This wiki space is to be used for the development of the ALAC Statement on the eG8 Forum, initially drafted by LACRALO member Cintra Sooknanan.
At-Large members are asked to submit their comments regarding the text below. The deadline for comments is Sunday, 22 May 2011, at 23:59 UTC.
ALAC Statement on the eG8 Forum
At-Large is the component of end-users, not business nor technical community within ICANN’s multi-stakeholder environment. At-Large is represented by the ALAC, which has been essential in driving development of the Internet by maintaining openness and ensuring accountability and transparency.
The ALAC lauds the French Presidency’s objective of the G8 to:
- Improve everyone's access to the Internet;
- Enable everyone to participate in global networks and promote respect for freedom of expression and opinion;
- Improve security of the Internet and protection of individuals; and
- Recommend examination of the Internet's economic and technical challenges. [FNOTE1]
We recognise that several internet organizations (including ICANN, W3C, IAB and ISOC) have been invited to participate in the eG8 Forum (24-25 May, Paris) gathering the leaders of the Internet and acknowledge that the outcomes of this Forum will be submitted to the G8 itself for discussion.
Therefore, it is at odds with your objective and the equal-footing awarded to all Internet stakeholders, that the ALAC and other non-commercial actors (both of which promote and represent the end-users) were not invited to participate. This omission is particularly blatant, as participation of private sector appears to be tied to sponsorship.
We hope that the French Presidency will achieve success in its objectives but this will only be possible if it can understand and include the perspectives of all stakeholders, in particular that of the end-user being the Internet's consumer and driving force.
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[FNOTE1]
http://www.g20-g8.com/g8-g20/g8/english/-fiches/the-internet-new-challenges.420.html
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