The first IGF-USA will take place on October 2, 2009 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The IGF-USA is a multistakeholder effort to raise awareness about Internet governance issues and to contribute to awareness about the Internet Governance Forum. IGF-USA is a one day forum to engage civil society, government, technologists/researchers, industry and academia in discussions about topics that are being deliberated at a global level regarding governance of the Internet, including management of critical Internet resources, privacy, cyber security, access, openness/freedom of expression, child online safety, capacity building and development. At the IGF-USA, like the IGF itself, all parties participate on an equal footing, and through identifying and discussing issues, participants help to broaden understanding and identify possible best practices that can inform global decisions that affect the Internet.
- When?: Friday, October 2, 2009
- Where?: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1800 K Street, NW, Washington DC. The CSIS location is one block from the Farragut West station on the Orange and Blue lines. Take the 18th Street exit and walk north to the corner of 18th and K streets. CSIS is also just a few blocks away from the Farragut North station on the Red line.
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Civil Society participants of The Public Voice coalition at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Future on the Internet affirmed "that the policy goals for the Future of the Internet should be considered within the broader framework of protection of human rights, the promotion of democratic institutions, and the provision of affordable and non-discriminatory access to advanced communication infrastructures and services. Economic growth should be for the many and not the few. The Internet should be available to all."
eLAC is a regionally concerted strategy that conceives of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as instruments for economic development and social inclusion. eLAC is a strategy with a long-term vision (until 2015) in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and those of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). There are 13 Working Groups under eLAC2010, which group regional experts from various sectors to research and develop joint initiatives related to specific eLAC goals. Each group is led by one country, which appoints the group's coordinator.
The list of all the working groups are available at E-LAC's website. Working Groups use a virtual platform to centralize information, upload documents and hold chats or meetings in cyberspace. To participate in a working group, you have to contact your National Focal Point, or the Information Society Programme at UN-ECLAC (socinfocepal.org).
On June 16, 2008, more than 150 participants from 15 countries gathered in Seoul, South Korea, for the Civil Society - Labor Forum "Making the Future of the Internet Economy Work for Citizens, Consumers, and Workers. The event was organized by the Public Voice coalition, the Trade Union Advisory Committee, and the OECD Civil Society Reference group, which includes the Association for Progressive Communications, the Canadian Internet Policy and Public interest Clinic, Consumers Korea, the European Digital Rights Initiative, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Internet Governance Project, and the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue.
