Position - EC North America
Question | Answer |
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Why do you want to serve on the EC? | I am standing in this election for the Executive Committee — Representative for the North America Region. I believe that the future of the Internet rest only with a bottom-up multistakeholder process. This process, however, demands that all stakeholders exercise good stewardship cemented in human dignity. It is this belief that frames all my hopes and guides my plans for another year working in the EC.
I understand the importance of recruiting new members. I also recognize the importance of working with members from other stakeholder groups. I am a member of the GNSO Thick Whois Implementation Review Team. I have been involved in the WHOIS policy process of ICANN, and feel that I understand the players well enough to aid the NCUC in future activities, such as outreach to potential new members, promote our constituency, and continue to develop a human rights agenda.
I am concerned with activities that endanger the registrants' rights to privacy, access to information, and freedom of expression. I believe I have the necessary skills and level of awareness to stand for the non-commercial registrants and to represent the North America Region. It is my desire to continue to collaborate with the NCUC Chair, the members of the EC, and the larger leadership and membership of the NCSG and overall ICANN, while advancing the values and views of our constituency. |
Provide a brief biography of recent experience, associations, and affiliations relevant to serving on the Executive Committee. Describe the relevance of your personal and professional experience to serve on the NCUC Executive Committee, and identify any conflicts of interests you might have. | My background is unique when compared to others in the NCUC. I continue to be the only law librarian in the NCUC (as far as I know). As an individual and academic, I have always been concerned with access to information and freedom of expression. I am Law Library Director and Professor of Law at St. Thomas University, in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA. I completed a doctorate degree (J.S.D.) in Intercultural Human Rights (analyzing internet governance, including its history, actors, institutions and human rights considerations).
Recently, during my participation at the 2014 ICANN’s Leadership Training Program, I discovered that there is a need to educate better new incoming participants of the ICANN process.
My activities within ICANN:
· I have no conflicts of interest.
Greater Internet Governance:
For the past eleven years, I have been researching the subject of internet governance. While the development of computer science opened the door for the Internet,
· Participated in the Second UN Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro. · Participated in the Fifth UN Internet Governance Forum in Vilnius, Lithuania · Before attending the meeting in Vilnius, I submitted a comment supporting the continuation of the IGF beyond its original five-year mandate. · I am a member of the Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNet) where I served as secretary of the Steering Committee from December 2010 to December 2012.
Recently, along with other NCUC members, and other key players, I advocated the need (and began discussions) for a proposal on the creation of a new Human Rights Advisory Committee for ICANN.
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The EC performs several functional responsibilities for the Constituency. | I will dedicate my time as required by the NCUC and in times when not available, I will endeavor to inform the rest of the EC members in good time. In other words, I am committing to be available. |
Communication with the membership is critical. How would you keep members apprised of your EC-related activities? | I belong to multiple lists that discuss internet governance issues. I will continue to utilize them to share critical information as well as keep interested stakeholders apprised on the happenings of NCUC. I also interact with some NCUC members on social media and this is also another way of keeping them appraised. |
How do you foresee NCUC’s function, scale, or role changing in the future? What areas of ICANN policy, if any, need more attention and why? Be concise (200 words maximum). | NCUC as a structure provides a platform where civil society in ICANN can articulate the voices and perspectives of no commercial users (a reason that draws me to NCUC). I humbly request you NCUC members to endorce my candidature by giving me your vote, and look forward to all of us reinforcing NCUC efforts in ICANN. |