As I go through the Composition of the Accountability & Transparency Review Team 2 (ATRT 2) http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-15feb13-en.htm and the composition charts http://www.icann.org/en/about/aoc-review/atrt/2/composition I am very disappointed. One thing is for sure that ICANN still lacks a clear understanding of "Public" in terms of multilateral discussions and the kind of perception it carries about its globalized role. This is not an ICANN fault. For many organizations beyond the United Nations remit, the question of defining "Publics" is a big challenge (a well understood) and is arguable from many standpoints. Apart from the constituency members (despite the fact that I am very pleased to see Olivier, Avri and Alan in there), the ATRT lacks regional participation, and, I do know the scope of the planned ATRT2 was limited from the beginning but from where I am coming, I tend to observe the lack of A and T from the very beginning where there is lack of regional representation. To give you a que, where is someone from the Middle East? I can't recognize anyone from South Asia and then we can argue and go beyond this remit. ' For an organization like ICANN that attempts to declare its global presence or at least attempts to move beyond an instrumental entity into an institutional entity with policy process possibly bottom-up driven largely by its "Internet" community, the membership is the first negative point to be accountable to a global audience, internet user base and industry.
From a personal observation, this lack of regional participation or diversification in the ATRT2 process can actually be used against ICANN and I don't know what the selectors were thinking but they should have been sensitive to regional diversification.
With the Arab IGF and other regional IGFs on process and progress here, I see the need for more representation in Accountability and Transparency activities in ICANN. This also reminds me of my interest to explore ICANN during my days on the IGF MAG where A and T was clearly an issue of misunderstanding for many outside ICANN. However, the situation remains grim as far as how ICANN wants to handle its new and growing global role. I agree that ICANN processes are for its constituencies to be monitored by but within the free market economy activity and when stakeholders are global in nature beyond the traditional market activity and in a globalized political economy, norms and perceptions are diverse but when one reads through: "The AoC sets the following mandate for Accountability and Transparency reviews: ICANN commits to maintain and improve robust mechanisms for public input, accountability, and transparency so as to ensure that the outcomes of its decision-making will reflect the public interest and be accountable to all stakeholders" the thought that comes to mind is whether ICANN will learn to build diverse AT groups beyond the remit of in-siders or constituencies that tend to review themselves but are not reviewed by others outside of ICANN and from a diversity of regions that is unusual for such compositions to carry. Best and thinking Fouad On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 2:21 PM, At-Large Staff <staff@atlarge.icann.org> wrote:
https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-15feb13-en.htm <https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-15feb13-en.htm> Composition of the Accountability & Transparency Review Team 2 (ATRT 2) 15 February 2013 Background To help ensure ICANN's multi-stakeholder model remains transparent and accountable, and to improve its performance, ICANN organizes community reviews of its accountability and transparency commitments no less frequently than every three years, consistent with section 9.1 of the Affirmation of Commitments <https://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/aoc/affirmation-of-commitments-30 sep09-en.htm> (AoC).
The Accountability and Transparency reviews are performed by volunteer Community members and include the following (or their designated nominees): the Chair of the GAC, the Chair of the Board of ICANN, the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the DOC, representatives of the relevant ICANN Advisory Committees and Supporting Organizations, and independent experts.
On 5 October 2012, ICANN invited <https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-05oct12-en.htm> interested individuals to apply for a position of Volunteer Review Team Member, representing a Supporting Organization or Advisory Committee, or for a position of Independent Expert on the second Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT 2). Selection The AoC designated Selectors of the ATRT 2 Steve Crocker, Chairman of the ICANN Board of Directors, and Heather Dryden, Chair of the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC)‹wish to thank the applicants for their dedication and interest in this key project. In selecting the ATRT 2, multiple factors were considered, including experience with governance issues, understanding of ICANN¹s working practices, consensus-building and analytical skills, ability to draw evidence-based conclusions, aptitude to build metrics and balances of geography, gender, consistency, etc.
The overall number of applications received for the ATRT 2 36 necessitated difficult choices. After careful review of the applications against these criteria, the following individuals were selected to participate in the ATRT 2:
Volunteer Review Team Members in Representation of ICANN Supporting Organizations/ Advisory Committees * Alan Greenberg (ALAC) * Avri Doria (GNSO) * Brian Cute (GNSO) * David Conrad (SSAC) * Demi Getschko (ccNSO) * Fiona Asonga (ASO) * Jørgen Andersen (GAC) * Lise Fuhr (ccNSO) * Olivier Crépin-Leblond (ALAC) * Stephen Conroy (GAC) * Xinsheng Zhang (GAC) Independent Experts * Carlos Raúl Gutierrez * Michael Yakushev (Please refer to http://www.icann.org/en/about/aoc-review/atrt/2/composition <https://www.icann.org/en/about/aoc-review/atrt/2/composition> to view Review Team Members¹ information)
Ex-officio Members on the Accountability and Transparency Review Team 2 (ATRT 2) are: * Heather Dryden, Chair of the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC); * Lawrence Strickling - Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the US Department of Commerce (DOC); * Steve Crocker, Chair of the ICANN Board of Directors. The ATRT 2 is anticipated to commence its activities imminently with the goal of producing final recommendations by 31 December 2013. ICANN Staff will support the Review Team throughout its mandate. Mandate The AoC sets the following mandate for Accountability and Transparency reviews:
ICANN commits to maintain and improve robust mechanisms for public input, accountability, and transparency so as to ensure that the outcomes of its decision-making will reflect the public interest and be accountable to all stakeholders by: (a) continually assessing and improving ICANN Board of Directors (Board) governance which shall include an ongoing evaluation of Board performance, the Board selection process, the extent to which Board composition meets ICANN's present and future needs, and the consideration of an appeal mechanism for Board decisions; (b) assessing the role and effectiveness of the GAC and its interaction with the Board and making recommendations for improvement to ensure effective consideration by ICANN of GAC input on the public policy aspects of the technical coordination of the DNS; (c) continually assessing and improving the processes by which ICANN receives public input (including adequate explanation of decisions taken and the rationale thereof); (d) continually assessing the extent to which ICANN's decisions are embraced, supported and accepted by the public and the Internet community; and (e) assessing the policy development process to facilitate enhanced cross community deliberations, and effective and timely policy development.
Resulting recommendations of the reviews will be provided to the Board and posted for public comment. The Board will take action within six months of receipt of the recommendations. Schedule and Operations The ATRT will conduct its activities primarily online and through conference calls. Face-to-face meetings also are anticipated.
For more information on the work of the ATRT 2, please visit the newly created WIKI page at https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40176025 <https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40176025> which will be updated as the ATRT 2¹s work progresses to keep the ICANN community apprised of the latest information.
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Regards,
Heidi Ullrich, Silvia Vivanco, Matt Ashtiani, Gisella Gruber, Nathalie Peregrine and Julia Charvolen ICANN Policy Staff in support of ALAC E-mail: staff@atlarge.icann.org
One World, One Internet
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