<div dir="ltr">Hi Sam,<div><br></div><div>I don't think anyone is trying to question your commitment to human rights - I'm certainly not.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't know your CV in detail, but I can tell you mine involves coordinating human rights advocacy projects in Afghanistan, Palestine, Jordan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and the Maldives, among other high pressure spots. I understand very well the entitlement/privilege of which you speak, and I never forget that at the end of the day, I get on a plane and fly out, while the local activists are the ones who have to deal with the fallout of the work. However, if we're talking about the people that are on the front lines, we don't do them any favours by staying silent. Indeed, often the best protection they have is international publicity. I've had these conversations a lot with people in high risk areas, and I can't recall ever being told to dial things back, except where that was part of a broader advocacy strategy (like, to protect ongoing backchannel discussions). </div><div><br></div><div>That said, I'm not proposing arranging special sessions to discuss the country's human rights record, since this seems quite tangential to what we're supposed to be engaging on as part of the ICANN process. But I also don't think we should commit to keeping silent on this issue as individuals and, if the subject comes up, potentially as a stakeholder group. Perhaps we don't disagree on that? In either case, I would very much welcome inputs of colleagues that are in country, or active across the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div><br></div><div>Michael</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jun 29, 2017 at 1:48 PM, Sam Lanfranco <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lanfran@yorku.ca" target="_blank">lanfran@yorku.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<div class="m_-528063403635451259moz-cite-prefix">James,<br>
<br>
Let me make it clear. My position is based on the risk that in
most cases "in country ICANN constituency human rights activities"
during conferences will put national groups and peoples at risk.<br>
This is different, and separate from, more generic ICANN
discussions of the relationship between protecting human rights
and the security and stability of the DNS system (ICANN's remit).
<br>
<br>
As someone individually who has championed human rights for over
half a century, been tear gassed and shot at, I am firmly in the
camp of human rights activists.<br>
If the NCSG consensus position is to either treat such activities
as within ICANN's remit (some might challenge that), or if
delegates wish to arrange "rump sessions" <br>
dealing with country specific human issues, I would press for
prior full consultation and endorsement by the local groups who
would be engaged in the events.<br>
This would be more that just scheduling sessions and inviting
local groups to participate. <br>
<br>
My core concern is that ICANN constituency members should not use
their entitlement (temporary presence under the ICANN banner) to
put highly exposed local activists at risk. <br>
<br>
Sam <br><div><div class="h5">
<br>
On 6/29/2017 6:40 AM, James Gannon wrote:<br>
</div></div></div>
<blockquote type="cite"><div><div class="h5">
<div dir="ltr">
<div id="m_-528063403635451259x_divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="m_-528063403635451259x___TEE_Quote__" style="border-left:3px solid rgb(200,200,200);border-top-color:rgb(200,200,200);border-right-color:rgb(200,200,200);border-bottom-color:rgb(200,200,200);padding-left:10px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:17px">
I <br>
would go so far as to recommend that for countries with
human rights <br>
issues, digital or otherwise, if and when ICANN reaches what
it <br>
considers as a satisfactory arrangement, there is an
understanding that <br>
during the event none of ICANN’s constituency groups will
publicly, or <br>
in collaboration with local groups, engage in activities
that challenge <br>
human rights record and policies of the local government.</div>
<br>
Hey Sam,
<p>This would fly in the face of most if not the vast majority
of NCUCs mission and outreach, these are the groups and
peoples that we say we are here to engage with and support
and advocate for. </p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>-James</p>
</div>
<hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%">
<div id="m_-528063403635451259x_divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font style="font-size:11pt" face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000"><b>From:</b>
NCSG-Discuss <a class="m_-528063403635451259moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" target="_blank"><NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.<wbr>EDU></a> on behalf
of Sam Lanfranco <a class="m_-528063403635451259moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lanfran@YORKU.CA" target="_blank"><lanfran@YORKU.CA></a><br>
<b>Sent:</b> 28 June 2017 23:13:35<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="m_-528063403635451259moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" target="_blank">NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: Requirements for information about
