The objective of the Forum is to maximize the opportunity for open and inclusive dialogue and the exchange of ideas; to try and create feedback loops between the different topics; to create opportunities to share best practices and experiences; to listen, dialogue and learn as well as to identify key themes that would, in the future, benefit from the Internet multistakeholder perspective.

Internet Governance Forum general themes are is as follows:

1. Managing critical Internet resources;
2. Security, openness and privacy;
3. Access and diversity;
4. Internet governance in the light of WSIS principles;
5. Taking stock and the way forward - on the desirability of the continuation of the Forum;
6. Emerging issues: Impact of Social Networks.

The mandate of the Forum is to:

• Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet;
• Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with different cross-cutting international public policies regarding the Internet and discuss issues that do not fall within the scope of any existing body;
• Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organizations and other institutions on matters under their purview;
• Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and in this regard make full use of the expertise of the academic, scientific and technical communities;
• Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the availability and affordability of the Internet in the developing world;
• Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or future Internet governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing countries;
• Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the relevant bodies and the general public, and, where appropriate, make recommendations;
• Contribute to capacity building for Internet governance in developing countries, drawing fully on local sources of knowledge and expertise;
• Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the embodiment of WSIS principles in Internet governance processes;
• Discuss, inter alia, issues relating to critical Internet resources;
• Help to find solutions to the issues arising from the use and misuse of the Internet, of particular concern to everyday users;
• Publish its proceedings

Staff Members: Markus Kummer, Executive Coordinator. Chengetai Masango, Programme and Technology Manager. Avri Doria, part-time Consultant. Adam Peake, part-time Consultant. Seiiti Arata, Intern. Joseph Mokaya Gichana, Fellow. Sarah Goldfarb, Intern. Aniekan Udoh, Intern.

Mailing Address
United Nations
Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland 

Website: http://www.intgovforum.org