<div dir="auto">Greetings everyone !<div dir="auto"> + @Dorothy.</div><div dir="auto">I was denied visa to participe in intersessional meetings in LA by four (4) times during four (4) years successively.The last time was this year 2018. Despite the assistance of an Immigration specialist mandate by ICANN to assist me, 3 months before my appointment for the interview with the local US consulats officer in the preparation of travel, I was deny the visa.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Until now, I can't explain they why.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">My 2 XOF</div><div dir="auto">Olévié KOUAMI</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">Le mar. 26 juin 2018 11:34, Mike <<a href="mailto:mkaranicolas@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">mkaranicolas@gmail.com</a>> a écrit :<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div>Hi all,<div><br></div><div>Fully concur with the need to take this conversation forward to try and level the playing field for developing world participation at ICANN. </div><div><br></div><div>It may be of interest that, for next month’s Open Government Partnership Summit in Tbilisi, the g<span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">overnment of Georgia passed a special decree allowing for visa-free travel for all OGP Summit attendees. Granted, the OGP operates with a high level of official government buy-in, but perhaps ICANN’s situation may be somewhat analogous, given that these meetings are often planned in partnership with senior government figures? It may be worth exploring...</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Best,</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Michael Karanicolas </span></div><div><br><div>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Jun 26, 2018, at 1:27 AM, dorothy g <<a href="mailto:dgdorothydg@GMAIL.COM" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">dgdorothydg@GMAIL.COM</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">When I say escalate I mean beyond conversation. Every bid should explain by region how they will facilitate visas and smooth entry. If they cannot guarantee equal access then they should not be considered. <div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 4:59 PM, Onica Makwakwa <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:nmakwakwa@aol.com" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">nmakwakwa@aol.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black"><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black">Greetings,</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black">I second that suggestion from Dorothy as I suspect this will be a greater challenge for Barcelona (based on past experience dealing with their embassies in this region). Beyond just escalating this, we need to have a conversation on how ease of visa issuance should be a big part when considering meeting locations. </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black">Onica</div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black">Onica N. Makwakwa</div><div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067h5"><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:black"><br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: dorothy g <<a href="mailto:dgdorothydg@GMAIL.COM" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">dgdorothydg@GMAIL.COM</a>><br>To: NCSG-DISCUSS <<a href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU</a>><br>Sent: Mon, Jun 25, 2018 6:50 pm<br>Subject: Re: Elsa Saade as temp alternate to Arsene on GNSO Council<br><br></div>
<div id="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332AOLMsgPart_2_9ba57d41-f47e-4089-906e-cd92bbc88915">
<div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolReplacedBody"><div dir="ltr">Is it possible for us to document all those who could not attend due to visa issues and escalate this concern? We need Africans to be at the table.<div><br></div><div>best</div></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_extra"><br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 4:29 PM, Adeel Sadiq <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:11beeasadiq@seecs.edu.pk" target="_blank">11beeasadiq@seecs.edu.pk</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">One part of the bigger picture is, most of the ICANN staff are from developed countries who don't face strict visa issues like people from developing countries do. I have been denied visa to attend a similar conferences (not ICANN though) more than once. I even tried to raise the same issue in Public Forum at Copenhagen, but was politically turned down with almost a null response by the so-called 'meeting team'. You never realize the true measure of a problem unless it is at your personal doorstep.<div><br></div><div>Regards</div><span class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_HOEnZb"><span color="#888888" style="color:#888888"><div><br></div><div>Adeel</div></span></span></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_HOEnZb"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_h5"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_extra"><br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 9:12 PM, dorothy g <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:dgdorothydg@gmail.com" target="_blank">dgdorothydg@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">This is an extremely important point Arsene. There is no justification for choosing such a location without making special arrangements.<div>Glad at least you can listen in.</div></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_extra"><br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:29 PM, Arsène Tungali <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:arsenebaguma@gmail.com" target="_blank">arsenebaguma@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Thanks Elsa, everyone!<div><div><br></div><div>It is unfortunate that the gov of Panama could not grant visa on arrival while they are aware that their visa process is very complicated.</div><div><br></div><div>Think: they only have two consulates in the whole African continent!!!</div><div><br></div><div>I hope ICANN Org will be able to negociate things like these beforehand when they select host countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks Elsa for willing to help and thanks Farzaneh and the EC for working out this very quickly!