<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px">Dear all, </span><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px">Please find my Candidate Statement below, for your kind attention.</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px">------------------------------------------</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.800000190734863px">
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">Elsa Saade - Asia Pacific (Female)<span></span></span></u></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">Current Human Rights Officer at Gulf Center for
Human Rights, coordinating Digital Rights Program<span></span></span></u></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">My voice since the very start of my journey at ICANN,
as a newcomer and fellow at ICANN 54, hasn’t changed in terms of its standards.
I had always been a vocal human rights defender and advocate for digital
rights. During ICANN 59 I knew exactly how to voice those thoughts in relation
to the multi-stakeholder model and the constant need for fast pace decision
making thanks to the many exchanges I had within NCUC specifically, amongst
others. I acknowledge the learning curve and experience that every NCUC member
goes through and that gives me proper insights on what should be provided.<span></span></span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">In parallel I engaged in all sorts of GNSO sessions
and several CCWG sessions on IG and Accountability as well as attended GAC
meetings virtually while at NCSG, NCUC and GNSO sessions. I understood and
materialized how both affect each other and how the multidisciplinary eagle
view is important to strategic policy development. However, I still stand by my
values which go hand in hand with NCUC standards at ICANN and would be more
than honored to represent the Asia Pacific region as an EC member. Right now,
especially given the developments on GDPR and the increasing call for privacy,
I can’t find any other more interesting and necessary time to engage in the
community and really affect policy in a way that would take our perspective
from the region I represent and work with, and the work we do and other vocal
digital rights defenders/researchers/non-commercial enthusiast in the region
do, into consideration. <span></span></span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">In parallel to policy, I acknowledge the important
role NCUC plays and the importance of coordination at the EC level. I believe I
can serve this role properly and build a solid ground during my term, keeping
in mind former EC members’ experiences and our common vision for NCUC going
forward.<span></span></span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">My strategy if I were to
be elected as the Asia Pacific NCUC Rep</span></u></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">I aim to work
collegially within the EC, be a team player and/or a leader where need be, by making
constructive proposals, and supporting the team and chair in their tasks. I
will surely be responsive to any EC task as per the charter demands and most
importantly will support members in policy participation and lead by example.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">If I will be elected
into the EC, I will make sure to incorporate past experiences of former EC
members, building upon their work, and continue their efforts to activate the
voices and participation of members and prospective members in NCUC discussions
and policy developments with a focus on the region I will be representing and
in coordination with other EC members from other regions whereby the
non-commercial user’s benefit lies and is taken into consideration. <span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Accordingly, it is
important to:<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">1.<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Engage current Asian Pacific members in more internal conversations
to exchange thoughts and make a stronger approach in terms of representing the
views and interests of noncommercial users through ICANN policy processes.
Supporting members’ participation in policy development.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">2.<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Expand outreach to new members through the different already
existing mechanisms, and with the help of collective creative work, within the
EC and NCUC as well as my networks, be able to recruit as many new members as
possible.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">3.<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Follow up on urgent matters that need urgent response from
members<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">4.<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Keep an eye out for any event where NCUC could participate in
the Asia Pacific region with the aim of creating general awareness and
increasing interest of potential future NCUC members.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">5.<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Make sure that when an ICANN meeting happens in the region,
members from AP would be able to outreach to non-members with solid information
to share, encouraging their interest and raising the bar of knowledge when it
pertains to DNS policy and ICANN mechanisms. Also make sure that there can be
funding for those who aren’t capable of funding themselves to be able to make
it, keeping in mind gender diversity and AP representation.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">6.<span style="font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Increase the importance of highlighting members and their
efforts at ICANN by potentially mapping ICANN journeys and collecting
testimonies of vibrant members, thus having an archive of progress which could
eventually be motivating for recruiting new members and increasing the
participation of current members.
<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">As a whole, </span></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">having worked in the
field on the regional level since 2013, I’ve gotten first hand experience in a
vastly encompassing civil society where laws have hampered the development of
human rights standards when it comes to IG related issues.<span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Being introduced to
ICANN’s mechanisms, I found even more constrains when it comes to the smallest
technical detail and I became more committed to instigating change at the level
where policy actually gets developed and actually makes a difference. M<strong><span style="font-weight:normal">y
journey with ICANN only started in ICANN 54 as a fellow, after I had been in
the Internet Governance field for a while. Back then, I directly found my
vocation to be at NCUC as its mission is to recruit new people who can uphold
its values and push for them for the sake of the non-commercial user at the
policy level as well as at conversation levels within ICANN. <span></span></span></strong></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">If I get elected onto this EC, I will make sure to
guide and lead the way I should, with the aim of solidifying what previous AP
EC members did and developing it further to amplify the voice of NCUC with the
help of new recruited members and old members with whom I will work closely. I
do understand the tasks of the EC as stated in NCUC bylaws in term of administrative
work, operating procedures and membership management, also being an enabler for
all NCUC activities and carrying a supporting role for our membership<span></span></span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal">I am very committed to having a more inclusive
process for those whom NCUC shelters within its constituency, and I would be
happy to contribute to its development and achievements. I commit to be
transparent about my participation, votes, and discussions and will consult our
membership regularly.</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-weight:normal"><span></span></span></strong></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><br>
<strong>Time Commitment</strong><span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:7.5pt 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(51,51,51)">I will be available to
carry my duties as need be and more. I commit to respond to questions and
requests from the NCUC membership<span></span></span></p>
</div></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">--<br><br>Elsa Saade<br>Human Rights Officer<br>Gulf Center for Human Rights<br>Beirut, Lebanon<br></div></div></div></div>
</div>