Commonwealth Internet
Governance Forum
CTO Forum, Colombo, Sri-Lanka
13 September 2010
Malcolm Johnson
Director 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
Academia
Governments
Public servants
Regulators
Industry experts
Technical experts
ICANN and its constituencies Policy makers
Civil society
Elected officials
Business experts
Multi-lateral agencies
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 Sheikh
2008 IGF: Hyderabad
2007 IGF: Rio de Janeiro
2006 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 building
Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights
Computer related forgery and fraud
Computer Misuse
Child Pornography
Online Child Protection
Combating Child Pornography on the Internet
From
The children’s Charities Coalition on Internet Safety
and
The International Centre for Missing and Exploited
Children
Compiled 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 Protection
Combating Child Pornography on the Internet
Exhibition Stand
Have Your Say
Social Networking
CIGF website: www.commonwealthigf.org
Thank you!
CTO Forum, Colombo, Sri-Lanka
13 September 2010
Malcolm Johnson
Director of ITU-TSB