Having trouble viewing this email? Click here http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=343daf93-4ece-4cd4-a02c-75... Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in ICANN. Don't forget to add emea.communications@icann.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! You may unsubscribe http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001fV5zcrmnzCVnMiD3Cw8NvQ%3D%3D... if you no longer wish to receive our emails. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Multistakeholder Approach in Action: ICANN Community Collaborates to Increase Global Civil Society Engagement ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Encouraging Contributions to ICANN's Policy Development Process In July 2015, we began a new approach to how civil society engages with ICANN. While civil society is already firmly anchored within the ICANN community, this new initiative recognizes the need to strengthen and broaden the participation and role of global civil society in ICANN's processes and discussions. The strategy acknowledges the valuable contributions of the current civil society community, aims to make their work easier and more rewarding while encouraging new participants to join and support the work already underway. This will be achieved, in part, by making information more accessible, through community-led development of new tailored content and communications and through capacity building and skills development. The strategy is currently being developed in consultation with civil society organizations and ICANN's multistakeholder community. Within ICANN, the regional Global Stakeholder Engagement teams and staff supporting the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) will promote the various initiatives aimed at bolstering civil society participation. We encourage you to get involved and reach out to them to learn more. Your region's local contact is provided below: * Yaovi Atohoun (Africa) - yaovi.atohoun@icann.org * Fahd Batayneh (Middle-East) - fahd.batayneh@icann.org * Joe Catapano (North America) - joe.catapano@icann.org * Rodrigo de la Parra (Latin America and Caribbean) - rodrigo.delaparra@icann.org * Kelvin Wong (Asia Pacific) - kelvin.wong@icann.org * Heidi Ullrich (At-Large) - Heidi.Ullrich@icann.org * Adam Peake (Global Coordinator) - adam.peake@icann.org * Jean-Jacques Sahel (Global lead / Europe) - jean-jacques.sahel@icann.org The current strategy draft is available here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...]. Information about calls and webinars regarding this new strategy will also be available on the Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG) [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] site [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] and ALAC [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] mailing lists. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] The initial phase will be finalized by the end of 2015, but the strategy will continue to evolve and respond to developments within ICANN and to the changing needs of the global civil society community. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GNSO Council Adopts Data and Metrics for Policymaking Working Group Recommendations The GNSO Council unanimously approved the Data and Metrics for Policymaking Working Group's consensus recommendations. The Working Group developed final recommendations and submitted them to the GNSO Council for its consideration, which are documented in its Final Report [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] after a review of public comments [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...]. Support staff has begun implementation of the adopted recommendations and implementation status can be viewed on the Projects List [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...]. ALAC Activities at ICANN54 The ALAC unanimously passed statements on the Use of Country and Territory Names as Top-Level Domains [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] on the New gTLD [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] Auction Proceeds Discussion Paper [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] for communication to the relevant parties. The ALAC also held a successful first Development Session [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] on 23 October 2015 to welcome new members. GAC Public Safety Working Group Upcoming priorities for the Public Safety Working Group (PSWG) [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] include contributing to the new gTLD Competition, Consumer Choice and Consumer Trust Review as well as to the GNSO Policy Development Process on Next-Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services. The PSWG actively encourages participation from more countries, notably developing countries, and from additional experts on data protection, consumer protection, and other relevant specialties, to represent a full range of governmental public safety actors worldwide. SSAC Publishes Advisory on Registrant Protection The SSAC recently published SAC074 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...], SSAC Advisory on Registrant Protection: Best Practices for Preserving Security and Stability in the Credential Management Lifecycle. The advisory provides specific best practice guidelines that will help registrars and registries enhance the security of domain names and the systems that support them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our hub operations began in May 2013 in a temporary office space. Almost one year ago today, we moved into our new and expanded office space in Istanbul. Since our operations began, we have been hiring local staff and growing our presence within not only Istanbul, but the entirety of the EMEA region. Our regional staff is made up of 51 members spread throughout EMEA, 14 of which are based in the hub office. These Istanbul-based staff provide a variety of ICANN services, including: policy development support, contractual compliance, registries and registrars services, stakeholder engagement, communications, ICANN meetings, global contact services, human resources, IT, administration and Board operations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ICANN and the G20 Summit in Turkey (15-16 November 2015 -Antalya, Turkey) David Olive, VP, Policy Development Support & General Manager of the Istanbul Headquarters, represented ICANN at the G20 Summit. The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) an independent think tank in Ankara, invited David to participate on a panel to discuss innovation. TEPAV coordinated the T20 activities, which is an 'idea bank' for G20 governments, bringing innovation to the G20 agenda. In another panel on Information Technologies in Sustainable Development, the role of ICANN was discussed and the findings of reports done by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) were shared. The studies found that reducing 'e-friction' can deliver a potential 2.5% increase in GDP and 7% increase in Small And Midsize Enterprise (SME) revenues. For more information, read David Olive's blog here [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...]. Panel discussion with Annenberg School for Communication's Center for Global Communication Studies and Kadir Has University (02 September 2015 - Istanbul, Turkey) This session brought together representatives from Turkish and EMEA civil society and ICANN staff to share perspectives on the Internet's multistakeholder model, the unique system of governance where civil society participates directly in policymaking for the technical layer of Internet Governance. The panel included: Walid Al-Saqaf, Stockholm University and member of the ICANN Non Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC); Hanane Boujemi, Hivos, and member of NCUC; David Olive, ICANN Vice President, Policy Development Support & General Manager, Regional Headquarters - Istanbul and was moderated by ICANN Vice President for Europe, Jean-Jacques Sahel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Looking back at ICANN's activities in Europe We have continued to build our hub and capabilities in Europe, and all ICANN operations and services are now provided out of our Istanbul hub. This has enabled us to serve the community in a more efficient manner. Over the past 18 months, ICANN's Global Stakeholder Engagement team has also forged ahead with its drive to raise awareness of ICANN and continues to encourage European stakeholders to increase their participation in ICANN's policy development processes. We have been involved in over 70 events across 20 countries and have supported the latest editions of several national 'Internet Governance Forums' (IGF), as well as another successful EuroDIG in Sofia, Bulgaria. We were also proud to be closely involved with the creation of three new multistakeholder forums in our region: IGF Bosnia-Herzegovina, IGF Croatia and the South Eastern Europe Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG), which is a project born at the ICANN London meeting last year. Our community members have been major drivers of these initiatives. We are incredibly grateful for their enthusiasm and the dynamism that all our stakeholders are showing on the ground. We have addressed a wide range of audiences, including academics, businesses, students, NGOs, government officials and politicians. We have held information sessions and participated in panels that examine what ICANN is, how it works, the important of cybersecurity, the evolution of domain names and, of course, the IANA Stewardship Transition. It all culminated in October in Dublin, where ICANN held its 54th Public Meeting, which was a great mix of good fun and hard, but successful, work. ICANN54 will remain a major milestone in our community's history. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts to improve how we serve the community here in Europe and beyond, and encourage more participation in ICANN, to ensure we have truly diverse, increasingly global ICANN community. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Civil Society and ICANN Panel (26 November 2015, Amsterdam, Netherlands) A panel discussion was held last month with participants from Dutch Civil Society and ICANN on the following topics: * Introduction and overview of ICANN's multistakeholder model and ICANN's relevance to civil society missions -- Jean-Jacques Sahel (VP European Region, ICANN), Stefi Milan (University of Amsterdam and ICANN GNSO Council) * ICANN policy highlights: Privacy, Human Rights, Public Interest and ICANN -- Stefi Milan (University of Amsterdam), Niels ten Oever (Article 19), Lousewies van der Laan (ICANN Board member) * IANA Stewardship Transition: An update on the IANA Stewardship Transition and ICANN Accountability (Jean-Jacques Sahel ICANN, Stefi Milan/ Niels ten Oever) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The end of 2015 was very eventful for Internet Governance in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. A number of important events were held during that time period including: the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Azerbaijan (RIGF-AZ, Baku), UADom Conference in Kiev (Ukraine), Russian Interactive Week (RIW) in Moscow and many more. One event worth mentioning is the 'School on Digital Law', which was held from the end of October to the beginning of November in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Organized by the Civil Initiative on Internet Policy ( www.gipi.kg) [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] with the support ICANN and other international organizations, the event was comprised of a series of trainings for government experts (first stream) and judges and prosecutors from local courts (second stream). Over fifty specialists attended from various national and municipal agencies. During four full days, the team of teachers (including Michael Yakushev, ICANN VP for Eastern Europe and Central Asia) delivered several presentations on different legal aspects of Internet technologies, use of the Internet, and legislative developments on the local, regional and global levels. Updates were given on the current status and future plans on Internet Governance, ICANN's role in the multistakeholder model and an update on the IANA Stewardship Transition. The event was a success and may become the first step towards a permanent engagement platform for Central Asia, based in Bishkek. