Internet Society Strengthens Commitment to the Internet Governance Forum

Internet Society

[Geneva, Switzerland] – The Internet Society today announced that it has further strengthened support of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) by donating an additional US$100,000 through the IGF Support Association. The IGF serves as

an essential venue for global and regional multistakeholder communities to discuss

public policy issues related to Internet governance.

Officially launched at the IGF meeting in Istanbul in September 2014, the IGF Support Association contributes to the United Nations IGF Trust Fund and supports activities such as Internet governance-related capacity building in developing countries, national and regional IGF initiatives, and fellowships for participation in IGF meetings at national, regional and global levels.

“We challenge individuals and organizations that rely upon and are working towards an open, global Internet to similarly contribute to the IGF Support Association and the work of the IGF,” said Kathy Brown, CEO and President of the Internet Society. “With our ongoing support of the IGF and this further contribution, we aim to strengthen what has come to be an indispensable element of the Internet ecosystem, providing truly multistakeholder venues for governments, business, civil society and the technical community to share their views and experiences, and to work towards shared best practices that tackle issues facing Internet users around the world.”

Since its inception in 2006, the IGF has grown, spawning national and regional IGFs that have introduced the multistakeholder approach to deliberation and leadership on Internet issues at the local level. The tenth annual global IGF meeting is scheduled to take place in João Pessoa, Brazil, on 10-13 November 2015.

The IGF Support Association was initiated by the Internet Society Board of Trustees in 2013 to provide stable and sustainable funding for the IGF and its related activities. Earlier this year, the Internet Society contributed US$100,000 directly to support the IGF Secretariat function.

About the Internet Governance Forum Support Association
The Internet Governance Forum Support Association (https://www.igfsa.org) is an independent Swiss association officially established in September 2014 to support the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The goal of the IGF Support Association is to provide stable and sustainable support for the IGF Secretariat and to fund related activities. The Association is governed by an Executive Committee representing a broad spectrum of supporters of the Internet Governance Forum.

About the Internet Society
The Internet Society (www.internetsociety.org) is the trusted independent source for Internet information and thought leadership around the world. It is also the organizational home for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). With its principled vision, substantial technological foundation and its global presence, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and other organizations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone.