About our Work

Increasingly, new information and communication technologies (ICT) such as the Internet are rapidly shaping how policies are made, disseminated, discussed, and implemented at the local, national, regional, and global levels. This is creating challenges for the global community in terms of shaping the rules and the structures necessary to ensure that the benefits of such ICTs are shared equitably and in a manner that supports the development prospects of the South.

The Internet is likely to become a “forcing” agent for change with respect to established institutions and patterns of organized rule-making and rule-implementation. Internet governance, in many ways, is closely linked to the issue of development and of human rights. The universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelation of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, are all closely interlinked to the promotion of sustainable development and the rule of law in international as in national affairs. In short, Internet governance is becoming a global governance issue.

The South Centre has undertaken some preliminary work on Internet governance-related issues through a pilot project on Internet Governance. The apparent absence of any coordinated and concerted effort among developing countries provided the ideal backdrop for the active involvement and participation of the South Centre.

In view of the above, the Programme will focus on the following issues relating to Internet governance:

1. Follow-up and monitoring of the implementation of the WSIS’ Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
2. Understanding and influencing the role, structures, processes, and rules of international organizations, including intergovernmental organizations,  such as the ITU, WIPO, ICANN, in Internet governance-related policy areas, with the view of ensuring that developing countries are able to participate effectively
3. Monitoring, understanding and shaping international rules, structures, mechanisms and policies relating not only to Internet naming and addressing, but also to: the use and allocation of critical Internet resources; the security and safety of the Internet; the developmental aspects and issues pertaining to the use of the Internet; social, economic and technical issues (including affordability, reliability and quality of service) relating to the Internet; the use of the Internet to address cross-border crime and security issues;
4. Monitoring and participation in the work of the Internet Governance Forum established by the WSIS, as well as in other international initiatives relating to Internet governance.

Publications

For publications and papers on this issue area click here

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