AGIP Takes Part in IGF’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group Meeting

23 Sep 2008 GENEVA ,September 23, 2008 , Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) Executive Director, Charles Sha’ban, took part in the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held in Geneva, September 17-18, 2008.
The MAG discussed the preparation of the third IGF meeting to be held in Hyderabad, India, December 3-6, 2008.

“The MAG took up the discussions on the relationship between the two types of main sessions which had been termed Open Session workshops and Main Session debate. It was agreed to rename these sessions to reflect better their nature. The morning sessions are now named ‘Panel Discussions’ and the afternoon sessions ‘Open Dialogue,” Sha’ban said.

The ‘Panel Discussion’ sessions will consist of a chairman and a moderator and approximately four panelists. The panelist will be asked to give an initial presentation of not more than 7 minutes.

“The Panel Discussions will address issues in some depth and produce a set of questions that can be discussed in the afternoon sessions. Adequate interaction with participants will take place,” Sha’ban pointed out.
On the other hand, the ‘Open Dialogue’ sessions are designed for a maximum interaction with participants. They will be led by a chairman and animated by a moderator.
The MAG also discussed how to approach the “formal consultations with Forum participants” on the “desirability of the continuation of the Forum” as stipulated by Paragraph 76 of the Tunis Agenda.

Sha’ban revealed that it was agreed to set aside one day during the next February consultations to gain a common understanding on how best to conduct this process.

Meanwhile, the participants suggested September 25 as a deadline for submitting the Lists of panelists for the panel, and September 30 for the submission of the final program for all workshops, best practice forums, open forums and Dynamic Coalition meetings.
Chaired by the Special Adviser for Internet Governance to the UN Secretary-General, Nitin Desai, the MAG of the IGF includes members from governments, private sector and civil society, the academic and technical communities, who represent all regions of the world.

The IGF was set up by the UN Secretary-General in November 2005, at the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunisia, to discuss issues related to Internet governance.