At Digital Rights LAC we wanted to ask different specialists in the region about their personal appraisals on digital rights issues. This is the case of Gloria Meneses from Colombia. We asked her what the main achievements were of 2013, regarding the work of civil society in that country in relation to internet governance. Here is her reply.

Since 2012, the RedPaTodos collective and the Karisma Foundation have shown interest in the issue of Internet governance. For this reason, we have participated in IGF and preparatory meetings. For further discussion, we formed a multi-stakeholder group on this subject. During 2013 this initiative was consolidated with the participation of civil society organizations (Colnodo, FLIP, AGEIA DENSI Colombia, Karisma Foundation and RedPaTodos), the private sector (.CO and Google), government interest (both MinTic and the CRC have accepted to participate in future meetings) and some people associated to academia (University of the Andes, Javeriana University and Jorge Tadeo Lozano University).

The main objective for 2014 is to include the issue of Internet governance into the government’s agenda and to further the discussion in order to ensure its presence in regional and global forums, representing the country’s position. Furthermore, to elaborate on some key issues such as neutrality, regulation and human rights on the Internet. In that vein, we expect to hold a national forum on neutrality during the first quarter.

Moreover, together with Colnodo in Colombia, and similar organizations in Latin America, we have supported the initiative of seeking dialogue with the LACNIC civil society. Within this space, we hope to participate in discussions at regional level and even propose forms of cooperation between groups and initiatives around the region.

Last but not least, some virtual activities are also being planned, related to the use of social networks as a means of positioning the subject, together with face to face meetings in other areas, including universities, and participating in related events, even covering technical aspects, where a subject could be shown and thus expand participation to other individuals and organizations who may be interested.