Dear Councillors, As we ran out of time on our August monthly call, yesterday, I wanted to send my updates in writing. During our SPS in January, I proposed to establish direct communications between our working groups and our GAC peers. It was agreed then that I should proceed, informing Council as these links developed, and come back to Council 6 months on, to report on the overall progress. To date, 4 links have been established between our two SO/ACs: Internet Governance GNSO Lead: Desiree Miloshevic GAC Leads: Ana Neves - Portugal, Christine Arida - Egypt Introductions were made in February, and the two groups were able to meet in person during ICANN 82 Seattle and 83 Prague. Particularly important this year with WSIS+20 discussions, interactions have been very active. Desiree provided a report on her group’s activities today. Human Rights GNSO Lead: Farzaneh Badii GAC Leads: Suada Hadzovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina (co-chair), Giacomo Mazzone, WBU (co-chair) Introductions were made in February, and Farzaneh was able to meet with Suada. This group has had limited activities GAC-side up until July but is contributing on topics such as the CCWG WS2. Commonalities on ongoing work remain to be established. Accuracy GNSO Lead: Paul McGrady GAC: RDS / WHOIS Working Group Introductions were made in May at the launch of the GNSO Small Team on Accuracy. I was able to brief the Working Group’s just after the Small Team’s launch in May. As the Small Group was actively working on its recommendations to the GNSO, the two groups did not formally meet during ICANN 83 in Prague, but the GAC closely followed the Small Team’s activities and its report, and will participate in any further GNSO-lead Community work, given the opportunity. DNS Abuse GNSO Lead: Jennifer Chung GAC Lead: Martina Barbero, EU, Susan Chalmers, US - DNS Abuse Working Group Introductions were made in May at the launch of the GNSO Small Team on DNS Abuse. I was able to brief the Working Group’s just after the Small Team’s launch in May. As the Small Group was actively working on its recommendations to the GNSO, the two groups did not formally meet during ICANN 83 in Prague, but we noted the US intervention on the GAC floor on the topic. The GAC is closely following the Small Team’s activities and its report, and will participate in any further GNSO-lead Community work, given the opportunity. I want to also recognise the important contribution Gabriel Andrews made for the GAC/PSWG to the RDRS Standing Committee work, and the report it is about to put to Public Comment. As established by our predecessors in this role, I continue having monthly calls with my peers GAC-side. With a hiatus in July, we are scheduled to meet on August 27th, to discuss talking points for our ICANN84 Dublin bilateral. I will be able to share those ahead of our September Council meeting. Kindly Sebastien Ducos GNSO Liaison to the GAC +49 172 690 8418 Germany sebastien@registry.godaddy<mailto:sebastien@registry.godaddy>