<br><br><div id="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194AppleMailSignature"><div>-----------------</div><div>Arsène Tungali,</div><div><a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="http://about.me/ArseneTungali" target="_blank">about.me/ArseneTungali</a></div><div>+243 993810967</div><div>GPG: 523644A0</div><div>Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo</div><div><br></div>Sent from my iPhone (excuse typos)</div><div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937h5"><div><br>On Jun 25, 2018, at 5:11 PM, Elsa S <<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:elsa.saade@GMAIL.COM" target="_blank">elsa.saade@GMAIL.COM</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote><div><div dir="ltr"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">It really saddens me that some of us haven't been able to make it because of Visa issues. But happy to help and make myself available anytime!</div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">Best,</div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">Elsa</div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:small">--</div></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_extra"><br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 9:31 AM, dorothy g <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:dgdorothydg@gmail.com" target="_blank">dgdorothydg@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">So I guess this is a last minute thing given the visa issue. Thank you Elsa for stepping in. When will this discrimination against Africans stop! Arsene glad you can listen in and hopefully next time you will not encounter this problem.<div><br></div><div>best</div></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194HOEnZb"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194h5"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_extra"><br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 1:25 PM, farzaneh badii <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:farzaneh.badii@gmail.com" target="_blank">farzaneh.badii@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">She still takes on some of my tasks. She was not going to replace me. But because we found out last minute that Arsene cannot make it, thought it's better to have an alternate for Arsene because this is an important meeting. </div><span class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645HOEnZb"><span color="#888888" style="color:#888888"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Farzaneh </span></div></div></div></div><br></span></span></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645HOEnZb"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645h5"><br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 8:23 AM Farell FOLLY <<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:farell@benin2point0.org" target="_blank">farell@benin2point0.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space">Hello Mrs Chair,<div><br></div><div>Thanks for the info, but I thought Elsa was going to replace you instead? What happened?<br><div>
<div dir="auto" style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space"><div dir="auto" style="color:#000000;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space"><div dir="auto" style="color:#000000;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space"><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap:break-word;line-break:after-white-space"><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline">@__f_f__</div><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><br></div><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">Best Regards<br>____________________________________<br><br>Ekue (Farell) FOLLY<br>Technology Champion & Chapter Head</div><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px">Africa 2.0 Foundation.</div><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="http://www.africa2point0.org" target="_blank">www.africa2point0.org</a></div><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="http://linkedin.com/in/farellf" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/farellf</a><br></div><div style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><br></div><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline" style="color:#000000;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline">
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<div><br><blockquote><div>On 24 Jun 2018, at 07:49, farzaneh badii <<a rel="noopener noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" href="mailto:farzaneh.badii@gmail.com" target="_blank">farzaneh.badii@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div dir="ltr"><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Dear all,</div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Unfortunately, Arsene cannot make it to Panama. Arsene will be participating remotely in the Council meetings but we decided that for an in-person presence, Elsa Saade can be his temp alternate.</div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">This was a last minute decision which we had to take because we were still hopeful that Arsene could make it. </div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Will see you and Arsene remotely in virtual meeting rooms.</div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Best </div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194m_593327391836024645m_-6964948663974171858m_-3062078520641308535gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Farzaneh </span></div></div></div></div></div>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><span class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663HOEnZb"><span color="#888888" style="color:#888888"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="m_211548446274519454m_6263655871593360067m_-8005759433358939332aolmail_m_-9187440693243303663m_-6235401308472346937m_-6587834271715235194gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">--<br><br>Elsa Saade<br>Consultant</div></div><div>Gulf Centre for Human Rights</div><div>Twitter: @Elsa_Saade</div></div></div></div></div>
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