Session
Global Digital Governance & Cooperation
Role of IGF
Youth LACIGF
Nicolás Fiumarelli (Youth IGF Uruguay), Civil Society, GRULAC Roberto Zambrana (IGF Bolivia), Civil Society, GRULAC Umut Pajaro Velazquez (YouthLACIGF), Civil Society, GRULAC Denise Leal (former Youth Brazil Fellow), Civil Society, GRULAC
Laura Margolis, IGF Uruguay, Civil Society, GRULAC Vinicius W. O. Santos, IGF Brazil, Civil Society, GRULAC Raul Echeberria (LACIGF), Julián Casasbuenas (Colombia IGF), Civil Society, GRULAC Lia P. Hernandez, IGF Panama, Civil Society, GRULAC Umut Pajaro Velazquez, Youth LACIGF, Civil Society, GRULAC Bia Barbosa - Conselhera Programa Youth Brazil, Civil Society, GRULAC Eduardo Tomé, Central America IGF, Civil Society, GRULAC Olga Cavalli, South School on Internet Governance, Civil Society, GRULAC Osvaldo Larancuent Dominican Republic IGF / ISOC.DO
Nicolas Fiumarelli
Umut Pajaro Velazquez
Denise Leal
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: The session aligns with and supports the achievement of specific Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically: SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By focusing on Internet governance, the session promotes the development of reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including information and communications technology. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The session aims to address issues of digital divide and inequalities in access to and use of Internet resources within and across countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): The session underlines the importance of inclusive and participatory decision-making in Internet governance, thus promoting peaceful, inclusive societies and effective institutions. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The session promotes effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, sharing and exchange of knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support the achievement of Internet governance in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
Session Structure: Introduction (10 minutes) Moderators Nicolás Fiumarelli (YouthLACIGF) and Roberto Zambrana (IGF Bolivia) will provide an overview of the session, establishing its objectives and expected outcomes, and presenting the speakers. Presentation of Outcomes of National and Youth IGF Initiatives (40 minutes) Representatives from IGF Uruguay (Laura Margolis), IGF Brazil (Vinicius W. O. Santos), Colombia IGF (Julián Casasbuenas), IGF Panama (Lia P. Hernandez), Youth LACIGF (Umut Pajaro Velazquez), and Programa Youth Brazil (Marcelo Oliveira) will detail the outcomes of their respective initiatives. This segment aims to provide a thorough understanding of the various national and youth-led Internet governance initiatives within the Latin American and Caribbean region. Eduardo Tomé from the Central America IGF will also provide an overview of their efforts. And Olga Cavalli from South School on Internet Governance will bring the perspective of the regional school on internet governance and share insights about the new DCSIG and Collaborative Discussion on Cooperation and Outcomes (30 minutes) The moderators will guide an engaging discussion on the outcomes presented, identifying shared threads and challenges, and exploring potential for regional cooperation. The aim is to build a unified regional "picture" of Internet governance policies, which can serve as a foundation for the development of regional policies and contribute to our collective message to the global Internet governance sphere. Conclusions and Next Steps (10 minutes) The moderators will summarize the key points of the session. (10 minutes)
Spanish
This session, planned for Day 0 of the Global IGF 2023 in Kyoto on October 8, 2023, invites the National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs) of Latin America and the Caribbean to join in a comprehensive dialogue on internet governance. The focus will be on the presentation and examination of the outcomes of national and regional Internet governance initiatives. The session aims to detect common trends, challenges, and opportunities for improved collaboration and shared policy development.
Hybrid Approach: Given the current global situation and in the spirit of inclusivity, this session will take a hybrid approach, with both on-site and online participation facilitated. The session will be designed to ensure equal footing for all participants, regardless of their mode of participation. The on-site moderators, Nicolás Fiumarelli and Roberto Zambrana, will coordinate with the online moderator to ensure seamless integration and active participation of both on-site and remote participants. The online moderator (in stage) will monitor online participation, ensuring that online questions and contributions are addressed and included in the discussion, there will be possibility for online speakers to speak orally. This approach will guarantee that the session is as interactive, participatory, and inclusive as possible. The session will be conducted in English, but contributions in Spanish and Portuguese will be welcomed to foster inclusivity. We look forward to additional participation from representatives of the IGF in Peru and the Caribbean. Additional Aspects: Questions for the session: What strategies can enhance cooperation and collaboration among NRIs in Latin America and the Caribbean to address regional Internet governance issues effectively? What are the main outcomes from the various national and regional Internet governance initiatives, and how can these outcomes guide our collaborative efforts moving forward? How can we best leverage the work of NRIs to promote innovation, reduce inequalities, foster peaceful and inclusive societies, and establish partnerships for sustainable development in alignment with SDGs 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)? What strategies can be adopted to effectively articulate the unique perspectives and insights of Latin America and the Caribbean at the global level within the Internet governance ecosystem? Expected Outcome: Enhanced understanding and awareness of the various outcomes of the National, Regional, and Youth IGF initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Identification of common themes, challenges, and opportunities within the region in terms of Internet governance. Increased regional cooperation and collaboration among NRIs, leading to stronger collective influence in the global Internet governance sphere. Formulation of a regional "picture" or roadmap of Internet governance policies based on shared experiences and learnings. Development of strategies for effective articulation of the unique perspectives