Author: Alex Sceberras Trigona
Statement on the Common Heritage of Mankind to the Internet’s critical infrastructure by Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona, Malta
2015
Statement by Dr. Alex Sceberras Trigona, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta, covered a few critical questions:
- Should the Internet be left to develop alone or should we endeavour to bring it into the fold of Common Heritage of Mankind [CHOM]?
- Should the Internet be left unprotected, governed only, as it were, by the law of the jungle as a “res nullius”?
- Should it be internationally recognized and protected in the interest of present and future generations, constructed as it is – increasingly internationally – as “res comunis omnium” as common property, and therefore eminently appropriate for stewardship management as part of the Common Heritage of Mankind?
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Over the last years AI has emerged as a hot topic with regard to its impact on our political, social, and economic lives.
Internet Guide for Diplomats
The Internet Guide for Diplomats is the first guide specifically conceived and realised to assist diplomats and others involved in international affairs to use the Internet in their work. The book includes both basic technical information about the Internet and specific issues related to the use of the Internet in diplomacy. Examples and illustrations address many common questions including web-management for diplomatic services, knowledge management and distance learning.
Report of the Working Group on Internet Governance
The Working Group on Internet Governance discusses the need for international cooperation to address challenges in internet governance. They emphasize the importance of multistakeholder participation, human rights protection, and transparency in decision-making processes. The report outlines principles for effective governance, such as inclusivity, accountability, and sustainability. The Working Group calls for ongoing dialogue and collaboration among governments, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and technical communities to ensure a secure and open internet for all.
The Rise of TechPlomacy in the Bay area
Tech diplomacy is becoming a necessity for countries worldwide. Countries need to capture the nexus between technology innovation and economic developments. To be effectively present in the Bay Area, countries need to use innovative diplomatic approaches. This report discusses how tech diplomacy can be developed, and more specifically, how countries approach the Bay Area tech industry.
A sustainable project with great results
It is a sustainable project with great results. The participants of our capacity building projects are currently taking charge of managing local initiatives, drafting regional ICT policy plans and training their own teams.' - Dhrupad Mathur from India
Empowering women in the IG process
'At the ICANN meeting in Puerto Rico last year I was not aware of anything unusual in the demographics, but in Hyderabad I noticed that while men of my age were quite well-represented, there were comparatively few women...' - Deirdre Williams from St Lucia
The use of ICT in human rights promotion: A case study of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The paper seeks to render a critical analysis that will lead and co-ordinate a programme of promotional work across the region, including the integration of ICT strategies in its promotional work.
Stronger digital voices from Africa: Building African digital foreign policy and diplomacy
As Africa’s digital dynamism grows, its participation in global digital policy must increase. In this
transition, African countries have to navigate the geopolitical realities of our times.
The report is also available in French.
Reframing Internet Governance Discourse: Fifteen Baseline Propositions
The text presents fifteen baseline propositions aimed at reframing discourse on internet governance, providing a foundational framework for understanding and addressing the complexities of governing the internet effectively.
Access of ICT benefits for underserved rural communities in developing countries: A case study from Nepal
Policy-makers and governments in developing nations can implement more effective policies and frameworks by gaining a better understanding of the factors that support stakeholders and partners to extend the benefits of information communication technology (ICT) to rural communities. The aim of this paper is to answer the framework to follow for extending access to ICT benefits in underserved rural areas of a developing country.
Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to ensure the proper functioning of the EU internal market by 'promoting effective competition in digital markets' and, in particular, a fair and contestable online platform environment.
The Information Society Library
The Information Society Library (ISL) is a series of non-technical booklets providing information and guidelines on key cyberspace- and Internet-related issues.
Book of Abstracts (Internet Governance)
This collection of abstracts comes from from research projects conducted during the 2010/2011 Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (IGCBP).
Education Counts: Towards the UN Development Goals
The text discusses the importance of education in achieving the UN Development Goals. It highlights the critical role education plays in economic growth, reducing poverty, improving health outcomes, and promoting gender equality. By investing in education, countries can address various societal challenges and work towards sustainable development.
