IT for Change has been a regular participant in the annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meetings. Parminder attended the latest Internet Governance Forum in Baku, Azebaijan from 6th to 9th November, 2012, and its connected pre-events on 3rd to 5th of November.
IT for Change is a founding member of the BestBits civil society group which met for the first time on 4th November in Baku. IT for Change was also the cosponsor of the this event. The meeting discussed important global Internet Governance events, especially the forthcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT). It also issues a pre-WCIT statement that riased the issue of multistakeholder participation in the WCIT and also some substantive issues. IT for Change was closely and energetically involved in developing this common civil society statement, especially to bring economic and social justice issues like universal access and net neutrality to the statement.
Parminder was invited to speak at an IGF pre-event on 'Enhanced Cooperation in Internet Governance: From Deadlock to Dialogue' on November 5th, where we highlighted many inconsistencies in the stand of developed countries on this issue. We also suggested some practical ways to move forward, including forming a CSTD Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation.
On the behalf of IT for Change, Parminder helped co- organize a workshop on 'National IG Mechanism – Looking at Some key Design Issues' with speakers from many countries from many countries, like Brazil, Canada and New Zealand, who are involved with national IG mechanism. Effort was to look at possible models that can be adopted in countries where such mechanism, especially as involving multistakeholder participation, are under-developed.
Parminder was also a part of the panel in a workshop 'Quo Vadis IGF – or Evolution of IGF ' that looked at various suggestions for IGF improvements, especially the recommendations of the CSTD Working Group on IGF Improvements. Parminder also made numerous interventions in the main sessions. He ws involved in various side meeting, and network activities at the IGF.