Launch / Award Event #159 Book Launch Netmundial+10 Statement in the 6 UN Languages
25 Jun 2025 15:15h - 16:00h
Launch / Award Event #159 Book Launch Netmundial+10 Statement in the 6 UN Languages
Session at a glance
Summary
This discussion centered on the launch of “NetMundial Plus 10,” a book containing multistakeholder guidelines that has been translated into the six official UN languages plus Portuguese. Rafael Evangelista from Brazil’s Internet Steering Committee opened the session by explaining that NetMundial Plus 10 represents a continuation of the original NetMundial process from 2014, resulting in the SĂ£o Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines designed to strengthen internet governance and digital policy processes.
Multiple speakers emphasized that NetMundial serves as a shining example of how the multistakeholder model can deliver concrete results in a timely manner, contrasting it with other forums that may deliberate for years without reaching consensus. Pierre Bonis from AFNIC highlighted how NetMundial addressed critical moments in internet governance history, including the post-Snowden era and the recent Digital Global Compact discussions. The collaborative editing process was particularly noteworthy, with participants describing intense online sessions where committee members from around the world simultaneously edited documents in real-time.
The translation process itself proved to be more than mere linguistic conversion. Speakers noted that translating these governance concepts into different languages required deep understanding of the field and collaboration with community experts rather than just professional translators. Jennifer Chung discussed the complexity of Chinese translation, involving coordination between different script systems and regional terminology variations. Valeria Betancourt emphasized that translation carries political dimensions and increases community appropriation of the guidelines by making them accessible in native languages.
Several participants stressed the practical application of these guidelines, particularly in the context of the upcoming WSIS Plus 20 review process. The book launch represents not just a publication milestone but a call to action for implementing these multistakeholder principles across various governance levels, from local to global contexts.
Keypoints
## Major Discussion Points:
– **Book Launch and Multilingual Publication**: The primary focus was launching the “NetMundial Plus 10” book, which contains multistakeholder guidelines and has been translated into the six official UN languages plus Portuguese, making it accessible to a global audience.
– **Success of the Multistakeholder Model**: Participants emphasized how NetMundial and NetMundial Plus 10 serve as exemplary cases of effective multistakeholder governance that can deliver concrete results in a timely manner, countering criticisms that such processes are slow or ineffective.
– **Translation as Political and Cultural Process**: Speakers highlighted that translation goes beyond literal conversion, involving cultural adaptation and political considerations. The process required collaboration within language communities (e.g., different Chinese dialects and scripts) and helps increase local appropriation of governance principles.
– **Practical Implementation and Future Applications**: Discussion centered on putting the SĂ£o Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines into practice across various levels (local, national, regional, global) and using them to inform ongoing processes like the WSIS+20 review and national IGF initiatives.
– **Collaborative Process and Community Engagement**: Participants reflected on the intensive collaborative editing process that created the guidelines and emphasized the ongoing nature of the work, including invitations for additional translations and continued community involvement.
## Overall Purpose:
The discussion aimed to officially launch the multilingual publication of the NetMundial Plus 10 statement and SĂ£o Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines, celebrate the collaborative achievement, and encourage broader adoption and implementation of these governance principles across different linguistic and cultural contexts.
## Overall Tone:
The tone was consistently celebratory, appreciative, and forward-looking throughout the session. Participants expressed genuine enthusiasm and pride in the collaborative achievement, with frequent expressions of gratitude and mutual recognition. The atmosphere remained positive and constructive, with speakers building on each other’s comments and emphasizing the collective nature of the work. There was no notable shift in tone – it maintained an upbeat, collegial spirit from beginning to end.
Speakers
**Speakers from the provided list:**
– **Rafael de Almeida Evangelista** – Board member of CGI.br (Brazilian Internet Steering Committee), session moderator
– **Pierre Bonis** – Representative from AFNIC (French registry)
– **Jennifer Chung** – Works for .asia (registry operator for the generic top level domain .Asia)
– **Valeria Betancourt** – From Association of Progressive Communication
– **Renata Mielli** – Member of CGI.br, involved in NetMundial Plus 10 organization
– **Everton Rodrigues** – Part of NIC.br team involved in the NetMundial Plus 10 process
– **Jorge Cancio** – From the Swiss government, involved in translation process
– **Akinori Maemura** – Member of the HLAC (High-Level Advisory Committee) for NetMundial Plus 10, also involved in NetMundial 2014 EMC
– **Vinicius W. O. Santos** – Part of the secretariat/NIC.br team for NetMundial Plus 10
– **Audience** – Identified as James Ndolufuye from Africa
**Additional speakers:**
None – all speakers who spoke during the session were included in the provided speakers names list.
Full session report
# NetMundial Plus 10: Multilingual Book Launch and Implementation Discussion
## Executive Summary
This session focused on the launch of “NetMundial Plus 10,” a publication containing multistakeholder guidelines translated into the six official UN languages plus Portuguese. Moderated by Rafael de Almeida Evangelista from Brazil’s Internet Steering Committee, the discussion brought together international stakeholders to celebrate this achievement and examine its implications for internet governance.
Participants emphasized NetMundial’s effectiveness as a multistakeholder process that delivers concrete results efficiently. The conversation highlighted how translation involves more than linguistic conversion, requiring cultural adaptation and community collaboration. Speakers stressed the importance of implementing these guidelines in practice rather than treating them as static documents.
## Background and Context
Rafael Evangelista explained that NetMundial Plus 10 continues the original NetMundial process from 2014, which produced the SĂ£o Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines for strengthening internet governance and digital policy processes. The publication launch occurs one year after NetMundial Plus 10, with printed copies available for free and digital versions accessible at cgi.br.