Unpacking Global Digital Compact: Actors, Issues, and Processes
Unpacking the Global Digital Compact explores the origins and impact of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), a new UN framework adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future to shape digital and AI governance. This book explores the GDC's complex negotiations and its role in fostering global cooperation amid diverse perspectives and diplomatic challenges. Through accessible analysis and practical insights, it serves as a vital resource for understanding how the GDC aligns digital governance with the public interest and addresses the challenges of an increasingly complex policy landscape.
The Milennium Development Goals Report 2015
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015 reflects on the progress made towards achieving the eight goals set by world leaders in 2000. It highlights significant accomplishments in areas such as poverty reduction, child mortality, and access to clean water. However, challenges remain, including disparities among regions and persistent inequalities. The report emphasizes the need for continued efforts to address these issues and accelerate progress towards sustainable development.
Emerging Leaders for the Digital World 2009
These pages contain the stories of talented people likely to play an important role in future Internet-related developments; all of them former participants in Diplo’s Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (IG CBP) held between 2005 and 2007.
Facing challenges for developing countries
'Development challenges are enormous for Africa and they go beyond promoting information and communication technology. One important issue currently is how Africa will solve its energy problems, which are a threat to progress on the continent.' - Ken Lohento from Benin
Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a comprehensive plan that outlines 17 goals aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all. It addresses challenges such as climate change, inequality, and peace and justice. The agenda emphasizes the importance of partnerships, data, and financing in achieving these goals. Implementing the agenda requires a collective effort from governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals to create a more sustainable and equitable world by the year 2030.
Oslo Summit: Financing Education in Developing Countries
The Oslo Summit focuses on financing education in developing countries to ensure access and quality education for all children.
Une introduction à la gouvernance d’Internet
La gouvernance d’Internet n’est pas un sujet simple. Bien qu’elle traite d’une notion qui se veut être un symbole représentatif majeur du monde numérique, elle ne peut pas être abordée avec une simple logique numérique binaire qui ne reconnait que le vrai et le faux, le bon et le mauvais.
Information and communications technologies for development
The text discusses the role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in development.
A study of the UN Working Group on IG – MSP in communication technology for development at the global level
The paper aims to identify best practices and lessons learned in multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) practices at the global policy level through a participatory methodology based on interviews and an online electronic survey.
Electronic government equals sustainable development for Guyana
Electronic government (e-government) equals sustainable development for Guyana. This is the thesis illustrated by this paper along with the possible constraints involved in implementing e-government.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
Written just before WSIS 2005, Petru Dumitriu takes us through an accounted journey of the WSIS process from 2003 in Geneva to the preparatory stages of the Tunis Summit in 2005. In this chapter Dumitriu also put forward suggestions for a post-multistakeholder summit where all stakeholders could use their creativity and resources to consolidate what has been established and to develop new forms of dialogue and partnership among themselves.
The secret life of a cyber vulnerability
The comic brings a worrying, yet realistic and educative story that follows a life of a cyber vulnerability, from its inception to its deployment for an actual cyberattack.
The waning of the state and the waxing of cyberworld
This paper discusses whether IT is functioning mainly as an instrument of states in their quest for power and wealth or is principally operating as a transformative agent by market forces and various sectors of civil society.
Book of Abstracts – IGCBP Policy Research Project
Book of Abstracts – IGCBP Policy Research Project.
IGCBP2011 research project summaries for EuroDIG 2011
The publication contains research project summaries written by students of the 2011 Research Phase of the Internet Governance Capacity Building Programme (IGCBP2011). The summaries were presented during EuroDIG 2011.
Crossing the Executive Digital Divide
Information and communications technologies (ICT) have become critical in business, government, manufacturing, critical infrastructures, academia, and, literally, everywhere else, and yet, despite the large sums of money involved, ICT remains the least well understood function in an organization.
E-learning at Fiji National University
In this paper, Fiji National University (FNU) was used to determine the possibility of e-learning. A new programme was chosen and a programme document was written. Based on the programme, a unit syllabus was developed. Given the infrastructure of the information and communication technology (ICT) department at FNU, this project will be deployed as a pilot project for evaluation and monitoring of e-learning research.
