Internet, Global: Athens, Greece has just witnessed the first-ever Internet Governance Forum (IGF), where capacity-building has emerged as a subject for action and discussion, cutting across all areas of interest.

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), a network of civil society organisations working with ICTs and the Internet for social justice and sustainable development, has stressed the need for everyone interested in the Internet to give priority to two aspects - access to the Internet and the building-up of its capacity.

APC also acknowledged the valuable opportunity that the Internet Governance Forum afforded organisations such as itself, describing the Forum as “a valuable space for policy dialogue.” As stated in APC’s Internet Rights charter, all people have the right to have access to the Internet. For this to happen requires government leadership, market engagement and, most importantly, citizen and civil society participation. For APC the IGF has succeeded as a platform where diverse groups could interact and debate.

Regarding the two particular issues that APC would like to see promoted and acted on, the problem of affordable access to communication infrastructure and services needs urgent attention. People in developing countries spend up to 15% of their disposable income on communication services such as mobile telephony, while those in the developed world spend around 3%.

Next is the challenge of capacity-building, of prime importance to ensure participation in internet development, governance and policy. For example, there must be a policy that relates to access for people with disabilities, to freedom of expression, to technical standards and to multi-lingualism.

APC does in fact appreciate the fact that access to the Internet is considered by governments, the private sector and civil society as a priority for the future development of the Internet. And yet more is needed. There must certainly be a specific focus on building Internet backbone infrastructure in the poorest and least connected regions of the world.

The Internet is an essential public infrastructure, continues APC. It can help people make phone calls, share information, run businesses, keep governments accountable, and express cultural richness and diversity. The participation of all stakeholders in the actual development, implementation and use of the Internet can thereby only be secured by heavy investment into broadband infrastructure.

APC believes that capacity-building, which was a cross-cutting theme in IGF I, needs even greater focus in IGF II. Capacity-building, however, is not just about training workshops, or knowledge transfer; it is about sustainable skills development.

Capacity-building requires building a common knowledge base, providing accessible information resources, dialogue between people with different experiences and skills, and participation in national, regional and global policy forums. It requires building networks and communities of expertise working on Internet development and policy.

APC concluded its plea by stressing its own commitment to human rights on the Internet by aiming to create a dynamic coalition that will explore issues such as digital identities, the link between protection of privacy and development, and the importance of privacy and anonymity for freedom of expression. It also reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by proposing that the IGF explores the important emerging issue of the impact of Internet development on human health, safety and the environment.

• more info: http://rights.apc.org/charter.shtml