United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) On the Road to Athens African Ministerial Positions on IG during WSIS 18–21 September 2006, Cairo,

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

On the Road to Athens

African Ministerial Positions on IG during WSIS

18–21 September 2006, Cairo, Egypt

Makane Faye


Outline• Accra Commitments for Tunis 2005, Accra 4

February 2005• Dakar Declaration on Internet Governance,

Dakar 6 September 2005• The African Regional Action Plan (ARAPKE),

Geneva, 21 September 2005• African Common Position on Internet

Governance, Part 5 of Chair’s Paper, Prepcom3, Geneva, 28 September 2005

• African Common Position on Internet Governance, “Food for Thought”, Report by Sub-committee B of the African Group on Parts 4-6 of the Document, Tunis 13 November 2005

• Recommendations of the IG Post WSIS Training Course, Addis Ababa, 6 July 2006


African Position during the African Regional Preparatory Conference

for the WSIS

Accra, 4 February 2005


Accra Commitments 1/3 Special attention should be given to the

composition and the role of the present Internet governing body with a view to ensuring its legitimacy as a fully representative authority

Africa should participate actively in international organizations dealing with Internet Governance. In this regard special attention should be given by international bodies dealing with Internet Governance to the needs and interests of the developing and least developing countries


Accra Commitments 2/3 Special attention should be paid to the

Integration of African Languages and to multilingualism in the Internet

Internet Governance aspects should mainstreamed in the establishment of national and regional e-strategic plans

An appropriate participatory management of the Internet should include all stakeholders (Government, private sector, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations)


Accra Commitments 3/3• Appropriate regulatory frameworks

should be established to deal with public policy issues related to Internet Infrastructure and Applications (e-commerce, spam, cyber-security, privacy, etc.) and to enable the implementation of national, sub-regional and regional Internet exchange points and relevant technical regional institutions (Ex: AfriNic)

• Efforts should be made so that all CCTLDs are managed by respective countries


African Common Position on IG adopted byAfrican ICT Ministers

Dakar, 6 September 2005


The Dakar Declaration 1/ 4The Conference adopts, as follows:• The establishment of a global

consultation framework to review in depth the general policies on Internet Governance We recognize the efforts deployed by the initiators of the Internet, and the need to guarantee a stable and secure operation of this efficient tool for Humanity

• The expansion and reinforcement of the existing institutions for Internet Governance to enable all stakeholders to participate and ensure Internet Governance is efficient, accountable, and democratic, and that Internet services and resources are distributed in an equitable manner among all actors and all continents


The Dakar Declaration 2/ 4The Conference also recommends: • Reinforcement of the role of the Government

Advisory Committee (GAC) of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in all Internet Public policy development issues;

• Internationalisation of root sever management;• African Member States should set up root server

instances to facilitate access;• Setting up of a regional high speed Internet

backbone allowing the creation of national, sub regional and regional Internet exchange points

• Participation of specialized African institutions in technical Internet Governance bodies;


The Dakar Declaration 3/ 4• Reinforcement of the Internet Resource

Management Institution, African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), to guarantee the region’s independence in Internet resources;

• Establishment in Africa of a reference framework for building a multi-stakeholder partnership at the national, regional and continental level, based on the basic principles of digital solidarity and in conformity with the spirit and provisions of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);

• Contribution of African countries to the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and utilisation of the Fund for building capacity, in particular for women and young people, and financing Internet-related projects in Africa;


The Dakar Declaration 4/ 4• Implementation of programmes that guarantee

the presence of African languages on the Internet and use of free and open source software in order to fight against the linguistic digital divide and ensure the participation of all in the emerging new society;

• As stipulated by the African Information Society Initiative (AISI), each African Member State will create a national organ responsible for the promotion and development of the Information Society as well as knowledge sharing. These organs should be coordinated at the regional and continental levels;

• The creation of Centres of Excellence around Africa for capacity development.