Digital Commerce Course: a five-year assessment
The publication evaluates the impact of the Digital Commerce Course, aimed at providing capacity building on e-commerce to trade professionals. Over the years, the course has helped trade negotiators navigate an ever more complex e-commerce agenda, which currently encompasses a vast range of issues, from trade facilitation to data protection and cross-border data flows. This course has been offered for five years (2017-2021) by means of a partnership between Diplo Foundation, CUTS International Geneva, the International Trade Centre and the Geneva Internet Platform. For more information about ...
How is trust defined in Internet governance organisations? (applied ethics in not-for-profit Internet organisations, managing critical Internet resources – a case study on trust)
The message addresses the definition of trust within Internet governance organizations, focusing on applied ethics in not-for-profit Internet entities managing critical Internet resources. Trust is a central component explored through a case study, examining the dynamics and importance of trust within these specialized organizations.
Australian aid: Promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, enhancing stability
The text is about Australian aid focusing on promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, and enhancing stability.
The EU’s New Commission: Digital Policy in the Limelight (Briefing Paper #13)
In this briefing paper, Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila analyses Ursula von der Leyen's new EU Commission's emphasis on digital policy for 2019–2024.
The Feasibility of Information Communication Technology as a Tool for Development: Caribbean Community Perspectives
As a result of global trends relating to trade, many small economies continue to seek replacements for traditional markets which no longer offer preferential treatment.
A developing country’s perspective on IG issues
'Among all the country members of the East African Community, only Burundi, my country, was absent from that EAIGF... That’s why, at the end of the IGF in Hyderabad, I came back with a new dream: An IGF Burundi.' - Jean Paul Nkurunziza from Burundi
The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the planet
The message emphasizes the goal of achieving dignity by 2030 through ending poverty, transforming lives, and preserving the environment.
Reforms to the International Financial Architecture | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 6
The international financial architecture is outdated and failing humanity. From egregious borrowing costs for developing countries to underinvestment in global crises like climate change and pandemics, the system is rife with inefficiencies and biases. It's a tale of two worlds, with a growing gap between the haves and have-nots, not just in wealth but in access to a secure future. The clock is ticking on ambitious reforms to make the world's financial architecture fit for the 21st century.
Leaving No One Behind in the Data Revolution (Briefing Paper #5)
The text offers policy recommendations and insights on cybersecurity, focusing on building resilience, fostering cooperation, and addressing challenges in the digital domain.
Rapport: Des voix africaines plus fortes dans le numérique : construire une politique étrangère et une diplomatie africaines du numérique
À mesure que le dynamisme numérique de l'Afrique s'accroît, sa participation à la politique numérique mondiale doit augmenter. Dans cette transition, les pays africains doivent composer avec les réalités géopolitiques de notre époque.
Special Ministerial Event on Food Security and Sustainble Development in Small Island Developing States
A summary of the Special Ministerial Event on Food Security and Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States.
Emerging Leaders for a Digital World (2011): Dalsie Greenrose Kalna Baniala from Vanuatu
‘With the number of training courses I have attended, including attending the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), I have learnt a lot.’
A Tipping Point for the Internet: Predictions for 2018 (Briefing Paper #9)
The briefing paper discusses various predictions for the internet in 2018, focusing on key trends and developments that will shape the digital landscape. Key areas include the rising importance of cybersecurity, the impact of artificial intelligence on online platforms, growing concerns over data privacy, increased regulation of tech giants, and the potential for blockchain technology to revolutionize various industries. These trends are expected to drive significant changes in how we use and interact with the internet in the coming year.
Data protection on the Internet and its lack of regulation in Paraguay: adequate regulation for call centres
This research focuses on data protection regulations in Paraguay in order to analyse whether it contains provisions regulating the computerised processing of personal data and transborder data flows.
Understanding the Digital Divide
The digital divide refers to inequalities in access to and usage of technology. Factors such as income, education, geography, and age can contribute to this gap. Bridging this divide is crucial for ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals in today's technologically-driven world.
