[AfrICANN-discuss] Statement of representatives from non-English speaking countries

[Nelly Kwende]

 Dear Colleagues,
I send below statement about translations and interpretation of GAC
meetings.
I wonder if you could kindly support this statement by adding your country
on signature.
Best Regards,
*Statement of representatives from non-English speaking countries *

Whereas the mission of ICANN is to ensure universal resolvability between
domain names and Internet addresses;

Considering the major role played by ICANN in developing public policy
management of critical Internet resources;

Whereas the principles of cultural and linguistic diversity are values
recognized by ICANN;

Whereas ICANN is committed to developing participation in its midst, and all
its constituencies;

Taking into account the concern of ICANN to ensure that the definition of
its objectives is shared by all communities and therefore accommodate the
concerns and comments of the latter.

Noting with appreciation the efforts undertaken by ICANN and other
international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme
and the International Organisation of La Francophonie to encourage
participation and involvement of all stakeholders, including governments of
developing countries;

Noting that work within the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) is held
exclusively in English;
Noting that seven francophone African countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin,
Congo - Brazzaville, Morocco, Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo)
participated in the GAC meeting in Cartagena, and their contribution to the
work would have been greater if they did not face the language barrier

Would like therefore, to increase the number of GAC members and strengthen
their participation in the formulations of opinion of this committee to the
board of ICANN, in particular so that these opinions take more into account
the sensitivities and realities of developing countries as well as the
variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds in the world;

We believe it is highly desirable that ICANN, through the GAC, make
available the means of simultaneous translation for effective, active and
fruitful participation of all players, no matter their language.

We would be grateful if, in the daily operation of the GAC and its future
meetings, arrangements are made to ensure ideally a translation of documents
and debates in the six official United Nations
At first, translation in one or two of the most requested languages would be
real progress.



First and last name                         Country/organization
Signatures


-- 
Nelly KWENDE épse MENSAH
Directrice Générale des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication
Ministère de la Communication et des Technologies de l'Information et de la
Communication
01 BP 120 Cotonou
Bénin
Tel: +229 21 30 80 32
cel: +229 95 05 00 46
Fax: +229 21 30 72 55




-- 
Nelly KWENDE épse MENSAH
Directrice Générale des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication
Ministère de la Communication et des Technologies de l'Information et de la
Communication
01 BP 120 Cotonou
Bénin
Tel: +229 21 30 80 32
cel: +229 95 05 00 46
Fax: +229 21 30 72 55
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/attachments/20110314/0b3c0db0/attachment.htm