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Launch of the DNS Entrepreneurship Center in Cairo In November, Fadi Chehade, President & CEO of ICANN and Baher Esmat, VP Middle East Engagement, attended the launch of the Domain Names System Entrepreneurship Center (DNS-EC) in Cairo. The center is a result of a partnership between ICANN and Egypt's National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA). A blog written by Fadi Chehade on the occasion can be read here. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reflecting on 2015 and Looking Forward to 2016 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's been a busy year with outreach activities in more than ten regional countries, along with key milestones and achievements. The DNS Entrepreneurship Center (DNS-EC), which was set up last year and officially launched last month, has provided six training programs in four countries and attended by more than 100 participants from the Middle East and Africa. We held the Middle East DNS Forum in [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] Amman, Jordan [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] on 9-10 March attracting 80 participants. One of the main outcomes was commissioning the European Registry for Internet Domains (EURid) Consortium to conduct a regional study [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] on the DNS landscape in the Middle East [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...]. Moreover, two successful 'Schools on Internet Governance' were held - one on a regional level in Tunisia [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] and the other at a national level in Pakistan [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...]. The region also added four new L-root instances - two in Islamabad, one in Lahore and another in Amman. What are our plans for 2016? In 2016, we will continue to increase our regional outreach activities and encourage the participation of a more diverse stakeholder group. You can also look forward to us conducting more trainings as part of the DNS-EC and including new tracks as part of the training curriculum. The DNS-EC will also have a dedicated staff member to cover its operations. We will be holding two DNS forums - the Turkish DNS Forum held from 18-19 January and the third edition of the Middle East DNS Forum and the MEAC School on Internet Governance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2015 has been a very active year for the team on the ground, with many milestones achieved as we continue to drive awareness and build capacity. Some of the key achievements: The DNSSEC Roadshow Now in its fourth phase, our flagship project of the Africa strategy continues to gain momentum in the region. The strategy has been a success and we're seeing a better understanding and implementation of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in African countries. One key achievement this year was Zambia joining the group of African countries that have completed full DNSSEC implementation. Since the project kicked off in February 2013, 12 African ccTLD registries have hosted this event. Our latest roadshow took place a few days ago, from 9-11 December, in Accra, Ghana, with other countries targeted to host DNSSEC roadshow events between now and June 2016, including South Africa, Mauritius, Benin, Togo, Gambia and Morocco. DNS Exchange Program The exchange program has been a success and continues to build momentum in engaging key DNS industry leaders globally and regionally. It has helped build capacity for African registrars by hosting staff from African registrars and registries and training them on the technical and commercial sides of the operations. This year, two interns from Web4Africa and Afriregister attended this program in Singapore from 12-23 January 2015. Two more interns from DIAMATRIX and GHANA DOT COM will travel to Canada from 06-17 December 2015 to attend the program. ZACR has also offered to host interns from five African ccTLDs. ICANN launches a new Flagship Project - The Digital Entrepreneurship Project Our ICANN 2016-2020 Africa Strategy identified capacity building as a key objective in strengthening ccTLDs and fostering competition in the African domain name industry. As a result of this strategic priority, ICANN launched the Digital Entrepreneurship Project in Africa, with the first workshop hosted in Rwanda by RICTA, the .RW operator, in October 2015. The project seeks opportunities to contribute to digital entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa by introducing Domain Name System business training, mentoring and incubation workshops targeted at African registries and registrars, in addition to potential young entrepreneurs interested in the Domain Name space to spur and stimulate awareness and business ventures in the DNS sector. Under this project, ICANN has engaged digital marketing consultants, who collaborate with players in tech-hubs within the various countries, to deliver highly localized digital marketing trainings to participants. We are happy to report that the feedback from the two initial countries (Rwanda & Zambia) was very encouraging, with over 60 participants already trained. During the next six months, we plan to setup additional workshops in at least ten other African countries. