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Keith <br>
<br>
+ 1<br>
<br>
Thanks for articulating my growing unease. <br>
<br>
Matthew<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 17/11/2015 19:41, Drazek, Keith
wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are my current thoughts on our ongoing
discussions around ST-18, the 2/3 threshold issue, and the
GAC’s participation in the community mechanism:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The CCWG’s mandate is to empower the
community <u>as a whole</u> to better hold ICANN and its
Board accountable. Our mission is not to modify the influence
of one SO or AC relative to the Board, or to one another, nor
to enable or encourage such change in the future. This process
should not be used by individual groups to seek increased
influence relative to others. That’s why we are proposing a
unified community as the sole Designator, and set thresholds
for decisions supported by multiple ACs and SOs. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under the current discussions, it appears
that a subset of GAC members want three new “powers” that do
not exist today: (1) the right to hold a decisional role in
the community mechanism, (2) a 2/3 threshold for Board
rejection of consensus advice, and (3) the ability to adjust
the definition of consensus that would trigger the Board’s
special obligations. Why is the CCWG now focusing on the
11th-hour introduction of the 2/3 board threshold along with
flexibility to change current practice on the definition of
consensus? Both of those stand to increase the influence of
the GAC alone over the Board and other community groups.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No one is trying to tell the GAC how to
define consensus for its internal deliberations or advice.
Rather, ST-18 simply reinforces the current practice that the
Board’s obligations kick in only when the GAC’s consensus is
consistent with current practice – reflecting the UN
definition/absence of formal objection. Any change to this
practice must be viewed as empowering the GAC alone over the
Board and potentially in a disproportionate way relative to
others.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By participating in the community mechanism
as a co-equal, the GAC will be able to contribute to this
joint community empowerment in a decisional way, if it chooses
to do so. This is already a big change (that some are
uncomfortable with) but it shows that the rest of the
community respects the important role of governments and the
GAC in our community processes.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In my view, the CCWG should resist pressure
to intentionally or inadvertently increase the relative
influence of any one group, and stay focused on the joint
community empowerment envisioned in our charter. This should
not be an opportunity for any group to secure individual
benefits they have previously been denied.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks and regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community">https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community</a>
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<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Matthew Shears
Director - Global Internet Policy and Human Rights
Center for Democracy & Technology
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mshears@cdt.org">mshears@cdt.org</a>
+ 44 771 247 2987 </pre>
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