WITSA applauds the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) for its December 17, 2010 decision to open the new Working Group on Improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to multistakeholder participation and welcomes the appointment of Dr. Jimson Olufuye as one of its five designated business representatives. Dr. Olufuye is President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) and WITSA Vice Chairman for

Africa. The Working Group will develop a consensus report for the CSTD at its May 2011 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

“We are pleased that the CSTD changed course and will allow participation by stakeholders, representing civil society; the business sector; academia and the technical community”, said WITSA Public Policy Chairman John Higgins. “Even though the stakeholder groups will be limited to five rather than the originally anticipated twelve representatives each, this is seen as a clear endorsement of the need for a

multistakeholder approach”, continued Mr. Higgins.

“We find ourselves at a critical point in time”, stated WITSA Secretary General, Dr. Jim Poisant. “With an uncertain outlook for the IGF, coupled with the United Nations’ renewed focus on enhanced cooperation and the movement towards the independence of ICANN through last year’s Affirmation of Commitments (AOC), industry must remain vigilant in defending the multistakeholder approach to Internet governance” continued Dr. Poisant. “Governments, regional and international organizations that have been more open, and that have shown a commitment to cooperation have proven to be more effective in their work. As industry, we not only welcome but strongly advocate opportunities to participate in the policy development process at all levels.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to represent the ICT industry in the CSTD Working Group”, said Dr. Jimson Olufuye. “The greatest value of the IGF is its open and informative nature. The IGF should remain consistent with its mandate for facilitating a dialogue through multistakeholder participation and not engaging in the negotiation of formal documents or outcomes”, continued Dr. Olufuye. As a member of the CSTD Working Group on Improvements to the IGF, I will also emphasize the important role the

IGF has played and must continue to play with regard to engaging developing countries, and seeking ways to encourage participants from those countries to participate in the IGF process and annual forum.”

On December 13, 2010, WITSA published a letter to the CSTD regarding the composition of the CSTD working group. The letter is posted at http://www.witsa.org/IGF/CSTD_ltr.pdf.

A complete list of the Working Group on Internet Governance representatives is posted on the UNCTAD web site: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=5813&lang=1.