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<font size=3>Dear all<br><br>
an outcome of our preparations for and discussions during the workshop
organised by the APC, COE and UNECE yesterday on public participation in
internet governance..<br><br>
karen<br>
====<br><br>
NO EMBARGO<br><br>
The Council of Europe and APC propose a code for public participation in
internet governance<br><br>
RIO de JANEIRO, BRAZIL, November 13 2007 -- Intergovernmental and civil
society organisations propose a self-regulatory mechanism to foster
participation, access to information and transparency in Internet
governance at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Rio de Janeiro on 12
November 2007.<br><br>
The mechanism should ensure that all the institutions which play a role
in some aspect of governing the internet commit to transparency, public
participation, including participation of all stakeholders, and access to
information in their activities. The proposal was announced at a best
practice forum on public participation in Internet governance and access
to information, co-organised by the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE), the Council of Europe and the Association for <br>
Progressive Communications (APC).<br><br>
The new proposal reflects the Council of Europe's commitment to the
concept of public service value of the Internet. For Internet governance
to satisfy democratic needs the part to be played by users should be
recognised and strengthened, said the Council of Europe Deputy Secretary
General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio at the IGF best practice forum on “Public
participation in Internet Governance: Emerging issues, good practices and
proposed solutions”. The forum explored how adherence to the World Summit
on the Information Society principles can become common practice in
institutions involved in Internet governance.<br><br>
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Aarhus Convention on
Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access
to Justice in Environmental Matters (the “Aarhus Convention”) was
presented at the Forum as a possible prototype of such a mechanism.
The Convention is designed to admit as signatories, both governments and
inter-governmental institutions, as well as other types of institutions,
said Hans Hansell, leader of the group for ICT and development at UNECE.
“The Aarhus Convention firmly establishes access to information,
transparency and participation in governance processes as a shared value,
and supports institutions in implementing the convention,” Mr Hansell
explained.<br><br>
With its simple mechanism for dealing with complaints, as well as an
information clearing house, the Aarhus Convention sets a particularly
valuable model for the Internet governance community because
transparency, participation and access to information, and accountability
are the cornerstones of good governance, commented Anriette Esterhuysen,
Executive Director of APC. “This is a framework that can underpin other
processes and even support them, without replacing any existing
institutional configuration, policies or regulations,” Ms Esterhuysen
added.<br><br>
“Like the IGF, the new agreement we are proposing can constitute a
non-threatening platform for progress and positive change and can be
established as a self-regulatory mechanism. Institutions which want to
demonstrate their commitment to being transparent, inclusive and
accountable, can become signatories,” Ms Esterhuysen concluded.<br><br>
APC contact<br>
Frédéric Dubois, Information coordinator<br>
Mobile +1 514 660 0664, frederic@apc.org<br><br>
Council of Europe contacts<br>
Estelle Steiner, Press Officer, Mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57, <br>
estelle.steiner@coe.int<br>
Sophie Lobey, Communications Officer, Mobile +33 (0)6 64 09 93 40, <br>
sophie.lobey@coe.int<br><br>
-30-<br><br>
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