Geneva, Switzerland – At its recent Board meeting in London, the Internet Society Board of Trustees reiterated its support for the work of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in strengthening the multistakeholder model. The Board confirmed its resolve to take action to establish a legal structure with the objective of achieving stable and sustainable funding for the IGF.
The Internet Governance Forum Support Association, as it will be named, will be based in Switzerland and contribute to the United Nations IGF Trust Fund and support related activities. The IGF Trust Fund finances the IGF Secretariat and contributes to Internet governance-related capacity building in developing countries, such as awarding fellowships. The Association will provide a complementary funding mechanism to the IGF Trust Fund and will also fund national and regional IGF initiatives and additional fellowships for participation in IGF-related meetings at national, regional and global levels.
“The Internet Society is a strong advocate of the IGF and its essential role in the Internet ecosystem,” noted Kathy Brown, Internet Society President and CEO. “Last November, the Board of Trustees agreed to increase its financial support for the IGF and to establish a legal structure to facilitate financial support by others. We are excited that this process is well underway and we look forward to launching the IGF Support Association at the upcoming IGF in Istanbul.”
The IGF provides a venue for the global multistakeholder community to discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet. The IGF Support Association will be officially launched by a constituent General Assembly at the IGF meeting in Istanbul on 1 September 2014. “The IGF Support Association will provide businesses and individuals the opportunity to make financial contributions, big and small, and thus contribute to strengthening the IGF,” said Markus Kummer, Internet Society Senior Vice President. “The IGF is more relevant today than ever before, as it reinforces the distributed, de-centralized model of Internet governance that is necessary to ensure the future of the open, global Internet and the benefits it brings to all of us.”
Bob Hinden, Chair of the Internet Society Board of Trustees, added, “The Board is very supportive of these steps to ensure the IGF is on a sustainable and stable path. The IGF provides a unique platform for all stakeholders to openly exchange perspectives and concerns on key issues that can impact the future of the Internet. The ISOC Board and I believe these steps will enable the IGF to have a more important role in the Internet ecosystem going forward.”
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