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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Dear Avri,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Staff has been reviewing the proposed observations and recommendations considered by the ATRT 2 and would like to offer several clarifications.&nbsp; Additionally, it would be very helpful to get further clarification from the Review Team on several points raised.&nbsp; As you are the ATRT 2 member assigned to complete the analysis and the documentation on these particular item, staff would appreciate your consideration of the information summarized here and your response of clarification.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Inventory Item #15&nbsp;- Assess Ombudsman relationship and confirm framework is consistent with international standards</span></u></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>DRAFT Observation or Recommendation:</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'>&middot;</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ICANN should&nbsp; review ombudsman bylaw to ensure adherence to international standards in an effort to build confidence amongst stakeholders.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'>&middot;</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ICANN needs to reconsider the role of the Ombudsman office as a symbol of good governance and incorporate the office in transparency processes.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol'>&middot;</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ICANN should consider the use of the Ombudsman in internal mediation processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Staff Clarification and Request for Additional Information:</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Staff would appreciate a clarification from ATRT 2 regarding &nbsp;what is meant by &quot;internal mediation processes&quot; and &quot;incorporate the office in transparency processes.&quot;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Inventory Item #35 - Review actions of the Board and staff in ensuring public interest:&nbsp; Publication of yearly statistical reports on transparency</span></u></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Draft recommendation:</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ICANN should include a yearly transparency report as part of its yearly report. ICANN Transparency report needs to include a section on Employee whistleblowing activity including metric on:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>&nbsp;i. Reports submitted<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ii. Reports that resulted in change to ICANN practices<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This report should be created under the supervision of the ICANN Ombudsman. This requires a change to By-laws on the Ombudsman scope.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Staff Clarification and Request for Additional Information:</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Staff would appreciate a clarification of &quot;yearly transparency report.&#8221; &nbsp;ICANN already issues an </span><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/in-focus/accountability/atrt-implementation-report-29jan13-en.pdf">annual report</a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> on implementation and progress on ATRT1 recommendations.&nbsp;Do you mean &#8220;Annual Report of Whistleblower Activities&#8221;?&nbsp; If that is the case, it would be helpful to clarify this with a more descriptive term in your recommendation.<span style='color:#1F497D'>&nbsp; </span>Staff would suggest the term &#8220;Anonymous Hotline&#8221; based on research of best practices.&nbsp; Additionally, while staff does not anticipate any issues with being able to report how the Anonymous Hotline is being used, ICANN&#8217;s ability to report publically on results from Anonymous Hotline may be limited in certain cases due to legal implications.&nbsp; &nbsp;ICANN may be limited to providing a generic disposition due to such legal limitations.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Staff appreciates the significant work effort that you and the Review Team have committed to making ongoing improvements in ICANN&#8217;s accountability and transparency.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i>Larisa B. Gurnick<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>Consultant/Senior Director, Organizational Reviews<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;color:black'>Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:larisa.gurnick@icann.org">larisa.gurnick@icann.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>310 383-8995<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div></body></html>