and insights of Latin America and the Caribbean within the global Internet governance landscape. Diversity Factors: This session prioritizes diversity in all its forms. The panelists and participants are a diverse group representing various National, Regional, and Youth Internet Governance Forums (IGFs) from different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. They bring a range of perspectives based on their unique contexts and experiences within their respective IGFs. The session is also gender-balanced, with both male and female speakers, including Laura Margolis, Lia P. Hernandez, and Olga Cavalli. This ensures that different gender perspectives are represented in the discussion. Moreover, the session promotes intergenerational dialogue by including youth speakers such as Umut Pajaro Velazquez and Rodrigo Alexandre. Lastly, language diversity is also considered, with the session being conducted in English, but allowing for contributions in Spanish and Portuguese, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region. Importance of the Session for IGF: This session is significant for the IGF for several reasons: It brings together representatives from a wide range of NRIs in the Latin American and Caribbean region, thereby promoting cross-border and cross-sector collaboration on internet governance issues. It highlights the unique perspectives, challenges, and opportunities of the Latin American and Caribbean region in the global Internet governance landscape, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive global dialogue. By focusing on the outcomes of various IGFs in the region, it contributes to the sharing of best practices and lessons learned, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the IGF community. It supports the IGF's mandate of advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by exploring and promoting Internet governance strategies that contribute to innovation, reduced inequalities, peaceful societies, and effective partnerships. Lastly, by adopting a hybrid approach, it embodies the IGF's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that as many voices as possible can contribute to the discussion, regardless of geographical location or access to resources.
Report
Youth Empowerment for Internet Governance: There's a clear consensus on the pivotal role of the youth in shaping the Internet governance landscape. Moving forward, initiatives should actively involve and leverage the potential of the younger demographic. To achieve this, educational institutions, governments, and private sectors in the LAC region should collaboratively develop youth-centric programs and platforms. This requires medium-term action
Collaborative Regional Action for Inclusivity: The LAC region recognized the imperative need for collaborative efforts in ensuring a more inclusive and democratic Internet. Future strategies should prioritize establishing regional alliances, fostering knowledge-sharing, and pooling resources. Governments, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and the private sector must jointly champion these collaborative efforts, aiming for tangible outcomes
Introduction: Nicolas opened the session by expressing gratitude towards the enthusiastic NRI coordinators from the LAC region. The primary goal of the meeting was to evaluate the initiatives at national, regional, and youth-led levels, pinpointing common trends, differences, and the future roadmap. Roberto emphasized gaining a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Internet governance within the LAC region.
Brazil: Barbosa represented Brazil and its youth-led initiative. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Brazil's Internet Governance Forum remains steadfast in its commitment to enhance youth participation. They've instituted numerous training sessions and webinars, primarily focusing on fostering Internet governance. The Brazilian Internet Governance Forum acts as a preparatory event for global participation and has seen significant participation, both in-person and remotely.
Colombia: Julian Casasbuenas shed light on the Colombian IGF's endeavors, especially their contributions to the global digital compact. The Colombian IGF hosted several workshops, emphasizing digital security, health, and blockchain, among other topics. The commitment to making the Internet more democratic, inclusive, and safe was evident in Julian's representation.
Ecuador: Carlos Vera highlighted Ecuador's efforts to democratize Internet governance. Their initiatives have consistently involved various stakeholders, bringing richness and diversity to their events. The focus remains on increasing inclusivity in these discussions.
Colombia: Laura Victoria Ramos and Benjamin Chong provided insights into the efforts in Colombia, especially regarding the push for inclusivity and diversity. They underscored the importance of the Colombian Youth IGF and the role of youth in these conversations. A particular emphasis was placed on bridging the digital divide and making the Internet more accessible to all.
South School of Internet Governance: Olga's presentation underscored the importance of capacity building in the LAC region. The South School on Internet Governance has been instrumental in this aspect, organizing events across various cities and promoting the tenets of Internet governance.
Central America: Lia Hernandez introduced the newly-formed Central American IGF. This initiative is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the LAC nations, aiming to address subregion-specific challenges in Internet governance.
Youth LACIGF: Umut Pajaro, representing the Youth IGF, elaborated on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the younger demographic. There's a clear emphasis on regional coordination and ensuring that the youth are not just participants but active contributors in shaping Internet governance policies.
LACIGF: Raul Echeberria from LACIGF brought attention to the collective efforts in the LAC region. He highlighted upcoming events such as the LACIGF and emphasized the importance of collaboration and continued discourse, and congratulate Colnodo for being the new secretary for the LACIGF.
Conclusion: The LAC NRI Space Session was a comprehensive exploration of the Internet governance landscape in the Latin America and Caribbean region. From Brazil to Ecuador, each representative shed light on their nation's initiatives, challenges, and future aspirations. The overarching theme was the collective drive towards a more inclusive, democratic, and secure Internet for all in the region. The role of youth, capacity-building initiatives, and regional collaboration stood out as pivotal aspects of the discourse.