NonApprovedCharter
From Multi-stakeholder Modalities Working Group
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[edit] Purpose of the Multi-stakeholder Modalities Working Group (MMWG)
The basic principle of multi-stakeholder participation has been accepted by WSIS as the founding principle for establishing which will motivate the modalities of participation in the entities resulting that result from the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda. These entities include, but are not restricted to, the UNSG process for enhanced cooperation (Tunis Agenda Para 71), the Internet Governance Forum (Tunis Agenda, paragraph 72), and in the activities involved related to Implementation and follow-on (Tunis Agenda Para 103).
There is, however, no common understanding yet of what multi-stakeholder participation involves nor of the what modalities should be used in enabling full and equal multi-stakeholder participation. It is also expected that full and equal multi-stakeholder participation will take time to reach full fruition.
This WG is established to develop the concepts of multi-stakeholder participation and to create produce recommendations for the modalities that will encourage full and equal multi-stakeholder participation. The WG is also organized as an advocate WG that will work with the appropriate UN and other organizations to encourage them in the evolution towards a full multi-stakeholder processes. Goals
The purpose of the Working Group is :
*To define multi-stakeholder participation in a way that is inclusive and
accessible to all stakeholders.
*To develop and formalize timely recommendations for modalities of
multi-stakeholder participation that can be applied, among others, to activities
in:
* The Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
* The Process for enhanced cooperation
* WSIS Implementation and follow on activities
* To promote such recommendations to relevant UN and other international
organizations
* To provide ongoing recommendations and advocacy once the original mechanisms are
established
[edit] Membership
Membership is open to any individual who:
* Supports the goals of the working group
* Is willing to work actively on achieving the goals of the working group
* Is willing to sign a copy of the current charter. This can be done either by
returning an email, preferably using a digital signature, or by returning a
signed copy of the charter to one of the WG chairs via mail or fax. Voting will
be dependent on receipt of a signature.
[edit] Working Methods
As much as possible Internet methods will be used to conduct the MMWG work. The basic function of the WG is as follows:
* Two co-chairs will be designated by the Working group members. The term will be
for 1 year. Chairs can either be designated by consensus of the MMWG or by a 2/3
vote. Chairs can be removed by a 2/3 vote of the voting members.
* Decisions will be made by consensus whenever possible.
* However when consensus cannot be reached, but an action needs to be taken or a
document needs to be published by some deadline, a voting procedure may be used.
* Votes can be initiated in one of two ways:
* called at the joint initiative of the elected chairs of the group
* initiated by a majority of voting members of the group. To start a vote
initiation process, 2 members must request the vote on the mailing list.
* Votes on substantive issues will be decided by a 2/3 majority of those voting.
* Voting procedures will use, yet to be determined, Internet procedures and will
last 48 hours in duration
* In order to avoid vote capture, all members can only vote after then have been
members of the MMWG for a month.
* All members are expected to participate in discussions and in the votes as much
as is possible. Voting will include 'abstain' as an option.
* A mailing list, open only to members but with public archives, will be set up for
the group.
* This list will be run according to rules of netiquette that disallow personal
attacks by one member on another member of the group.
* A member of the group can have email sending privileges suspended for a month by
the chairs after 2 warnings, 1 private and 1 public. The privilege of receiving
mail will not be suspended unless requested by the member.
* To the fullest extent possible, technology such as Wikis and chat rooms, will be
used for discussion and document creation.
* As necessary, tools such as on line conferencing may be used.
[edit] Start-up
In order to start the MMWG, a minimum of 10 individuals must agree to the charter. There is no maximum membership level. Duration
The Working Group is established for an initial period of two years. It can be extended through a decision by a majority of its members. Charter Changes
Any aspect of the charter can be changed by consensus or by a 2/3 vote of the membership. To Join
Please read the charter and review the archives and join at:
http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman//listinfo/mmwg