Diplomacy as an instrument of good governance
The functioning of diplomacy is influenced by a complicated combination of different interrelated factors. This paper briefly analyses their impact on the evolution of diplomacy and discusses how diplomacy as an instrument of good governance should adjust itself to meet the new challenges, to become more relevant, open and agile, to modify its methods and to fully utilise opportunities offered by the technological revolution.
UNCTAD Digital Economy Report 2021
The Digital Economy report 2021 provides a review of studies dealing with cross-border data flows and analyses the inequalities in the data-driven digital economy. The Report looks at existing governance approaches at national, regional and multilateral levels, with a bearing on data flows. It calls for a balanced approach to global data governance that could help ensure that data can flow across borders as freely as necessary and possible, while achieving an equitable distribution of benefits, within and across countries; and addressing risks related to human rights and national security.
The World Bank’s Contribution to Poverty Reduction in Peru
Peru’s economy has improved significantly, however poverty is an imperative issue that is not progressing as expected.
Updating International Geneva to the Data-driven Era (Briefing Paper #12)
In this briefing paper, Ms Rafaela Marinho and Mr Avi Krish Bedi outline their research on how international organisations (IOs) in Geneva address and use big data in their work.
Digital Commerce Capacity Development
This publication presents the thematic approach, methodology, achievements and lessons learned from a capacity development initiative on e-commerce jointly offered in 2017/2018 by DiploFoundation, CUTS International Geneva, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Geneva Internet Platform(GIP), and delivered with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Incorporating IG issues into teaching
‘I strongly believe that personal development is most important for my teaching and research. Indeed, I have always been keen to improve my areas of expertise and share newly acquired knowledge with my students.’ - Lenandlar Singh from Guyana
Opening one’s eyes to opportunity
'John Walubengo introduced me to KictaNET... I got involved in ICT and... what it could do at a time when Kenya was revising its national ICT policy...' - Judith Okite from Kenya
Bandwidth management: the public policy approach in a university campus network
This research presents an example of how evidence-based policy-making can lead to bandwidth optimisation in a university network, giving rise to improved network performance and cost savings.
Marrying education with ICT
‘It is necessary to ensure the responsible use of technology and to stress the innovation and knowledge sharing that technology allows over the opportunity for piracy, slander, and other ‘negative’ activities’ - Arlene Buckmire-Outram from Grenada
Cybersecurity competence building trends
Report on cybersecurity competence building trends in OECD countries.
The Internet and diplomats of the 20th century
The Internet and diplomats of the twenty century: how new information technologies affect the ordinary work of diplomats.
The use of Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) in human rights promotion: A case study of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The employment of ICT tools as a weapon of choice at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, an organ established within the African Union with a broad mandate of spearheading human rights promotion on the African Continent has not been emphasised as a crucial element in the struggle towards achieving human rights promotion and protection on the African continent, with the resulting consequence that the Commission is not as visible and known to the people that it is supposed to serve.
Statecraft and foreign policy: India, 1947–2023
Statecraft and Foreign Policy provides an in-depth understanding of India’s rise as an economic and political power and its role in addressing global challenges, from climate change to international trade, security, health and energy. It focuses on India’s statecraft and foreign policy from its independence in 1947 to current politics and policies in 2023 – 75 years later.
Policy and regulatory challenges to deploying blockchain technologies
Abstract: Blockchain technologies are heralded by some as one of the most promising innovations after the Internet. The concept’s origins are linked to Bitcoin, a paperless cryptocurrency, and the first decentralized digital currency that works without a central bank or single administrator.
Cloud computing: Opportunities and issues for developing countries
This paper looks at how cloud computing will surpass the Internet in adoption and usage as this technology’s users are on the other side of the digital divide. It looks at the diffusion of mobile phones and devices in developing countries and its continuous dramatic rise and at some popular mobile applications that are helping development efforts, such as m-Banking, m-Education, m-Health, m-Agriculture, and others that already exist and are popular within developing countries.
Report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing
Report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing.
Making the link between IG and e-learning
‘Students and teachers do not have to sit in the classroom or be face-to-face but can now take part in e-learning from anywhere in the world and at any time, thanks to online facilities.’ - Shareeni Kala from Fiji
