambiguity in the registration data policy document.

    Application Support Program for New gTLDs:

    a. APRALO needs to conduct more outreach and capacity for the wider Asia Pacific region on application support program to support potential applicants and to understand their eligibility.  

    b. APRALO LT to make sure of eligibility requirements to deliver in an easy and convenient way, especially when it comes to legal or financial aspects.    

    Capacity Building and Outreach:

    a. APRALO to find regional partners delivering Internet Governance issues within the remit of ICANN such as end users perspective of DNS abuse 

    Role of Individual End Users:

    a. APRALO to engage ALS’s and Individual members deep into the matters of end users and advocacy for them.

    ICANN Grant Program:

    a. PRALO to conduct webinar and or allocate time slots in APF or monthly call, briefing grand proposal requirements and guidance on submission.  

    b. Encourage grant awareness and socialize Grant program.