GAC Operating Principles WG - Terms of Reference
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The following are Terms of Reference for an internal working group of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC).
The focus of the working group will be to undertake a comprehensive review of the GAC Operating Principles and to provide the GAC with recommendations for a revised set of Operating Principles.
Objectives
The Working Group will work to reach consensus about changes that are necessary or desirable to the GAC Operating Principles. Every part of the GAC Operating Principles may be considered
Where a consensus view is developed about possible changes to the GAC Operating Principles, the Working Group may ask the GAC to consider those changes, with a view to initiating a formal revision process (as per Article XIV of the Principles).
Working Group Members
The GAC’s Operating Principles Review Working Group will be chaired by:
- Mr Henri Kassen (Namibia).
All GAC representatives and observers are welcome to join the GAC’s Operating Principles Review Working Group. Working group participants are expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge or expertise about aspects of the objectives of the working group; and
- Commit to actively participate in the activities of the working group on an ongoing basis.
All participants will be listed in the working group’s online workspace, within the members-only section of the GAC website.
The working group will be assisted and supported by the ACIG GAC Secretariat and the ICANN GAC Support team.
Deliverables and Timeframes
As a first step the working group should establish and adopt an initial work plan and an associated schedule (timeline). Relevant activities may include:
- Developing a list of Principles where change is proposed or suggested;
- Developing a process for reviewing, discussing and reaching consensus about each Principle where change is proposed or suggested;
- Reviewing each Principle where change is proposed or suggested, as per the agreed processes;
- Preparing briefing papers for the GAC, to provide updates about the progress of the working group.
The work plan should include the timing and methods for informing the GAC of progress made by the working group.
As a minimum, the Chair of the working group shall update the GAC about the activities of the working group, and its progress towards meeting its objectives, at each face-to-face GAC meeting. The initial work plan and schedule should be published on the web page of the working group. The Chair will be responsible for maintaining and updating the work plan and schedule and for informing the working group and the GAC Leadership Team of changes made to the work plan and schedule.
At the discretion of the Chair an email list may be established to aid the work of the group. Details of how to subscribe to the email list will be published on the web page of the working group. The working group may, at its discretion, publish any other relevant information on the GAC website (in the public section or in the members only section).
Process for the development of a Position Paper or Statement
The working group, at its own discretion, may publish an Interim (or draft) Paper, which will contain a review and analysis of the topics it considers relevant, or a draft Statement. The schedule for drafting and decision-making relating to any such paper or statement should be included in the work plan. In developing any working group Position Paper or Statement the working group shall seek to act by consensus. The consensus view of the members of the working group shall be articulated in the paper. If full consensus cannot be reached, the co-chairs will seek to express the range of views of the WG's members.
Such a paper will be circulated to the GAC for comment, and the GAC may decide to publish it with a view to seeking input from the wider ICANN community and/or relevant stakeholders outside the community.
Any such Interim Paper or Statement must clearly state that it is produced by an internal GAC Working Group and does not represent a consensus GAC view.
After revising an interim Position Paper or Statement, the working group may seek formal GAC endorsement or support for the document. In the event that the GAC does not support or endorse a Position Paper or Statement, the working group may, at its discretion, reconsider and/or revise the Position Paper or Statement.