[Baku, Azerbaijan] – The Internet Society announced its substantial participation in the annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Baku, Azerbaijan, 6-9 November.
The IGF is one of the major outcomes of the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and, since 2006, has brought together various stakeholder groups to discuss and shape public policy issues related to Internet governance. More than 1,500 representatives from the private sector, civil society, Internet community, and international nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations are expected to participate in the forum.
The theme of this year’s IGF is “Internet Governance for Sustainable Human, Economic, and Social Development.” From its early beginnings to its massive worldwide expansion over the past two decades, the Internet has grown from a research project to a central communication, social, and economic hub for more than two billion people. This year’s IGF theme offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the characteristics that have been central to the Internet’s success and its sustainability.
The Internet Society has been actively involved in all previous IGFs and will be hosting and participating in a broad range of programs and activities during this IGF. Some of the Internet Society activities at the IGF in Baku include:
- Pre-event session on Enhanced Cooperation and Internet Governance, co-organized with ICC-BASIS and the Association of Progressive Communications;
- Opening session speech from Lynn St. Amour, President and Chief Executive Officer, Internet Society;
- Moderating, organizing, and participating in multiple programs and sessions by Internet Society staff on critical topics such as Privacy, Human Rights, the International Telecommunication Regulations, DNSSEC, Digital Content, and Capacity Building;
- Leading the closing session with a synthesis of the forum and discussion on principles and frameworks for the IGF;
- Hosting 12 new and five returning IGF Ambassadors to attend the forum and participate in the sessions and workshops; and
- Presenting two new reports on national Internet governance arrangements.
Commenting on the IGF, Lynn St. Amour noted, “The work and the collaboration that occurs in the IGF is extremely important. The IGF has demonstrated the value of multi-stakeholder dialogue to sustain the Internet’s unmatched contribution to growth, innovation, and social development. The UN’s WSIS process clearly recognized this when they determined the IGF should be constituted as a neutral, non-duplicative, and non-binding process. We all look forward to another successful IGF.”
For more details on the Internet Society’s involvement at IGF, visit http://www.internetsociety.org/internet-society-igf-2012-guide and http://www.internetsociety.org/igf/2012-internet-governance-forum/igf-2012-activities-list
About the Internet Society
The Internet Society is the trusted independent source for Internet information and thought leadership from around the world. With its principled vision and substantial technological foundation, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and other organizations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone. For more information, visit www.internetsociety.org.
Media Contact: Wende Cover, [email protected], +1-703-439-2773