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ISOC's 'ambassadors' – diverse voices at the IGF. Representatives of ISOC Chapters bring local experience to global forum
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, 12 November 2007 – Eleven 'ambassadors' of the Internet Society (ISOC) are currently in Rio de Janeiro for the second Internet Governance Forum (IGF), representing their local communities and promoting ISOC's goal of Internet development for the benefit of all people in every part of the world.
The Internet Society has a worldwide membership of more than 26,000 individuals and organisations, many of whom also form ISOC Chapters – groups dedicated to working for Internet development on behalf of either their location or special interest.
In preparation for the current IGF meeting, the Internet Society selected representatives from 11 of the Chapters to serve as 'IGF Ambassadors'.
"ISOC's IGF Ambassadors will contribute tremendous local and regional experience and insight to the Internet governance topics being discussed this week," explains Lynn St Amour, ISOC President and CEO.
"We made the commitment to bring the Ambassadors to the IGF because the modern Internet is a dynamic and diverse environment and we firmly believe that Internet governance discussions must include as many informed voices as possible," says St Amour.
St Amour explains that Internet needs and priorities vary enormously around the world: "ISOC's IGF Ambassadors are drawn from a range of backgrounds and five major geographical regions, representing many perspectives on Internet governance issues."
For the Rio meeting, ISOC has brought in IGF ambassadors from Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Colombia, Ecuador, Fiji, Hong Kong, Mexico, Moldova, and Morocco.
This diversity reflects the success of ISOC's Chapter programme, which now includes 80 Chapters around the world. To help support existing Chapters and encourage the formation of new ones, ISOC has also established Regional Bureaus in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, with plans for a third in Asia.
Dr. Dawit Bekele, ISOC's Regional Manager for Africa notes that ISOC now has 19 chapters in Africa alone.
"The Internet still faces many challenges in the developing world, but the communities are vibrant," explains Bekele. "The developing world will contribute the next billion users to the Internet. How that proceeds will depend very much on grass roots activity."
"In Africa, for example, issues of access, education, and capacity building are vital," he says. "But these are not blanket concepts. In one place the education required might be high level technical training for engineers; in another, it might be teaching people how to search for farming information that can help improve their crop yields. The only way to get the right help to the right places is to listen to the people who live there."
The role of the IGF Ambassadors in Rio is to contribute their experiences and perspectives into the many discussions on the agenda. Several of the Ambassadors will also present the activities of their respective chapters and their contributions to Internet governance during an ISOC Open Forum on 14 November from 14:30 - 16:00.
After the IGF, the Ambassadors will also report back to their own communities, to help ensure the sense of inclusion that is necessary for ongoing, genuine dialogue.
About the Internet Society
The Internet Society is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. With offices in Washington, DC, and Geneva, Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world.
About ISOC Chapters
Internet Society Chapters are groups organised by ISOC members on a volunteer basis and officially recognised by ISOC. Chapters bring together people who reside in a particular geographic region (such as a city, country, or larger area), or who share an interest in a specific Internet related subject.
The role of Chapters is to help ISOC achieve its mission at both local and regional levels and to infuse ISOC with local and regional perspectives on developments and issues that affect the evolution of the Internet.
ISOC IGF Ambassadors 2007
- Gabriel Adonaylo – ISOC Argentina
- Yaovi Atohoun – ISOC Benin
- Julián Casasbuenas – ISOC Colombia
- Veronica Cretu – ISOC Moldova (Chapter in formation)
- Abdul-Aziz Hilali – ISOC Morocco
- Monia Abalo Laforgia – ISOC Argentina
- Charles Mok – ISOC Hong Kong
- Hakikur Rahman – ISOC Bangladesh
- Rajnesh Singh – PICISOC
- Cristos Velasco – ISOC Mexico
- Carlos Vera – ISOC Ecuador
ISOC's IGF Ambassadors – biographical backgrounds
Other ISOC links
For further details
Mark Thalhimer
Director of Communications and Public Relations, Internet Society
E-mail: thalhimer@isoc.org
Telephone: +1 703 326 9880 x130
1775 Wiehle Avenue
Reston, VA 20190-5108
USA
Internet Society: www.isoc.org
