 | Virus-free.www.avast.com |
Dear Anriette,
I share entirely your view, and I think that Europe has a unique opportunity to move in this direction and start to look around for effective allies, beyond the US government. This is what we need to do each one in its own field of competence and of regional origin…
One of the problem is that global south is not a monolithic entity and not all of its members have the same views on HR fundamentals. This could be a major obstacle.
But as you said, we have no other way then continue to struggle for what we believe is the general interest and the common good.
Giacomo
PS: thank you Bill for the sincere analysis, directly inspired by Socrates views… “scio me nihil scire”…
From: Anriette Esterhuysen via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 9, 2025 9:58 PM
To: wsis20@icann.org
Subject: [wsis20] Re: [EXTERNAL] - Re: Data point: Shift in USG position regarding the SDGs
Things change, and governments change. This happens all the time, but of course it matters more when such a powerful state is involved. As Bill says, it is a new environment.
That is precisely why we do need an international system, with internationally agreed norms and standards. That a powerful government like the US shows lack of support for this system and these norms just affirms the importance of having such a system, even if it does also challenge its sustainability. It might even create the opportunity for a more level multilateral playing field that - in a good case scenario - create new opportunities for global South/Majority member states and for new North/South alliances - particularly around topics like climate change/environmental sustainability/social inclusion/fair trade.
In response to Jordan's question.... we continue doing what we have been doing, but smartly and creatively. We strengthen existing alliances and build new ones. There are still many member states - in the developed and developing worlds - that tech community and civil society people/organisations can work with collaboratively. As for the private sector.... the way in which US-based tech companies are shedding adherence to human rights (other than to a simplistic notion of so-called free speech) is creating an opportunity for businesses that do care about people and the planet to come forward, show leadership, and join forces with those who really care about inclusive multistakeholder approaches to tech governance.
We work with governments that care about inclusion and rights and we challenge and hold accountable those who don't. And we remember that no government is monolithic.. it is almost always possible to find people within "hostile" governments to work with. We just have to do it with more nuance and sensitivity.
It it is also not as if the US government has been the worlds greatest supporter of the WSIS goals, or of global development.... in fact the US has pretty consistently pushed back and tried to contain commitments to debt relief, access to knowledge, access to medicines, open source, net neutrality etc.
Of course losing the US as an ally in the Human Rights Council, and in some of the WSIS negotiations on some aspects of the WSIS such as the renewal of the IGF's mandate, for example, will have a massive impact, but it might also galvanise other states to be more effective in countering this impact. In business and human rights discussions I don't think the US will be missed all that much.. but the human rights people can correct me on that :)
Personally what I will miss most, should it come to that, are several of the individuals in US missions, the State Department and other US government agencies that we have been working with in this space over the past decades/years; people that I have learnt from and whom I value - even if I did not always agree with them.
What about ICANN itself? Any risks to its autonomy as an institution? Or is the fact that it is incorporated under California State Law sufficient protection?
Is it perhaps time to think of an IANA Transition 2.0?
:)
Anriette (in my personal capacity)
Anriette Esterhuysen - anriette@apc.org//anriette@gmail.com
Senior advisor global and regional internet governance
Association for Progressive Communications
www.apc.org//afrisig.org
On 2025/03/08 21:26, Jordan Carter via wsis20 wrote: