<div>While I wasn't particularly happy with the nomination 'process' that the CSCG ran last year, I agree with the general sentiment expressed in this letter that there were civil society vacancies on the MAG which were not filled — and that deserves an explanation. Likewise, to announce the appointments to the MAG just days before the  preparatory cycle for IGF 2017 began is extremely poor form.<br></div><div><br></div><div>- Ayden <br></div><div class="protonmail_signature_block "><div class="protonmail_signature_block-proton protonmail_signature_block-empty"><br></div></div><div><br></div><blockquote class="protonmail_quote" type="cite"><div>-------- Original Message --------<br></div><div>Subject: [bestbits] FYI: A letter to IGF Secretariat re: the outcome of the MAG Nominations 2017<br></div><div>Local Time: 1 March 2017 4:21 PM<br></div><div>UTC Time: 1 March 2017 16:21<br></div><div>From: sheetal@gp-digital.org<br></div><div>To: bestbits@lists.bestbits.net> < <bestbits@lists.bestbits.net><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div>Dear all, <br></div></div><div>I'm writing regarding the outcome of the MAG nomination process this year. As you know, the CSCG ran a nomination process to select candidates to the MAG 2017 nominations and submitted the three names selected (Norbert Bollow, Jeremy Malcolm, Arsene Tungali) by the deadline, 16 December.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The CSCG was informed of the outcome on 27 February. We received the communication that "<span lang="EN-GB">there will be no new Civil Society MAG member being added".</span><br></div></div><div><span lang="EN-GB">The IGF 2017 MAG has now been been approved by the Secretary-General's office. </span>The list of members can be found on the following url: <a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/mag-2017-members" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">https://www.intgovforum.org/mu<wbr>ltilingual/content/mag-2017-me<wbr>mbers.</a><span lang="EN-GB"></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In response, we have sent the following letter to the IGF Secretariat, copied in full under the dotted line below. The first Open Consultations and MAG meeting of the IGF 2017 
preparatory cycle are taking place now (01-03 March) in Geneva, so we expect for this to be brought up during the course of the discussions there, and to receive a response soon. <br></div><div><br></div></div><div>Should you have any questions at all, <br></div><div><br></div></div><div>Best<br></div></div><div>Sheetal and Poncelet.<br></div><div><div><div><div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br></div><div><br></div><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 360pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">1 March 2017</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Dear Chengetai,</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">We are writing, as members of the Civil Society
Coordination Group (CSCG), to respectfully express our concern at the notice
received via the Internet Governance Forum’s (IGF) Secretariat, that there will
be no new civil society member added to the Internet Governance Forum's
Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) this year (2017). The reason provided to
the CSCG was that there is no civil society MAG member being rotated out.</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">The Civil Society Coordination Group
(CSCG) exists solely to ensure a coordinated civil society response and conduit
when it comes to making civil society appointments to outside bodies. Please
see the website for more information on the mechanism:</span></span></span><a href="http://internetgov-cs.org/#about" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"><span class="gmail-InternetLink"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> </span></span></span></span></a><span class="gmail-InternetLink"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"><a href="http://internetgov-cs.org/#about" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener">http://internetgov-cs.org/#about</a></span></span></span></span><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">.</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">According to the </span></span></span><a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/mag-renewal-2016" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"><span class="gmail-InternetLink"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">FAQ provided</span></span></span></span></a><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt">,</span></span><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> there is not a fixed
number of civil society representatives. We understood that one of the current
members (</span></span></span><a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/Ms-Amelia-Andersdotter" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"><span class="gmail-InternetLink"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Ms. Amelia Andersdotter</span></span></span></span></a><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt">)</span></span><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> has served three terms
and would be be rotated out. On the </span></span></span><a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/mag-members-0" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"><span class="gmail-InternetLink"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">IGF website</span></span></span></span></a><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">, her affiliation is
listed as Civil Society, we therefore do not fully understand the explanation
provided about her past and current affiliation in your email (dated 27
February) 2017 to us. </span></span></span>We understand that, apart from Amelia
Andersdotter's retirement,  another civil society vacancy has been created
by John Dada stepping down over the last year. This vacancy we understand was
never filled.<br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Once again, it was our understanding from
the beginning that at least one, perhaps two, vacant position(s) was available
and to be filled by a Civil Society representative. The CSCG conducted an open,
transparent and democratic selection process, following which three candidates
were selected. These three names </span></span></span><a href="http://www.internetgov-cs.org/2016-12-15" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"><span class="gmail-InternetLink"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(17, 85, 204)"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">were
submitted</span></span></span></span></a><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> before the deadline to UNDESA for consideration.
 </span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">However, the decision to not elect a civil
society representative to replace the outgoing member comes as both a surprise
and disappointment to the CSCG. The selection process conducted via CSCG paid
respect to the factors outlined by UNDESA, “notably: priorities for regional
diversity, with an emphasis on representation from developing and least
developed countries; gender balance; and diversity of institutions and
organizations with which members are affiliated”.</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">We strongly regret that, following an
open, transparent and democratic selection process, we will not be able to
provide a satisfactory explanation for this situation to the members of the
various constituencies which we represent. Moreover we are concerned about the
possibility that this situation may deter, or at least reduce willingness of,
civil society members to engage in the process going forward considering the
time lost and unaccounted for on this occasion.</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:"times new roman", serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">While we would like to thank the UNDESA
for its leadership we hereby respectfully request that UNDEA reconsider its
decision and agree to appoint at least one additional representative from civil
society on the basis of our proposal, or, at a minimum, that UNDESA provide
further explanation as to the decision not to nominate a replacement for the
outgoing civil society MAG member.</span></span></span><br></p><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><div><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><br></div><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Thank you for your time and consideration
of this matter.</span></span></span><br></p><div><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><br></div><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:12pt"> </span></span><br></p><div><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span><br></div><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:13px"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:black">With
best wishes,</span></span></span><br></p><div><span class="size" style="font-size:13px"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span><br></div><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:13px"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span><br></p><div><span class="size" style="font-size:13px"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span><br></div><p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal" class="MsoNormal"><span class="size" style="font-size:13px"><span class="font" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:black">The
CSCG.</span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <br></p><div><div><div><div><br></div><div>-- <br></div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(7, 55, 99)"><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:13px"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(7, 55, 99)"><b></b></span></span></span></span></span><br></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(7, 55, 99)"><b></b></span></span><br></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(7, 55, 99)"><b>Sheetal Kumar</b></span></span><br></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><div><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(7, 55, 99)">Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL</span></span><br></div><div><div><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10px"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(102, 102, 102)">Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL</span></span></span><br></div><div><span class="font" style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10px"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(102, 102, 102)">T: +44 (0)20<span class="colour" style="color:rgb(102, 102, 102)"> 3 818 3258</span> 0337| M: +44 (0)7739569514  | </span></span></span><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div>