[Comments-meac-strategy-18feb20] MEAC strategy 2021-2025 Comment

[Yeseul Kim]

I would like to suggest the followings to be added to the proposed agendas. 

1. To conduct a study on MEAC Multistakeholder models on the Internet Governance - this would clarify further steps that ICANN can take to strengthen its relations with the regional stakeholders 

2. To strengthen ties with academic institutions in the region - Though there are already several institutions which have collaboratively worked with ICANN from the region, diversifying ties with the academic institutions in the region, especially from the central Middle East countries such as UAE, Qatar or Saudi Arabia, will help ICANN to have stronger relationships with MEAC region. This will also help boost UA acceptance in the region as it requires quite a lot of academic works, not to mention that it will also help encourage more participants to take part in MEAC-SIG or Arab IGF. Although I’m not well aware of the works by GAC members from the region, this will also help facilitate any forthcoming agendas on Geographical Indications and other Domain Name related disputes from the region. 

3. To help establish MEAC Youth IGF - Unlike Europe or APAC region where Youth IGF or youth participants are highly organized and well conducted at various levels with thorough communications among these different levels - from government to academia to civil society to private sector, it seems that MEAC region lacks more support and participation from youth participants. However, as it seems that more youths from the region take more active participation in IG forums, ICANN can encourage any Youth activities through forming MEAC Youth IGF or any related events. This can also be done in conjunction with item no.2 

4. Any regional NOGs and separate NICs for the region?