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Issues Currently Open for Public Comment Guidelines for Developing Reference Label Generation Rules (LGRs) for the Second Level [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] To facilitate and improve consistency of testing and stability of registry operations of new gTLDs, ICANN is developing reference Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) tables in machine readable format, called Label Generation Rulesets (LGRs) for the second level, for use in Pre-Delegation Testing (PDT) and the Registry Service Evaluation Process (RSEP). Public Comment Period Closes: 15 December 2015, 23:59 UTC Proposed Implementation of GNSO Policy Development Process Recommendations on Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) Part D [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] The public comment proceeding seeks to obtain community input on the proposed implementation of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Policy Development Process (PDP) recommendations on the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) Part D. Public Comment Period Closes: 21 December 2015, 23:59 UTC gTLD Marketplace Health Index Proposal: Call for Comments and Volunteers [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] ICANN seeks community input to facilitate the creation of a gTLD Marketplace Health Index. This Index will analyze the overall health and diversity of the global gTLD marketplace. Public Comment Period Closes: 8 January 2016, 23:59 UTC At any time, the full list of issues open for public comment plus recently closed and archived public comment proceedings can be found on the Public Comment page. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] ICANN staff also populates a web page to help preview potential upcoming public comment proceedings. The Upcoming Public Comment [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] page [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrElsz4-KVfH_ZDRPAxaGT8SspDTT_-we1g2pTVR-mP11Khhvc-vBmIf6CWHgbASZraTK6ZkHhjGFALvT2E8UQEDzo_oqkp0m47UHbF6haf5RCU5JzjnUmLwDs7IeGxxFLj1F6STWrXyOJ0mQ10dCcKNYZ95X8Hyw7sEoaG2ilxivBIBgzL4B0&c=AHlX3lmBPsUDFQfaXoneHA4Ew4q0t0KBPX0YCxgfngrP59zLOAdBSQ==&ch=UZuSAO-PrBtfXKVtn1Yo_Zn5HLsyZ_U9WI8KJFdekILazI6TX7Ml1g==]provides information about potential future public comment opportunities. The page is updated after every ICANN public meeting to help individuals and the community set priorities and plan future workloads. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Update on the IANA Stewardship Transition and Enhancing ICANN Accountability Processes The ICG and CCWG-Accountability met in Dublin during ICANN54 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] to continue work on their proposals in wake of the feedback received during the two public comment periods that ended in September. The ICG was successful in completing its Consolidated [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] IANA [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] Stewardship Proposal [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] and is now awaiting the finalization of the CCWG-Accountability's Work Stream 1 Recommendations. The CCWG-Accountability Third Draft Proposal on Work Stream 1 Recommendations [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] was posted for a 21-day public comment from 30 November to 21 December 2015. Further to detailing 11 recommendations to enhance ICANN's accountability, the proposal also outlines how the community arrived at the recommendations and the options considered, and ultimately rejected, in development of the proposal. It is expected that in addition to public comment, the CCWG-Accountability will gather insightful feedback and consideration from its six Chartering Organizations. Pending no major concerns by the Chartering Organizations, the group anticipates delivery of its recommendations to the ICANN Board in mid-late January. Once the CCWG-Accountability finalizes its Work Stream 1 recommendations and the CWG-Stewardship confirms that the recommendations meet its requirements, the ICG can consider its proposal complete and begin the process of submitting it to the NTIA. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IANA Transition Process: A Testimony of the Efforts of the Global Multistakeholder Model By Mohamed El Bashir - The IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) Vice Chair The Internet is a tremendous, undisputed force for economic growth and social change. As an Internet technologist and active user, I have witnessed the social and economic impact of the Internet on my region of the world (Africa/Middle East). The Internet has given a voice to the voiceless, empowered the oppressed and generated economic benefits to individuals, entrepreneurs, business and countries. Currently, more than 3 billion connected human beings use it in their daily activities - an incredible number of users given how young the Internet is. However, the Internet governance model has not evolved at the same pace as the Internet's growth rate. The collaboration that takes place between the different stakeholders (e.g. government, technical community, civil society, academia, end users) reflects the Internet's diversity and open nature. Currently, the United States Government has a stewardship and oversight role over the management of the IANA functions, which have been managed by ICANN since 1998. The transition from the US Government Stewardship role to the global multistakeholder community is an important milestone in the evolution and maturity of the multistakeholder model. I have been honored to be one of the two vice chairs of the IANA Coordination Group (ICG). The ICG is a thirty-member group representing 13 global Internet community stakeholder groups. The IANA transition process has demonstrated the effectiveness and importance of this unique model. Hundreds of volunteers have come together to participate in the operational communities (names, numbers and protocols). The proposals we have created were developed in a bottom up, inclusive, open and transparent process. The diversity of the