Official Launch of the Geneva Internet Platform – Tuesday 8th April

Reshaping digital governance: Why Geneva matters

8 April 2014 (13.00 – 14.30 CET)
World Meteorological Organization Building (WMO) – 2nd floor
7bis, avenue de la Paix, Geneva
 

Registrations are now closed.

For further inquiries email GIP@diplomacy.edu
or contact us at 022 9073633.
 

Programme

12.00–13.00 An Internet Governance Bazaar will feature policy initiatives, training activities, and research projects of Geneva-based organisations. Refreshments and sandwiches will be served.

13.00–14.15 The Official Launch of the Geneva Internet Platform will include a welcome address by Ambassador Alexandre Fasel, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva; keynote reflections by Michael Moller, Acting Director General of UNOG and Philipp Metzger, Director General of the Federal Office of Communications of Switzerland; and the presentation of the Platform by Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation. The discussion will be moderated by  Richard Werly, journalist for Le Temps.

14.15 – 14.30 Coffee break

14.30–16.00 The presentation of data-mining tools for diplomatic negotiations and drafting will offer a practical example of processing 188 policy submissions into a draft declaration for NETmundial (São Paulo, 23-24 April 2014).

Background

The way the Internet is governed is of strategic importance to modern society. Yet, current Internet governance (IG) is not robust enough to address the Internet’s critical relevance. This became apparent after the Snowden revelations created a major earthquake in global digital politics. Many governments, think-tanks, and experts have started a search for a new IG formula, moving the issue from the realm of engineers and geeks into the premier league of global politics.

More than 50% of global IG is conducted in Geneva. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the main IG umbrella body, is based in Geneva. Telecommunication issues are addressed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). For online human rights, there is the UN Human Rights Council. The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global framework for e-commerce.

Internet standardisation bodies, have a presence in Geneva as well (the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) via the Internet Society (ISOC); the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)). Many countries cover global digital policy via their permanent missions in Geneva. A wide range of NGOs and business associations ensure multistakeholder participation. A few months ago, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) opened an office in Geneva.

The Geneva Internet Platform will add to this vibrant scene by bridging policy silos, strengthening the participation of small and developing countries, monitoring digital policies, and facilitating research for evidence-based IG.

Please register.
For further enquiries please email GIP@diplomacy.edu or contact us at 022 9073633.