I would like to call your attention to this paper that was just circulated by the CCWG-Accountability WS2 on Diversity.

The ALAC was silent on the question of an Office of Diversity (OOD) that was mentioned in the draft recommendations (see https://community.icann.org/x/Z5tEB)

As important as diversity is, I find it troublesome that ICANN might be dedicating more bureaucracy to it. As I noted in my recent comments on the Specific Reviews Operating Standards ( https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/comments-reviews-standards-17oct17/2018q1/000008.html ), I find that for the best of reasons, ICANN is building more and more complex process, rules and bureaucracy. At a time when it is clear we are going to have increasing budget constraint, this must be controlled. If we consider issues such as this as sacred , then we will see more and more other more discretionary budgets cut (and I am predicting that if we don't change our philosophy, budget issues will get MUCH worse).

According to the original recommendations document ( https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/ccwg-acct-ws2-draft-recs-diversity-26oct17-en.pdf ): The role of this office would be to independently support, record and keep track of issues including complaints from the community on diversity issues within the organization.

I presume that by "organization" the document means all of ICANN (ICANN Organization as the staff are now known, the volunteer community and the Board). For ICANN Organization, I see this as falling directly under Human Resources and the Complaints Officer. For the volunteer part of ICANN, and the Board, I think it quite reasonable to keep records but that does not warrant a staffed office. Selection of volunteers is not done centrally, and complaints presumably should go to the Ombudsman.

Should the ALAC issue a further statement on this?  And if so, what are your views?

Alan

From: Bernard Turcotte <turcotte.bernard@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:28:23 -0500
To: ws2-diversity <ws2-diversity@icann.org>
Subject: [Ws2-diversity] CCWG-Accountability-WS2-Diversity - PAPER ON OFFICE OF DIVERSITY PUBLIC COMMENTS

All,

As promised at the last meeting of the diversity sub-group please find below and attached the document prepared by Fiona and Rafik on this topic.

Bernard Turcotte
ICANN Staff Support to the CCWG-Accountability-WS2

For Fiona and Rafik.

DIVERISTY SUB-GROUP

 

PAPER ON OFFICE OF DIVERSITY PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Preamble:

 

The Diversity sub-group presented a report for public comments that presented diversity at ICANN identified by a number of elements by which diversity may be characterized, measured and reported. The report was informed by feedback from ICANN Supporting Organization(SO)/Advisory Committee (AC)/groups through a Diversity Questionnaire. In the report the Sub-group proposes a number of recommendations by which ICANN may define, measure, report, support and promote diversity. It also indicated that there was a lack of consensus on the establishment on an office of diversity and sought to receive public comments on the position of the office of diversity.

 

Summary of Responses from Public Comments:

 

• Total of 15 comments

 

• 6 had no comments on an office of diversity
• 3 supported an office of diversity or a panel
• 3 supported an office of diversity
• 3 rejected the notion of an office of diversity.

 

• Breakdown by major categories

 

• 7 SO/ACs/Board (those which will have to approve the WS2 final report):

 

• 4 had no comments
• 3 Rejected the notion of an office of diversity

 

• 2 Governments:

 

• 1 had no comments on an office of diversity
• 1 supported an office of diversity

 

• 6 Individuals/Associations:

 

• 1 had no comments on an office of diversity
• 3 supported an office of diversity or a panel
• 2 supported an office of diversity

 

 

Summary of Positions relating to the OOD from Public Comments:

 

1.      Establishment of an office of diversity or a panel similar to what is proposed in the Ombuds recommendations.

2.      Establishment of an office of diversity

3.      Rejection of an office of diversity in favour of staff performing this work.

 

Required Actions:

The Sub-group on diversity does not have one solid position from the public comments but has instead received a number of options that need to be discussed further and weighed in order to determine how oversight of diversity can be pursued.

 

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