International Debate on Internet Governance Gains Momentum
08-11-2004 (Paris)
With the first meeting of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) forthcoming and the launch of the WGIG website earlier this month, international debate on governance mechanisms of the Internet gains momentum. UNESCO will continue advocating the principle of “openness” in the debate.
The WGIG will meet at the United Nations in Geneva on 23, 24 and 25 November 2004 with “open Consultations” open to all stakeholders on 24 November. This one day open consultation is being organized in order to meet the concern expressed by all participants in of an earlier preparatory consultations for the need for an open, transparent and inclusive process.
In a position statement published earlier UNESCO stresses that Internet is a major opportunity to improve free flow of information and ideas throughout the world. Internet governance mechanisms should be based on the principle of “openness”, encompassing interoperability, freedom of expression in Knowledge Societies and measures to resist any attempt to censor content.
UNESCO says that there should be no changes in Internet governance mechanisms that impede the free flow of information and ideas on the Internet. The effect of these mechanisms should be to enable greater use of the Internet by citizens with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The first phase of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) agreed to pursue the dialogue on Internet Governance in the Declaration of Principles and Action Plan adopted on 12 December 2003, with a view to preparing the ground for a decision at the second phase of the WSIS in Tunis in November 2005. In this regard, the first phase of the Summit requested the United Nations Secretary-General to establish a Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG). The WGIG has been asked to present the result of its work in a report "for consideration and appropriate action for the second phase of the WSIS in Tunis 2005.”
In a position statement published earlier UNESCO stresses that Internet is a major opportunity to improve free flow of information and ideas throughout the world. Internet governance mechanisms should be based on the principle of “openness”, encompassing interoperability, freedom of expression in Knowledge Societies and measures to resist any attempt to censor content.
UNESCO says that there should be no changes in Internet governance mechanisms that impede the free flow of information and ideas on the Internet. The effect of these mechanisms should be to enable greater use of the Internet by citizens with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The first phase of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) agreed to pursue the dialogue on Internet Governance in the Declaration of Principles and Action Plan adopted on 12 December 2003, with a view to preparing the ground for a decision at the second phase of the WSIS in Tunis in November 2005. In this regard, the first phase of the Summit requested the United Nations Secretary-General to establish a Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG). The WGIG has been asked to present the result of its work in a report "for consideration and appropriate action for the second phase of the WSIS in Tunis 2005.”
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