[NCUC-DISCUSS] Durban Follow Up

["Kleinwächter, Wolfgang"]

Hi everybody
 
back home after a long journey I want to thank all NCUCrs for the great collaboration in Durban. It was one of the most succesful NCUC participation in an ICANN meeting. Here are some of my key observations:
 
1. NCUC had very good meetings with Board members, the two Co-Chairs of the GAC (for the first time) and members of ATRT 2 as well es EWG where we raised key issues, in particular Privacy, Freedom of Expression Competition, Policy vs. Implementation and the gaps in ICANNs practice of the multistakeholder model. We had very clear positions, inter alia to RAA (unified support for Article 29 WP letter), IGO/INGO WG, TMCH 50+  and Safeguards in new gTLD program. Our councillors made very constructive contributions with clear statements both during the two GNSO days and in the GNSO Council meeting. My impression is that the collaborative climate in the council with CSG and the Contracting House has improved. Good diplomacy! However, we still see that we get veryx often "verbal support" in the discussions which then is totally ignored if it comes to concrete decisions. We have flagged this and have it flagged again and again.  
 
2. We had a very good constituency meeting. Brochure, Website, facts and figures made its way into the broader community and we are more visible than ever. Thanks Bill, Tapani and others for the hard day to day work. Probably the brochure is not only good for outreach but also for inreach. I had a discussion with Bruce Tonkin and he had no knowledge that NCUC has so many members. For him NCUC was a small group of some (critical) intellectuals. He was surprised that times have changed. And I am sure that a lot of other board members, ICANN staff and leaders are still have their outdated stereotypes ;-((((
 
3. The relationship with NPOC has substantially improved. In our joint meetings as NCSG we had unified positions. Marie Laure was a excellent proxy in the Council, This harmony came for some outsiders as a surprise and my impression was, that some people would have preferred to see more controversy in infighting within the NCSG, which fortunately did not take place. Unfortunately Alain was not in Durban. He is struggling with his illness and we all wished him well. 
 
4. There was no formal discussion of the I*Plus Alliance project of NPOC members with NCUC but my impression was that the I*organisations themselves are rather sceptical. The idea is not bad, but the project looks very general and could be done probably by the I*organisations themselves better. It needs much more work to do if something should come our of this. In my eyes too late for Bali. And we could have better things on the agenda for BA.
 
5. The meeting with ALAC was quite good. Based on a critical comment from the consultations with the two GAC Vice Chairs ("as governments we are sometimes confused if we try to find out who represents civil society in ICANN") an idea emerged in Durban to think about the establishment of a "Civil Society Sector" within a reformed ICANN structure. Such a "Civil Society Sector" would allow the various CS bodies within ICANN (NCSG/NCUC, ALAC/RALOS, new emerging community based gTLD constituencies and others) to coordinate their positions to  speak with one voice to the Board and the GAC. Such a sector (with a CS Coordination Committee/CSCC) could emerge on the "Road to London" where in June 2014 the second Internet Users Summit (ATLAS II) will take place. ALACs chair Olivier was very open to this project. We should continue the discussion in Bali and BA and be more active in the ATLAS WGs.
 
6. The planned CEO Round Table with CS leaders, orginally scheduled for end of June 2013, was again the subject of consultations with ICANN staff. The new idea is to have it in January 2014, probably in Istanbul. The meeting needs much more detailed preparations. And it should be integrated into the planning fo the "Road to London". It should be also linked to the work of the new five committees Fad has launched. NCUC has a lot of intellectual capacity to work closely with the new "Group of the Five". Another challenge with good opportunties for NCUC. 
 
7. The African School on Internet Governance was seen as a great success in the whole ICANN community and NCUCs role was very recognized. This is an avenue where we can get a lot of more credits when we continue this (probably in Singapore next year for Asia). Similar succesful was the workshop on closed generics. Great!     
 
Best wishes
 
wolfgang
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