The Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development participates at World Internet Forum

COMNET-IT is a non-profit Foundation supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Malta, where its offices are located. The Foundation is committed to the development of a Commonwealth Information Infrastructure assisting institutions amongst the 53 member-states with their 1.6 Bn population in capability-building for sustainable information and people-networks.

COMNET-IT recently participated in the Internet Society's annual world forum, I-NET '97 held in Malaysia in the week ending 28th June. This participation had two purposes: to establish a presence in the mainstream of the global networking development going on and to promote collaborative relationships.

A COMNET-IT sponsored seminar was held on the 28th June. During this Seminar, COMNET-IT promoted an international initiative which proposes the legal concept that the Internet is the common ownership of all people and that any process for the resolution of conflicts of interest should be viewed in this context. Coupled with this there is a perceived need to constitute some form of voluntary arbitration mechanism to adjudicate on these disputes by an independent international commission. This will constitute - over time - a body of cases and precedents that will carry moral weight and authority of customary international practice in the resolution of conflict.

This initiative arose out of research at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (associated with Geneva University's Diplomatic Studies Programme). The requirement was publicly articulated and supported in Parliamentary sittings in Malta, in May and at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, in June. A web site (www.diplomacy.edu/internet) has been created to invite further development of this concept and to launch the arbitation mechanism. Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona has been active in promoting this initiative since inception and gave a well-received presentation at this forum.

COMNET-IT's Executive Director, Mr Henry Alamango, discussed arrangements with the Internet society (ISOC) for the use of training materials in COMNET-IT programmes to be held in developing countries. COMNET-IT is also keen on supporting and developing Internet user groups and in-country initiatives aimed at accessibility for disabled persons. Given the world's ageing population - and therefore the convergence of accessibility needs between this group and disabled persons - there is now the critical mass to favourably impact the economies of scale and to apply increased pressure on suppliers and product designers.

COMNET-IT also had talks with MIMOS - the Malaysian Government's IT agency - with a view to setting up a regional partner to service needs in the region that are being resourced under the COMNET-IT banner. An agreement is expected in the coming few months.