The importance of inclusion for participation in IG processes cannot be overstated. The first principle of the Statement of Principles Submitted to NETmundial by the Internet Governance Caucus reiterates this ubiquitous significance: 1- Internet governance institutions and processes should be open and inclusive. They should be bottom-up and consensus-based in their approach to policy development. Internet governance institutions and processes should be transparent, accountable, and enable the meaningful participation of all stakeholders.
This workshop builds up on the previous IGF workshops on e-participation principles in 2011, 2012, 2013. In spite of continuous and fruitful discussions in the previous years, online participation is still not understood and implemented as a substantial part of the IGF but rather seen as a mere service and implemented with very few resources and without a grand plan. This shows the need to continue the efforts. Moreover, this invites for formally finalising and outlining the principles for online participation and presenting at the IGF, in order to bring proper attention to online participation.
The workshop will present the principles, which should serve as a formal and tangible output of the IGF2015. It will then bring an Oxford-style debate addressing an underlying question whether online participants should have equal footing with in situ participants in open conferences and meetings. The workshop will then offer attendees a chance to air the best and worst practices seen in online participation, in an effort to discuss the way to actually implement the principles, and identify the obstacles in this.
