Commonwealth Internet Governance Forum

CTO Forum, Colombo, Sri-Lanka 13 September 2010

Malcolm JohnsonDirector of ITU-TSB

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Mandate (Para 72 of the WSIS Agenda):•Discuss public policy issues •Facilitate multi-stakeholder discourse•Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organizations •Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices•Advise ways and means to accelerate the availability and affordability of the Internet in the developing world•Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in Internet governance•Identify emerging issues and make recommendations•Contribute to capacity building•Promote WSIS principles in Internet governance •Discuss issues relating to critical Internet resources•Help to find solutions to misuse of the Internet

IGF intended to draw in the broadest representation of

Internet Stakeholders: Private internet users Service providers Civil society Academia Governments Elected officials Public servants Regulators Business experts Industry experts Technical experts Multi-lateral agencies ICANN and its constituencies Policy makers Law enforcement etc.

The Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG)The Secretary-General of the United Nations established the MAG to assist the in convening the Internet Governance Forums. The MAG comprises of 56 Members from governments, the private sector and civil society, including representatives from the academic and technical communities.

IGF Meetings:2010 IGF: Vilnius, Lithuania (14-17 September 2010)2009 IGF: Sharm El Sheikh2008 IGF: Hyderabad2007 IGF: Rio de Janeiro2006 IGF: Athens

Internet Governance Forum website:

www.intgovforum.org

THE Commonwealth IGF (CIGF)came into being in 2009 at the instigation of the ITU and the Commonwealth Secretariats

Last IGF in Sharm al Sheikh saw around 1800 delegates - small compared to the billion and a half of internet users.CIGF has taken various initiatives for broader engagement in IGF including financial assistance by way of fellowships - in collaboration with ITU

The CIGF seeks to encourage greater participation from Commonwealth Member

States on policy issues and discussions related to Internet Governance with a view to coming up with informed solutions or the pooling of good practice to address their needs more directly.

CIGF Achievements

Fellowships - 18 participants were enabled to attend the 2009 IGF Commonwealth Open Forum – The CIGF held its first open forum meeting at the 2009 IGF meeting. Objectives were identified during this open forum.

Objectives/issues identified in 2009•Capacity building•Promotion of Cyber Security and Child Protection. •Encouraging the establishment to address Internet Governance issues at national and regional levels.• Consensus amongst workshop participants on the value of IGF and the need for it to continue in its open, non-binding format

Publications:Cybersecurity repository

Capacity buildingInfringements of Intellectual Property Rights

Computer related forgery and fraudComputer MisuseChild Pornography

Online Child ProtectionCombating Child Pornography on the Internet

FromThe children’s Charities Coalition on Internet SafetyandThe International Centre for Missing and Exploited ChildrenCompiled by

John Carr

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) published an article in its magazine entitled

“Why internet governance matters”

Written by Rt Hon. Alun Michael, MP, UK

The CTO organised a workshop in London on Cybersecurity in June 2010 in collaboration with UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) – a CIGF Partner

The CIGF operates within the context of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s ICT for Development Programme titled Commonwealth Connects.

At IGF 2010:Open Forum on Online Child ProtectionCombating Child Pornography on the Internet

Exhibition StandHave Your SaySocial Networking

CIGF website: www.commonwealthigf.org

Thank you!

CTO Forum, Colombo, Sri-Lanka 13 September 2010

Malcolm JohnsonDirector of ITU-TSB