IGF Remote Participation: Opportunities in a unique application of inclusion

Ginger Paque, Director IG Programmes DiploFoundation

E-Participation Day19 June 2013Geneva and Online

‘Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet’ (Para 72 of the Tunis Agenda).

The IGF is a UN forum process to discuss, facilitate interface, facilitate, advise: in other words, to talk (ok, to discuss, to communicate).

If we ‘only talk’ how can that help? If we make the process inclusive, multistakeholder, transparent, and complete enough to achieve communication that fosters solutions on local, regional and global level.

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nInternet Governance Forum (IGF)

--365 days a year remote--16 days a year in situ and remote--Calls for contributions and synthesis

paper--Summaries of meetings--Meeting transcripts--Online discussion lists--IGF Website design RFC

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nThe IGF Global Online Voice

Inclusion gives us a regional voice within a

global process

Remote participationnot

Remote observation

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nThe IGF Regional Voice

Regional meetings discuss issues of significance for:

The region :)

• Apply theory to real life• Virtual becomes real• Words become action• Regional decisions influence global

processes

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nRegional meetings are important

Remote is not measured in distance

Remote is defined by difficulty to attend

Remote participation is actually

LOCAL participation

REGIONAL participation

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nRemote isn't very far away

Important Advantages:

• Avoid the global to local disconnect• Ease of attendance from home or office• Lower cost in $ and hours• Lower carbon footprint• Weather/travel inconveniences are minimized• Good moderation can enhance RP

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nE-participation

MORE Important Advantages:• E-participation fosters inclusion• Almost anyone determined to attend can attend• E-participants are generally more interested—it

is a different kind of commitment• More likely to be involved in the preparation

process, which is often remote as well• Focus of attention is clear• Online chat simulates corridor discussions and

audience murmur• Good organization pays off exponentially in low

cost increase in attendance and participation

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nLocal E-participation

Disadvantages:• In-person impression and contact is missing• Personal networking is more difficult• Low investment/low commitment to attend• Breaks/social meetings are missed• Time zone differences may be inconvenient• Language difficulties may be more complex• Dependent on good organization• Requires excellent moderator and remote

moderator• Harder to ‘control’ ?

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nLocal E-participation

• Allow both local and regional meetings

held parallel to global meetings• Combine advantages of remote/local• Discuss local and regional• Solve locally and regionally• Intervene globally• Adds weight to 'regional' interventions• Adds value to global meetings

http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/remote-participation/hubs-instructionsD

iplo

Fou

ndat

ion

IGF Remote local hubs

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nIGF Remote local hubs

Discuss the important issues of e-participation

IGF 2013 Bali Workshop 68

E-participation in IG processes

http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/wks2013/workshop_2013_list_view.php?xpsltipq_je=68

Dip

loF

ound

atio

nRemote Participation: Reality and Principles

IGF Remote Participation:Opportunities for Regional Input and Inclusion

Thank you! Gracias

Ginger Paque, Director IG ProgrammesDiploFoundationVirginiaP@diplomacy.edu

E-Participation Day - 19 June 2013 – Geneva & Online