FINAL VERSION TO BE SUBMITTED IF RATIFIED
The final version to be submitted, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here by upon completion of the vote.
FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC
The final draft version to be voted upon by the ALAC will be placed here before the vote is to begin.
The ALAC welcomes the publishing of tentative dates for ICANN meetings in 2021-2023 well ahead of time so that possible conflicts with community events and globally recognized non-working or religious observance days can be identified and avoided.
The tentative dates for 2021-2023 do not entirely avoid conflicting or being too close with major, globally recognized holiday periods of certain religions or regions. On the former, ALAC has noted the following examples:
- The 2023 Community Forum will be at the beginning of Ramadan.
- The 2022 Annual General Meeting (15 – 21 October) falls near the end of the Jewish Holiday season
Midsummer, celebrated in several countries of Northern Europe, is an example of important regional (non-religious) holidays. The Community Fora are planned immediately before (2022 and 2023) or after (2021) it.
We realize the need for compromises, and the need to schedule around and in coordination with other critical meetings, and we understand that not every regional holiday can be taken in account. At the same time, we appreciate the effort to share the inconveniences as equitably as possible.
FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED
The first draft submitted will be placed here before the call for comments begins.
The ALAC welcomes the publishing of tentative dates for ICANN meetings in 2021-2023 well ahead of time so that possible conflicts with community events and globally recognized non-working or religious observance days can be identified and avoided.
The tentative dates for 2021-2023 do not entirely avoid conflicting or being too close with major, globally recognized holiday periods of certain religions or regions. On the former, ALAC has noted the following:
- The 2023 Community Forum will be at the beginning of Ramadan.
- The 2022 Annual General Meeting (15 – 21 October) falls near the end of the Jewish Holiday season, notably Shmini Atzeret (eighth day of Assembly) and Simchat Torah (Celebration of the Torah). ideally, the meeting should be held one week later to avoid the Jewish holidays.
There are also important regional (non-religious) holidays that are celebrated in certain regions only, like Midsummer in Northern Europe.
Since the Community Fora are either immediately before (2022 and 2023) or after (2021) the Midsummer holidays, travel and various pre- or post-meetings interfere with them. Ideal meeting dates would be a full week removed from the Midsummer holidays. In practice, this would mean moving the Policy Forum one week earlier in 2022 and 2023 and two weeks earlier in 2021.
We realize the need for compromises, and understand that not every regional holiday can be taken in account. At the same time, we appreciate the effort to share the inconveniences as equitably as possible.
4 Comments
Maureen Hilyard
Thank you Yrjo.
Personally, I would delete everything after you say.. "As far as we can see, the tentative dates for 2021-2023 do avoid conflicting with major, globally recognized holiday periods."
Sebastien Bachollet
Thanks Yrjö and all the participants on the mail exchange.
I would like to raise your attention on 2 points
The ICANN meeting dates must take into account a lot of other meetings olan by other organizations (IETF, IGF,ISOC, ITU....)
We need also for our comments to take into account not just the religions/feasts/holidays of the one participating to the discussion.
For that it will become not manageable.
I suggest that our comments talk about sharing the peine (not always the same be impacted).
SeB
Tijani Ben Jemaa
Many thanks Yrjö.
I think we said that we will say that while we understand that any arrangement couldn't avoid every Global, Regional, Subregional, Religious and cultural celebration, we do think that ICANN meetings shouldn't be in conflict with major events important to an important number of people.
Also, I find this statement focusing on a specific and particular case that might not be among in the cases we are advocating for (major events important to an important number of people).
Alan Greenberg
In the 2nd bullet, first sentence, there is no need to go into the details, so you can stop the first sentence after ...Holiday season.
The two paragraphs on Midsummer should be merged into one.
I think that Sebastien has some good points and I suggest that, at the least, the two religious holidays be cited "as examples" and that the last sentence start with "We realize the need for compromises and the need to schedule around and in coordination with other critical meetings, and we understand ...."