IGF 2024 WS #239 Latin American and African views on Internet governance

    Organizer 1: Iria Puyosa, DFRLab, Atlantic Council
    Organizer 2: Thobekile Adebayo , 🔒
    Organizer 3: David Fairchild, 🔒

    Speaker 1: Iria Puyosa, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 2: Thobekile Adebayo , Civil Society, African Group
    Speaker 3: J. Carlos Lara, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 4: Alejandro Pisanty, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

    Moderator

    David Fairchild, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Online Moderator

    Alejandro Pisanty, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

    Rapporteur

    Iria Puyosa, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

    Format

    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: This session format encourages participation, fostering a more inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up and sharing their ideas. It facilitates discussion, allowing for a more natural flow of conversation between participants.
    The 90-minute allocation is beneficial since we anticipate diverse perspectives that need to be shared and discussed.

    Policy Question(s)

    1. What are the key priorities and concerns regarding Internet governance being articulated by civil society organizations (CSOs) and multistakeholder forums in Africa and Latin America?
    2. How can we make more effective deliberation and follow-up with actionable outcomes from the global IGF?
    3. How can regional IGF debates and outcomes influence global internet policy?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Workshop attendees can expect to understand better African and Latin American regional perspectives, specific concerns, and priorities. By discussing shared concerns, participants can develop a more unified message representing the interests of African and Latin American CSOs. The workshop can foster connections and understanding between African and Latin American participants; this cross-regional solidarity can be a force in advocating for equitable and effective Internet governance framework. The workshop provides a platform for participants from different countries within these regions to identify common goals and challenges. This can lead to stronger regional coalitions working more effectively to advocate for their priorities in Internet governance forums. The workshop can create a shared purpose and direction, propelling participants to take action and influence the WSIS review process. Participants will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities for safeguarding human rights in the digital age and ensuring human rights remain central to internet governance.

    Description:

    In the proposed workshop, participants from Africa and Latin America, as well as attendees from other regions of the world, will engage in discussions exploring the perspectives, interests, and demands that civil society organizations from Africa and Latin America have been putting forward in various Internet governance processes and forums to shape the Internet's future.
    The workshop will also discuss how democratic-minded stakeholders from Latin America and Africa can ensure that the protection of human rights online is always at the core of Internet governance. This is a crucial issue in today's digital age, and the participants will deliberate on safeguarding these fundamental rights in their respective regions.

    Expected Outcomes

    1. The session will ensure that Latin American and African stakeholders' positions, demands, and interests in future Internet governance discussions are at the forefront of IGF discussions.
    2. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the crucial links between Internet governance models, online human rights protection, and achieving sustainable development goals.
    3. The session's outcomes will inform Latin American and African stakeholders' further participation in the WSIS+20 review process and other ongoing Internet governance discussions.
    4. The session will contribute to greater inclusion of Latin American and African priorities within policy arrangements emerging from the Global Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 processes.

    Additionally, a summary of the main takeaways from the sessions would be published as a blog post on the DFRLab website and amplified across the Atlantic Council and partners’ networks.

    Hybrid Format: The session would be run with priority given to online participation. Online and onsite moderators will manage the conversation flow, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to speak. Online participants can fully count on the inclusive two-way audio/video feature, which not only allows them to participate actively but also ensures that all interventions are shared with any onsite attendees, fostering a sense of connection and involvement for everyone. Onsite attendees will also be encouraged to join the online room to access the chat and enter the speaking queue. Relevant documents would be made available to participants before the session.