Dear GNSO Council,

 

Please see attached document and email below from Nitin Walia.

 

**

Further to my earlier update regarding the work of the Universal Acceptance Expert Working Group (UA EWG), I would like to inform the Council that the Draft Guidelines for Advancing UA Adoption are officially open for Public Comment.

The Public Comment proceeding is available here:
https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/proceeding/draft-guidelines-for-advancing-ua-adoption-23-02-2026

I encourage Council members and the broader community to review the draft and take this opportunity to provide their feedback.

ICANN has specifically invited input on:

These guidelines represent an important operational roadmap toward advancing Universal Acceptance across the ecosystem, including software platforms, email systems, DNS stakeholders, governments, and the broader technical community.

For ease of reference, a copy of the Draft Guidelines for Advancing Universal Acceptance (UA) Adoption is also attached.

Council members may wish to review the draft and consider providing input during the Public Comment period, particularly on any identified gaps, implementation challenges, or prioritization aspects. The Council may also consider sharing this with their respective Stakeholder Groups and members to enable wider perspectives from across the community.

I will continue to keep the Council informed as the next phase of work evolves.

I remain grateful for the opportunity to represent the GNSO in the UA Expert Working Group and appreciate the Council’s continued support in advancing Universal Acceptance and IDN-related efforts.


Thanks

 

 

Warm Regards

Nitin Walia

Director
Data Ingenious Global
nitin@data.in | नितिन@डाटा.भारत 
www.data.in
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From: Nitin Walia<nitin@data.in>  MailId : [153189012]
To: gnso-secs <gnso-secs@icann.org>
Cc: gnso-chairs@icann.org
Subject: Detailed Update on Work of Universal Acceptance Expert Working Group (UA EWG) – GNSO Nominee
Date: 04 Feb 2026 08:32:00 pm

Dear GNSO Secretariat,

I am pleased to share a detailed update on my participation and the progress of work within the Universal Acceptance Expert Working Group (UA EWG) [icann-community.atlassian.net], in which I served as the GNSO-appointed nominee, in line with the UAEWG Charter.

Background and Timeline: As outlined in the Charter, the UA EWG was established following the ICANN Board’s March 2025 resolution to evaluate and evolve strategies for advancing Universal Acceptance (UA) adoption, aligned with ICANN’s Strategic Plan for FY 2026–2030. The Working Group formally commenced its work in 19 August 2025 and held regular online meetings [icann-community.atlassian.net] on a weekly or fortnightly basis. The final scheduled meeting of the Working Group took place on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.

Scope of Work Addressed: In accordance with the Charter, the UA EWG focused on developing non-policy, advisory guidelines to support ICANN org’s future UA adoption work. Key areas addressed by the group included:

Big Tech and Open-Source Ecosystems : Identification of strategies for engaging large technology companies and open-source communities to encourage UA readiness in applications, platforms, and services, including prioritization criteria for engagement.

Software Developers and System Administrators : Recommendations on effective mechanisms, platforms, and capacity-building approaches to promote UA adoption in software development practices and system administration, including email systems, IDNs, and EAI support.

DNS Industry Engagement : Guidance on how ICANN org may further encourage registries, registrars, resellers, hosting providers, and ISPs to support UA during registration, provisioning, and hosting processes.

Public Sector, Academia, and Internet Governance Community : Strategies for outreach to governments, intergovernmental organizations, and academic institutions to promote awareness and adoption of UA, particularly in support of multilingualism, digital inclusion, and citizen-centric digital services.

Standards and Technical Collaboration : Consideration of existing and emerging standards relevant to UA adoption, potential areas for ICANN org contribution, and collaboration with standards-setting organizations.

Measurement and Progress Tracking : Development of high-level guidance on what aspects of UA adoption should be measured across different stakeholder groups, including approaches to encourage transparency and self-reporting.

Risks and Challenges : Identification of remaining gaps, risks, and challenges in achieving broader UA adoption, along with possible mitigation approaches.


Deliverables and Current Status: The Working Group has completed its assigned work and reached consensus on a set of Guidelines for Promoting Universal Acceptance Adoption. These recommendations are advisory in nature and are intended to guide ICANN org’s implementation efforts, consistent with the Charter. The draft guidelines are expected to be published shortly for Public Comment.

Next Steps:  It has been communicated that, following the conclusion of the Public Comment period, the UA EWG may reconvene in April/May 2026, if required, for approximately two to three additional meetings. These meetings would focus on reviewing public input and finalizing the guidelines accordingly before publication.

Request: The work of the Universal Acceptance Expert Working Group clearly demonstrates that sustained progress on Universal Acceptance requires continuity, focus, and clear ownership. As other Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees have already recognized this need through dedicated structures, it is timely for the GNSO to institutionalize its leadership by formally establishing a Universal Acceptance and IDN Working Group. Doing so would ensure that these issues are addressed systematically and sustainably, and embedded at the core of GNSO policy development rather than treated as a time-bound or peripheral initiative.

I will continue to keep the Council informed of any further developments, including the publication of the Public Comment proceeding and any reconvening of the Working Group. 

I would also like to sincerely thank the GNSO Council and its leadership for the trust placed in me and for the opportunity to represent the GNSO as its nominee to the Universal Acceptance Expert Working Group. It has been a privilege to contribute to this important work on behalf of the GNSO, and I deeply appreciate the confidence shown in my ability to engage constructively and effectively in advancing Universal Acceptance and IDN-related efforts.

 

Nitin Walia

Director
Data Ingenious Global
nitin@data.in | नितिन@डाटा.भारत 
www.data.in
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