OTTAWA, CANADA - The Global Commission on Internet Governance (GCIG) has concluded its meeting, in Ottawa, Canada, and issued a statement in support of the transition of the United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) stewardship role for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions to the global multi-stakeholder community.
The official GCIG communiqué from Ottawa can be read here: https://www.ourinternet.org/#press.
Chaired by former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, the GCIG is a two-year initiative launched in January 2014 by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Chatham House, and will produce a comprehensive stand on the future of multi-stakeholder Internet governance. The GCIG met November 25-26, 2014, in Ottawa.
While in Ottawa, GCIG Chair Carl Bildt was presented with the John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award. Presented to him by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, the annual award recognizes individuals or groups who show exceptional courage and leadership in defending human rights and freedom internationally. Several commissioners of the GCIG also met with Government of Canada dignitaries and officials, and industry stakeholders, and participated in briefings related to Internet governance.
The next meeting of the Global Commission on Internet Governance will be held in London, United Kingdom in early 2015. That mission will focus on issues of access, privacy, security and surveillance, as well as the over-all work plan of the Commission.
By Anne-Isabelle Degryse-Blateau (info@koreaittimes.com)