received inputs, volume of contributions and amount of time and effort dedicated to the process has been remarkable. Following a public review process, in which translated versions (in the six standard UN languages) of the proposal were put online for the global community to review, the ICG has now reviewed and finalized the draft proposal. The ICG had received 157 comments from all over the world in a variety of languages. The community has also achieved consensus and progress in the ICANN Accountability work, which will complement the transition by ensuring that ICANN evolves into a global, transparent and accountable organization entrusted for the coordination of the Internet's critical resources. So far, the progress in this process is a testimony to the dedication, hard work and tireless efforts of hundreds of Internet experts and volunteers from all over the world. The final step of the submission of the ICG's final proposal to the US Government will conclude this critical and important historical transition, which will hopefully ensure the continued openness, access, interoperability, diversity and future growth of the Internet that has benefited so many people. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Learn More about Universal Acceptance Universal Acceptance is a foundational requirement for a truly multilingual Internet, one in which users around the world can navigate entirely in local languages. It is also the key to unlocking the potential of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) to foster competition, consumer choice and innovation in the domain name industry. To achieve Universal Acceptance, Internet applications and systems must treat all TLDs in a consistent manner, including new gTLDs and internationalized TLDs. The Universal Acceptance Steering Group is a community-based team working to share this vision for the Internet of the future with those who construct this space: coders. The group's primary objective is to help system owners and independent coders understand how Universal Acceptance will enable the next billion users to interact and build their own spaces online. Learn more and get involved: https://www.icann.org/universalacceptance. [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Twenty-five new gTLDs delegated in November sfr vip audi verisign bugatti lamborghini bostik boehringer broadway comsec fairwinds tab lifestyle vana creditunion cityeats ferrero playstation rocher xn--qxam Beats Aarp xn--mgbtx2b Apple grainger ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcoming New Team Members to ICANN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alexandra Kulikova GSE Manager, Eastern Europe and Central Asia We are pleased to welcome Alexandra Kulikova to the ICANN team. She joins ICANN in the capacity of Global Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, reporting to Michael Yakushev, Vice President Global Stakeholder Eastern Europe and Central Asia. She will be based in Moscow, Russia. As part of the GSE team in the region, she will provide support for the implementation of the ICANN GSE regional projects and will oversee, lead and execute engagement with all stakeholders, including regional and international Internet governance discussions. Alexandra comes to ICANN with a strong background in Internet governance, having worked as the Program Coordinator for the Global Internet Governance and International Information Security, which is a program lead at PIR Center, a non-governmental think-tank focusing on global security issues. Alexandra has an undergraduate degree in theory and methodology of foreign language teaching and multicultural communication from the Moscow State Linguistic University in Russia and a MSc in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the UK. She is fluent in both English and Russian, and also has advanced knowledge of French and Spanish. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gabriella Schittek GSE Manager, Central & Eastern Europe We are pleased to welcome Gabriella Schittek to the GSE team. She joined ICANN in January 2007, as the ccNSO secretariat before starting her new role as GSE Manager. Prior to joining ICANN she had worked for the Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries (CENTR) and the .uk registry Nominet. In her role as GSE Manager, Central & Eastern Europe, Gabriella is responsible for supporting the organization's engagement in the region with all ICANN stakeholders, including governments, private sector, civil society, technical community and academia, through direct contact, awareness raising and capacity building initiatives. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Turkey DNS Forum - 18-19 January 2016, Istanbul, Turkey For more information on how to register and to view the agenda, please visit: http://www.turkeydnsforum.org/ [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] ICANN55 - Marrakech 5-10th March https://meetings.icann.org/en/marrakech55 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] For a more detailed look at all the regional events that we will be participating in, please visit this page: https://features.icann.org/events-near-you [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MBPs5xv5bFFFMTczeYQFSvAK0LiDWjbTPjbmr1vMUsrrE...] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forward this email http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=nj88a9rab&m=1118638566701&ea=$... This email was sent to euro-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org by emea.communications@icann.org. Update Profile/Email Address http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=001fV5zcrmnzCVnMiD3Cw8NvQ%3D%3D... Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM) http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001fV5zcrmnzCVnMiD3Cw8NvQ%3D%3D... Privacy Policy: http://www.constantcontact.com/legal/service-provider?cc=about-service-provi... ICANN | 12025 Waterfront Dr. | Suite 300 | Los Angeles | CA | 90094