speakers and participants for ICANN60 in Abu Dhabi</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<font size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt">
<div class="m_-528063403635451259PlainText">Constituency Colleagues,<br>
<br>
The subject of human rights and, in particular, the rights
of digital <br>
citizenship in countries hosting ICANN meetings, is both the
elephant <br>
and the gorilla (the unspoken issues) in ICANN Conference
venue <br>
discussions. Without going into specifics, in the past
several years <br>
ICANN has held its conferences in countries where, while
ICANN was <br>
meeting, governments were exercising extreme control over
their <br>
citizenry’s access to the Internet and cell phone service.<br>
<br>
What is absolutely clear is that ICANN should have venue
criteria that <br>
are sensitive to these issues, and these are issues that
should be <br>
raised in all ICANN venue selection discussions.<br>
<br>
What is also absolutely clear is that such issues should be
raised and <br>
addressed prior to the selection of a venue. The subsequent
ICANN event <br>
should not be used as a platform for raising country
specific issues. I <br>
would go so far as to recommend that for countries with
human rights <br>
issues, digital or otherwise, if and when ICANN reaches what
it <br>
considers as a satisfactory arrangement, there is an
understanding that <br>
during the event none of ICANN’s constituency groups will
publicly, or <br>
in collaboration with local groups, engage in activities
that challenge <br>
human rights record and policies of the local government.<br>
<br>
This is not because governments should not be challenged on
their <br>
record, and it is not because local groups should not be
supported. It <br>
is also not just because these issues should be sorted out
prior to <br>
venue selection. It is because delegates to ICANN meetings
are in a <br>
privileged position, and while public displays would
probably not put <br>
delegates at risk, they would put local collaborators at
risk, <br>
especially after ICANN has left the scene.<br>
<br>
Sam Lanfranco<br>
<br>
------------------------------<wbr>------------------<br>
"It is a disgrace to be rich and honoured<br>
in an unjust state" -Confucius<br>
邦有道，贫且贱焉，耻也。邦无道，富且贵焉，耻也<br>
------------------------------<wbr>------------------<br>
Dr Sam Lanfranco (Prof Emeritus & Senior Scholar)<br>
Econ, York U., Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - M3J 1P3<br>
email: <a class="m_-528063403635451259moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Lanfran@Yorku.ca" target="_blank">Lanfran@Yorku.ca</a> Skype: slanfranco<br>
blog: <a href="https://samlanfranco.blogspot.com" target="_blank">https://samlanfranco.blogspot.<wbr>com</a><br>
Phone: <a href="tel:+1%20613-476-0429" value="+16134760429" target="_blank">+1 613-476-0429</a> cell: <a href="tel:+1%20416-816-2852" value="+14168162852" target="_blank">+1 416-816-2852</a><br>
</div>
</span></font>
</div></div><div id="m_-528063403635451259DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span><table style="border-top:1px solid #d3d4de">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width:55px;padding-top:13px"><a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><img src="https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png" alt="" style="width:46px;height:29px" height="29" width="46"></a></td>
<td style="width:470px;padding-top:12px;color:#41424e;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:18px">Virus-free. <a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" style="color:#4453ea" target="_blank">www.avg.com</a><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> </font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<a href="#m_-528063403635451259_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" width="1" height="1"> </a></font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span></blockquote><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<p><br>
</p>
</font></span><pre class="m_-528063403635451259moz-signature" cols="72"><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">--
------------------------------<wbr>------------------
"It is a disgrace to be rich and honoured
in an unjust state" -Confucius
邦有道，贫且贱焉，耻也。邦无道，富且贵焉，耻也
------------------------------<wbr>------------------
Dr Sam Lanfranco (Prof Emeritus & Senior Scholar)
Econ, York U., Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - M3J 1P3
email: <a class="m_-528063403635451259moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Lanfran@Yorku.ca" target="_blank">Lanfran@Yorku.ca</a> Skype: slanfranco
blog: <a class="m_-528063403635451259moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://samlanfranco.blogspot.com" target="_blank">https://samlanfranco.blogspot.<wbr>com</a></font></span><span class="">
Phone: <a href="tel:+1%20613-476-0429" value="+16134760429" target="_blank">+1 613-476-0429</a> cell: <a href="tel:+1%20416-816-2852" value="+14168162852" target="_blank">+1 416-816-2852</a></span></pre>
</div>
</blockquote></div><br></div>