UNESCO launches online consultation on internet universality

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Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General
Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have launched a global multi-stakeholder consultation to develop Internet Universality indicators which would cover the four fundamental norms and the cross-currents between them.

The multi-stakeholder consultation is essential in other to tap into the world’s wisdom to develop the best possible indicator framework.

The first stage of online consultation is from June to October 2017 which will concern itself with the broad principles and ideas for the framework as a whole and face-to- face consultations are also being organized by UNESCO in various regions. While in November/December the second round of the consultations will be launched on the specific draft indicators.

In 2015, UNESCO included into the heart of its work the concept of Internet Universality to promote an internet that works for all. Internet Universality is based on the four “fundamental norms that have been embodied in the broad evolution of the Internet to date, and which provide a comprehensive way to understand how multiple different aspects are part of a wider whole.” These norms – known for short as the ROAM principles – are concerned with an Internet based on human Rights, that is Open, Accessible to all, and nurtured by Multi-stakeholder

The outcome will be a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators to help governments and all other stakeholders to assess their own national Internet environments and to promote the values associated with Internet Universality. Special attention will be paid to gender and to the needs and interests of children and young people.

To participate in the first stage of the online consultation, the questionnaire available at http://en.unesco.org/internetuniversality must be completed. The closing date for submissions is October 31, 2017.

The questionnaire takes about 20 minutes. Contributions can be made in any of the six UN official languages (ArabicChineseEnglishFrenchRussian, and Spanish).