[Ws2-diversity] Existing Gender and Regional Diversity Data at ICANN

Tue Dec 20 22:02:05 UTC 2016

While these additional data points are welcome, I would like to bring to this group’s attention the Final Report of the recent GSNO Review (https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2015-09-15-en).

Specifically, the reports:  

·       cautions that geographic diversity is not a proxy for cultural diversity  (pp 11 and 114). 

·       questions whether, from a cultural perspective, it is appropriate to include Australia and New Zealand as part of the Asia Pacific region (pp 115-116). 

The report points out, as at July 2013, people from Asia made up 48% of total Internet users but only 4% of GNSO Council positions came from Asia ( p.116). 

Page 114

9.4.1

Geographic Diversity

It is not possible to be definitive about the geographic diversity of the membership of the GNSO, firstly because ICANN does not collect comprehensive statistics on geographic (or gender and cultural) diversity of its community. It does collect geographic diversity information, but we consider the criterion to be flawed, since people can state their place of residence regardless of their ethnicity or actual affinity (for example, an Australian national living in Nigeria could choose to be recorded as a member from Africa). Secondly, Constituency and SG membership consists in many cases of organisations and/or individuals. Organisations may themselves be based in one region but consist of individuals from many. We believe, as explained further below, that CANN’s geographic regions are a poor measure of cultural or ethnic diversity.

Pages 115 & 116

9.4.2

Cultural Diversity

…

Under ICANN’s current definition, Asia Pacific includes Australia and New Zealand which are in general culturally more similar to North America and parts of Europe than to most Asian cultures. …

It is my understanding that ICANN’s current geographical regions are inconsistent with international norms. However, the ICANN Geographic Regions Review Working Group (see Final Report at http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22jun13-en.htm) has not proposed any change to regional designation. As former ICANN CEO, Dr. Paul Twomey laments ( <http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/wp3/2015-July/000015.html> http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/wp3/2015-July/000015.html):

“There was no real discussion of the global strategic challenges facing ICANN in a world where Internet activity and power is shifting dramatically away from the hubs of the late 1990s which underlie ICANN's present structures.”

From: ws2-diversity-bounces at icann.org [mailto:ws2-diversity-bounces at icann.org] On Behalf Of Mathieu Weill
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2016 4:27 AM
To: Ergys Ramaj
Cc: MSSI Secretariat; ws2-diversity at icann.org
Subject: Re: [Ws2-diversity] Existing Gender and Regional Diversity Data at ICANN

Thanks Ergys, great work, I think this really demonstrates that a recommendation from this group to maintain and track such data is realistic and accessible. 

Best

Mathieu

De : Ergys Ramaj [mailto:ergys.ramaj at icann.org] 
Envoyé : mardi 20 décembre 2016 14:07
À : Mathieu Weill
Cc : Rafik Dammak; ws2-diversity at icann.org; MSSI Secretariat
Objet : Re: [Ws2-diversity] Existing Gender and Regional Diversity Data at ICANN

Dear Mathieu,

The SO/AC leadership data includes:

ASO Council Chair and Vice Chairs, Address Council Members, ccNSO Council Chairs and Vice Chairs, ccNSO Council Members, GNSO Council Chair and Vice Chairs, GNSO Council Members, ALAC Leadership Team, ALAC Members, GAC Leadership Team, RSSAC Chairs, SSAC Chair and Vice Chair, AFRALO Leadership, APRALO Leadership, EURALO Leadership, LACRALO Leadership, NARALO Leadership, Registries Stakeholder Group Executive Committee, Registrars Stakeholder Group Executive Committee, Commercial Stakeholder Group Executive Committee, Non- Commercial Stakeholder Group Executive Committee, Business Constituency Executive Committee, Intellectual Property Constituency Executive Committee, Internet Service Providers and Connectivity Providers Constituency Executive Committees, Non-Commercial Users Constituency Executive Committee, and Not-for-Profit Operational Concerns Constituency Executive Committee. 

More generally and to the data collection method question you pose, different groups within ICANN organization collect data related to their function. E.g. the meetings team on ICANN meetings, Human Resources on personnel, etc. 

To get a full picture, we'd reached out to      the respective teams and collated the information. As noted on the deck, data points are identified using the most appropriate resources available, which are often based on self-reporting or selection. 

The question on having additional data that includes diversity markers other than gender and region is a bit trickier as different groups capture different elements. 

Happy to discuss and update the slides with an appendix that includes a breakdown for SO/AC leadership and any other group, as appropriate.

Best,

Ergys 

On Dec 20, 2016, at 5:52 AM, Mathieu Weill <mathieu.weill at afnic.fr> wrote:

Thank you Rafik, 

It is very encouraging to see this new publication from ICANN. Indeed it would be great to invite the DPRD to a call to fully understand the figures, how they were collected and whether there is room for further breakdowns. 

I would be interested, for instance, to understand the definition used for “ICANN leadership”. 

Best

Mathieu

De : ws2-diversity-bounces at icann.org [mailto:ws2-diversity-bounces at icann.org] De la part de Rafik Dammak
Envoyé : mardi 20 décembre 2016 02:22
À : ws2-diversity at icann.org
Cc : MSSI Secretariat
Objet : [Ws2-diversity] Existing Gender and Regional Diversity Data at ICANN

Hi everyone,

please find attached this document shared by Development and Public Responsibility Department (DPRD) including several diversity data they collected.

I think we can count on DPRD as resource for our subgroup.

Best,

Rafik

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