The African Regional Action Plan on the Knowledge Economy (ARAPKE)

adopted during Prepcom3

Geneva, 21 September 2005


ARAPKE confirmed the Accra Commitments and the Dakar Declaration• In addition ARAPKE underlined the following

Action Lines which were agreed upon: • Setting up Regional and Sub regional

Governance Instances • Developing Legal Framework on e-commerce- Operationalizing Digital Transaction & Security - Combating Spam - Establishing Internet Exchange Points - Providing support to AfriNic & other relevant

Networks- Enabling management of CCTLDs by countries


African Common Position on IG adopted during Prepcom3

Geneva, 28 September 2005


African Position at Prepcom3 1/ 5Part 5 of Chair’s Paper

• We recognize the efforts deployed by the initiators of the Internet, and the need to guarantee a stable and secure operation of this efficient tool for Humanity

• We are also convinced that there is a need for a progressive process towards a new transparent democratic and multilateral framework for governments, private sector, civil society and international organizations in Internet governance


• We further recommend a progressive approach which aims to set up an efficient, transparent and democratic mechanism and ensure equitable resources distribution leading to internationalized multi stakeholder oversight functions of the Internet public policy in particular with the following actions:

African Position at Prepcom3 2/ 5


To ensure the role of Governments in decision making with regard to all Internet Public policy development issues

The reinforcement of the Internet Regional Resource Management Institution, to ensure regional autonomy in Internet resources management

The Internationalization of root server management

African Position at Prepcom3 3/ 5


The strengthening of the participation of specialized institutions from developing countries in the technical management and standardization Internet bodies

• We support the establishment of a global consultation forum, to review in depth the general policies on Internet Governance. Such a framework should facilitate participation for all stakeholders. We call upon the UN Secretary General to organize the forum before the end of the first quarter of 2006

African Position at Prepcom3 4/5


• We Call for the follow up of this progressive multi stakeholder approach which should be in the context of the relevant international institutions, and coordinated under the UN system

African Position at Prepcom3 5/5


African Common Position on IG adopted during Prepcom3 bis

Tunis, 13 November 2005


After recalling decisions taken during the first meeting of Prepcom3, the African Group reemphasized the following position on “Document WSIS-II/PC-3/DT/15-E”, Section 5 of the Chair’s Food four Thought:

• 62. We recognize the efforts deployed by the initiators of

the Internet, and the need to guarantee a stable and secure operation of this efficient tool for Humanity. We are also convinced that there is a need for a progressive process towards a new transparent democratic and multilateral framework for governments, private sector, civil society and international organizations in Internet governance.

African Position at Prepcom3 bis 1/2


• 63. We further recommend a progressive approach which aims to set up an efficient, transparent and democratic mechanism and ensure equitable resources distribution leading to internationalized multi stakeholder oversight functions of the Internet public policy in particular with the following actions:

To ensure the role of Governments in decision making with regard to all Internet Public policy development issues;

The reinforcement of the Internet Regional Resource Management Institution, to ensure regional autonomy in Internet resources management;

The Internationalization of root server management;



The strengthening of the participation of specialized institutions from developing countries in the technical management and standardization Internet bodies.

• 64. We support the establishment of a global consultation forum, to review in depth the general policies on Internet Governance. Such a framework should facilitate participation for all stakeholders. We call upon the UN Secretary General to organize the forum before the end of the first quarter of 2006.

65. We Call for the follow up of this progressive multi stakeholder approach which should be in the context of the relevant international institutions, and coordinated under the UN system.



When adopting a position towards Athens, African Governments and Stakeholders should take into account:

Earlier positions, which were used by the continent to negotiate with other continents and put forward its agenda and concerns

The Tunis outcome on Internet Governance Make sure that the Athens Forum is geared

towards developmental issues, is inclusive, caters for cultural diversity, freedom of expression and guarantees equitable access to Internet Resources, infrastructure, applications and relevant content for African countries, as well as IPR concerns

Towards IGF


Thank you for your attention

[email protected]://www.uneca.org/aisi

Telephone: +251 11 5514534; Fax: +251 11 5510512

Documents

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) On the Road to Athens African Ministerial Positions on IG during WSIS 18–21 September 2006, Cairo,