Youth IGF Initiatives
- Virtual Meeting I: 20 February 2017 –
About
1. The first virtual meeting focused on the Youth IGF initiatives took place on Monday, 20 February 2017 at 15:00 p.m. UTC.
2. The meeting was hosted by Ms. Anja Gengo from the IGF Secretariat. This Summary Report will reflect the main key points raised during the meeting.
3. The agenda is attached to this document as Annex A1 and a list of Meeting Participants as Annex A2. Annex A3 includes a list of other relevant documents, as referenced in this report.
SUMMARY REPORT
Introductions and Agenda adoption
4. Participants introduced themselves stating if and how are they affiliated with the NRIs, and the related Youth activities. The full list of participants is available as Annex A1.
5. The Host shared the agenda with everyone, that was fully endorsed and unanimously adopted. Agenda is attached as Annex A2.
Purpose of the meeting and overview of the current practice
6. As many of the NRIs recognized the importance of initiatives that are focused on young people within the substantive discussion on Internet Governance they run, the IGF Secretariat decided to facilitate the process of conducting rounds of public consultations among the NRIs in regards to this matter. The first in a defined cycle of virtual meetings aimed at gathering information, that further will be subject for analysis of the NRIs, and developing relevant standards.
7. The IGF Secretariat looked into the existing practice on the initiatives focused on young people, where four existing models were identified, and as such illustrated and presented at the meeting (see Annex A3.1). These were the following:
- Model I: Youth IGF initiatives attached to the NRIs (as separate tracks);
- Model II: Independently organized Youth IGF initiatives;
- Model III: Capacity building projects on Youth participation at the IGF, and
- Model IV: Youth Initiatives integrated into the NRIs (as advisors on planning/organizing sessions and/or speaking in sessions).
8. After this, the present coordinators were invited to explain their internal organization, and how do they related to adhering the main IGF principles.
9. On behalf of the Asia Pacific regional Youth IGF initiatives (YIGF [AP]) and the Youth initiative of Hong Kong (HKYIGF), the coordinator shared the presentation (attached to this report as Annex A3.2). The main key points shared were as it follows in a summary below:
a) It was explained that the YIGF [AP] is organized in parallel with the Asia Pacific regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF). It was established in 2010 year.
b) Young people are also involved in the process of planning the program of the APrIGF through the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG).
c) The MSG is also focusing on exploring the best ways for integrating the young people into its annual meeting’s sessions.
d) It was noted that this Youth IGF initiative is bottom up, as it was initiated by the Youth group, NetMission Ambassadors. Its multistakeholderism comes from the fact that the MSG of the APrIGF advises on the ways the programme should be run. All records for this initiative are publicly available through their website, as transparency and openness are one of the key principles they follow.
e) This initiative welcomes all students to attend, free of charge.
f) The programme is built by the young people. The format of the sessions and related activities tends to be adjusted to fit and empower youth, so many simulation sessions are organized, as an interesting way for learning.
g) It was stressed that the young people should be more integrated into the NRIs annual meetings, as active participants.
h) Regarding the HKYIGF, it was explained that the community that attended the 2015 APrIGF expressed the need for stronger youth engagement in this region.
i) As there is not a local IGF in this region that could facilitate the process, three different stakeholders from the Internet Governance field have formed the multistakeholder Organizing Committee. The program involved the 3-days long camp on Internet Governance, along with the Youth Summit and other segments of the Youth Empower programme. Facilitators of the entire programme are young people.
j) The major outcomes of these events are shared with the wider IGF community, through the submission of the final reports to the IGF Secretariat.
10. On behalf of the Youth IGF initiative of Germany, the coordinator shared the following information:
- This initiative was organized by and for the young people. It has its own budget, and does not depend on the national IGF of Germany.
- However, they tend to create linkages with the German national IGF, by delegating two young persons to be on the Steering Committee of this respectful initiative.
11. By elaborating on the Model III, a coordinator of a capacity building programme identified as: ‘’The European Youth IGF Project’’ explained the goals and operating principles of this initiative as it follows:
- The work scope of this project reaches to: Austria, Netherlands, Germany and Turkey. In Germany and Netherlands, they cooperate with the national IGFs of these countries, with the aim of educating and training people on the field of Internet Governance.
- It was noted that the German Youth IGF could stand as a reference model, as it is independent, where young people are developing the programme and managing the meeting(s).
- All stakeholders are invited to these events, to speak with the young people on particular topic. Currently, this initiative is creating a booklet where learned lessons will be published.
12. From the Bangladesh Youth IGF initiative, the coordinator shared the information that ten young people organized this event, that was supported by the 2016 MAG member from this country, as well as the local ISOC chapter and the Youth IGF Movement. The total number of participants was twenty-five, mostly students from different universities and with different backgrounds.
13. In regards to the Model IV, the coordinator of the German national IGF shared a couple of inputs, stemming from their experience in involving the young people:
- The practice where young people were given their own panel, has turned to be ineffective. The main reason was because the participants, especially the ones that do not fall under the youth age scope, were not interested in attending the panel.
- The above caused this initiative to change the policy, and allow the young people to be full members of the Steering Committee.
- During the 2016 annual meeting, young people were given a specific session to design in terms of format, to invite speakers and identify the key questions. On the session panel, there were young people as speakers, as well as the more experienced stakeholders. This resulted in a very good attendance and vibrant discussion.
