Public Comment

Public Comment is a vital part of our multistakeholder model. It provides a mechanism for stakeholders to have their opinions and recommendations formally and publicly documented. It is an opportunity for the ICANN community to effect change and improve policies and operations.

Proposed Charter of Geographic Regions Review Working Group

Open: 18 February 09
Closed: 24 March 09

Explanation: At its November 2008 meeting in Cairo, Egypt, the ICANN Board authorized the formation of a community-wide working group to study and review the issues related to the definition of the ICANN Geographic Regions, consult with all stakeholders, and submit proposals for community and Board consideration relating to the current definition of the ICANN Geographic Regions.

The working group has developed a proposed charter to guide its efforts. All members of the ICANN community are now invited to review that document and share comments and observations with the Board and community through 24 March 2009. A copy of the proposed charter can be found here –

Geographic diversity is a fundamental component of the ICANN organization. The ICANN Bylaws (Article VI Section 5) currently define five geographic regions as Africa, North America, Latin America/Caribbean, Asia/Australia/Pacific and Europe.

The ICANN Geographic Regions were originally created to ensure regional diversity in the composition of the ICANN Board and were subsequently expanded in various ways to apply to the GNSO, ALAC and ccNSO. An ICANN Board resolution in 2000 directed Staff to assign countries to geographic regions on the basis of the United Nations Statistics Division's current classifications, and introduced the concept of “citizenship” in relation to the definition of ICANN Geographic Regions. The Geographic Regions are subject to review every few years and this Working Group effort is a part of such review.

Staff Responsible: Robert Hoggarth

Deadline and How to Submit Comments:

The Staff is opening a 30-day public consultation forum, from 18 February 2009 through 24 March 2009, and invites community comments on this topic. This particular forum period is longer than 30 days because public forum comment periods are now typically suspended during the dates of ICANN Board meetings and the ICANN Mexico City meeting is scheduled from 2 March to 6 March 2009.

To submit comments: Comments on the proposed charter are welcome via email at geo-charter@icann.org. This public forum will be open through 24 March 2009.

To view comments: An archive of all comments received will be publicly posted at http://forum.icann.org/lists/geo-charter/

For a copy of the public announcement of this forum please see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-18feb09-en.htm.

Staff member responsible: Robert Hoggarth

Announcement | Comments | Summary/analysis of comments