18 organisations as part of the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS (GDRC-WSIS) have submitted joint recommendations to the WSIS+20 review process. We emphasise the importance of incorporating human rights and broad multistakeholder engagement into the review process and its results.
Our submission responds to an Elements Paper released last month, which will form the basis for the final document. The Elements Paper represents a constructive starting point and we commend its release. We especially value the introduction, which effectively frames the paper within a multistakeholder context and offers a clear analysis of developments in the digital landscape since the original WSIS Summits. However, to better address the priorities identified by the GDRC-WSIS and other partners during the consultations, we suggest that the zero draft:
- Ensures a human rights-based and gender-responsive approach;
- Guarantees protection against restrictions on access to and use of the Internet and digital technologies;
- Recognises the structural barriers and risks that hinder meaningful connectivity;
- Endorses a multistakeholder approach to Internet governance and establishes the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) as a permanent structure;
- Establishes a clear pathway for integrating the Global Digital Compact (GDC).
An informal stakeholder consultation is set for July 29, with the zero draft expected soon after. A detailed roadmap is also anticipated shortly.
The GDRC-WSIS promotes a human rights-based, people-centric and multistakeholder approach to the WSIS+20 review process. For more information about the coalition or to submit a membership request, visit here.