14. From the Youth IGF Initiative of Chad, it was noted that the national IGF of Chad had a very good participation of young people in past, that resulted in communities’ need to have a separate track of activities focused on youth. By collaboration with the Youth IGF Movement, they have organized a Youth IGF Initiative, where the Chad IGF multistakeholder Organizing Team was advising this Youth IGF initiative in terms of logistics, while the participating young people developed the agenda.
15. A participant from the LACIGF Youth Initiative explained that this regional IGF has organized a specific track for young people, that brought students from across the Latin America, through a fellowship programme. Many specific IG related topics were discussed, through many sessions that allowed the community to work around one table and rotate as speakers. Many different stakeholders recognized and supported this initiative.
16. Participants from the Uruguay explained that the IGF Movement supported the young people to independently organize their Youth IGF Initiate.
17. In regards to the model IV, from the national IGF of Armenia it was said that the plans are underway for organizing the School on Internet Governance that will involve many young people. This will be organized during the student’s summer break. The School will create linkages with the national Armenian IGF in a way that it would support the School’s participants to attend the annual meeting of this national IGF.
The so far practice of this national IGF in regards to the capacity building activities for the inclusion of young people into the discussion on Internet Governance, was focused on the organizing team reaching out to the universities in the country and informing about this IGF work. This resulted in increasing the overall participation of young people to 9% of total number of participant at the latest annual 2016 meeting.
18. A coordinator of the African regional IGF informed that young people were actively involved in the preparatory work of the 2016 annual meeting of this IGF.
- On the invitation of the Secretariat of the African IGF, young people submitted ideas for organizing a substantive workshop on their involvement in matters related to Internet Governance. Their online collaboration resulted in developing a written concept paper and agenda for related workshop and plenary meeting. Mentioned workshop was moderated by the Youth, while the plenary session allowed for youth’s active engagement in the discussion.
- In addition, the African School on Internet Governance is organized by APC and NEPAD, in a context of this regional IGF. This is a very important factor for educating many young people on topics related to the Internet. The 5-day long school brings together around 40 participants including 30 youth, that participate actively as panellists in the annual meeting of this IGF
19. A community member of the Nigeria national IGF noted that a day before the annual meeting event starts, young people gather and come to the venue to discuss the Internet Governance issues.
20. On behalf of the Youth Coalition on Internet Governance (YCIG), it was informed that the charter is in a process of drafting, and that all inputs are welcomed by the next week’s Tuesday.
Next Steps
21. The Secretariat will summarize the key suggestions raised during two meetings and will distribute the meeting summary in the next three days.
22. The NRIs coordinators will be consulted to review the gathered information so far and define the next steps, that later will be shared with the wider NRIs community, subject to final compromise.
23. Next meeting: The Secretariat will distribute the Doodle poll for the members of the NRIs to cast the votes for the best time slots for the two virtual calls, during March 2017.
24. For any suggestions or questions regarding the Report, kindly contact the Secretariat at: [email protected] or [email protected].
Annex A1
List of participants (in alphabetical order):
- Adam Ahmat Doungous, Chad (National Radio)
- Ali Hussain, Pakistan in-formation IGF
- Abdul Awal, Bangladesh Youth IGF initiative
- Abakar Oumar Massar, observer from Chad
- Adebunmi Akinbo, observer from Nigeria
- Abdeldjalil Bachar Bong, IGF Chad
- Adeel Sadiq, observer from Pakistan
- Ajeovi Kouami, observer
- Daniel Macias, Government of Mexico
- David Ng, YAPrIGF, HKYIGF
- David Vyorst, IGF-USA
- David Krystof, German Youth IGF
- Fotjon Kosta, in-formation IGF of Albania
- Israel Rosas, Government Mexico, Local Initiative on IGF, Youth Observatory
- Jennifer Chung, APrIGF
- June Okal, Kenya IGF
- Lianna Galstyan, Armenia IGF and SEEDIG
- Lorena Jaume Palasi, German IGF
- Maheeshwara Kirindigoda, Sri Lanka IGF
- Makane Faye, African IGF
- Marilyn Cade, IGF-SA, IGF-USA
- Martin Fischer, European Youth IGFs Project
- Michael Oghia, SEEDIG and EuroDIG community, YCIG
- Mohammad Abdul Awal Haolader, Bangladesh Youth IGF Initiative
- Nicolas Fiumarelli, Youth IGF initiative in Uruguay
- Narine Khachatryan, Safer Internet Armenia Youth IGF Initiative Armenia, EuroDIG community and YCIG member
- Oksana Prykhodko, Ukraine IGF
- Sandra Hoferichter, EuroDIG
- Shreedeep Rayamajhi, ISOC Chapter Nepal, Learn IG Nepal
- Yolanda Mlonzi, observer from South Africa
- Yulia Morenets, Together Against Cybercrime Int./Youth IGF Movement
- Youssouf Abdelrahim, IGF Chad
Annex A2
IGF NRIs meeting on the Youth IGF initiatives, 20 February 2017 at 15:00 p.m. UTC
Meeting Agenda
- Welcome and Introductions
- IGF Secretariat presentation: up to 2 minutes
- Overview of the current practice on Youth IGF initiatives: 4 mapped models to be presented by the Secretariat
- Youth Initiatives presentations: up to 4 minutes
- How are you organized, in accordance with core IGF principles (bottom up, multistakeholder, open and transparent, inclusive, non-commercial)?
- Information about the multistakeholder Core Organizing Teams of the Youth IGFs
- Role of the Youth IGFs coordinators
- Number of annual meetings so far and intersessional activities
- Youth IGFs representation at the annual IGF meeting
- AoB
Annex A3
List of shared inputs (A3.1 and A3.2) available in the .pdf version of the report.