The timing coincides with ongoing discussions around the Digital Global Compact and preparations for the WSIS Plus 20 review process. Pierre Bonis from AFNIC noted the post-Snowden context that influenced NetMundial’s development.
## Multistakeholder Model Effectiveness
Speakers consistently praised NetMundial as proof that multistakeholder approaches work. Pierre Bonis stated: “Sometimes people look at our model, at the multi-stakeholder model, saying, okay, that’s nice, but it doesn’t deliver anything. And NetMundial and NetMundial Plus10… you see that in four days, you get a consensus that is a solid one, that can last four years, as in other fora, you may talk for 10 years without having anything like that.”
Jennifer Chung from .asia described NetMundial as “a shining example that multi-stakeholder process works and produces tangible results,” emphasizing how the guidelines provide practical tools for improving multilateral processes. James Ndolufuye from Africa noted that “NetMundial process has become the conscience of information society regarding multi-stakeholder engagement.”
## Translation as Cultural Process
The discussion revealed sophisticated understanding of translation challenges. Valeria Betancourt from the Association for Progressive Communications explained: “Translation is not just a mere transposition, a literal transposition of specific content from one language to another. When doing the translation we are actually also expressing different views of reality, different perspectives… It’s not only a communication strategy… but for me it’s actually mostly an attempt to respond to the contextual realities of people, if we really want to be inclusive.”
Jennifer Chung detailed Chinese translation complexities, explaining how the team had to collaborate within the Chinese community because “certain terms are translated in different ways” and decisions were needed between traditional and simplified scripts, as well as different regional variations.
Pierre Bonis noted that “Internet governance concepts are better translated by field experts than general UN translators.” Vinicius W. O. Santos from NIC.br described their collaborative review process involving “multiple reviewers and field experts” working with professional translators.
The translation effort involved specific contributors including Lucien Castex (French), Manao, Christina Arida, Zena (Arabic), and Leonid Todorov (Russian). Renata Mielli from CGI.br observed that reading different language versions reveals “meaningful differences” and that “different language versions have distinct impacts and make more sense in specific contexts.”
## Collaborative Editing Process
Akinori Maemura, a member of the High-Level Advisory Committee (HLAC) for NetMundial Plus 10, described the “dynamic online editing process with global HLAC members” as a “remarkable collaborative experience” involving committee members from around the world simultaneously editing documents.
Jorge Cancio from the Swiss government characterized the process as “intensive and emotionally heavy but productive,” highlighting both the challenges and rewards of such collaboration.
## Implementation Focus
Jorge Cancio emphasized implementation responsibility: “It’s really in our hands to put them to work… if it’s just a piece of paper it will get forgotten in some years of time but if we put them to use… they will really gain some reality, they will inform what we do on a multi-stakeholder fashion at the different levels.”
He provided concrete examples, describing how the Swiss IGF is implementing the SĂ£o Paulo guidelines and how his office uses the guidelines in German and French for internal discussions to ensure “bottom-up, open, inclusive” processes that “take into account asymmetries of power and influence.”
Valeria Betancourt connected the guidelines to the WSIS Plus 20 review, explaining how they “provide practical steps for making inclusion reality” and can increase representation of underrepresented communities. Jennifer Chung emphasized their relevance for capacity building in local communities.
## Ongoing Expansion
Everton Rodrigues from NIC.br emphasized the continuing nature of the project: “We had ongoing efforts in other languages as well, so please feel invited to send us those new translations to contact us also to make those translations available… the future of NetMundial is still ongoing.”
This prompted James Ndolufuye to offer translations into Swahili, Yoruba, and Hausa to “scale the approach across Africa.” The NetMundial Plus 10 website will credit new translations and make them available to the community.
## Conclusion
The session demonstrated strong support for NetMundial’s multistakeholder approach while emphasizing the need for practical implementation. The multilingual publication represents both an achievement in inclusive governance and a tool for ongoing work. Speakers committed to using the guidelines in their respective contexts, from local IGFs to international processes, ensuring the NetMundial principles continue to evolve through practical application.
The discussion highlighted how effective multistakeholder governance requires both inclusive processes and concrete outcomes, with NetMundial serving as a model for addressing complex governance challenges efficiently while maintaining broad stakeholder participation.
Session transcript
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Hello, good afternoon, everyone. It is a pleasure to welcome you to this launch session at the Open Stage. My name is Rafael Evangelista. I am a board member of CGI.br, the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. This session is about the book launch, NetMundial plus 10, statement in the six UN languages. So I have here with me, helping me with the book launch, Pierre Bonis from AFNIC, Pierre, can you join us? Okay, Pierre. Thank you. Valeria Betancourt from Association of Progressive Communication, Valeria, she’s not here yet. Okay. Jennifer Chung from .asia, hi Jennifer, how are you? And Renata Mielli will join us later after her session ends. NetMundial provided an inclusive platform where relevant actors from all stakeholder groups and regions were able to convene, deliberate and reach consensus on a new set of guidelines and recommendations. These were designed to address the most pressing challenges facing governance processes in our time. The result of an extensive and collaborative process, NetMundial plus 10 culminated in the document entitled NetMundial plus 10, Mood Stakeholder Statement, Strengthening Internet Governance and Digital Policy Processes. This document is now being published within the CGI book series and it is available in the six official languages of the United Nations, in addition to Portuguese. This is the book that I’m showing here. One of the central outcomes of this process was the formulation of the Sao Paulo Mood Stakeholder Guidelines. These guidelines present a structured yet adaptable set of steps aimed at enhancing Mood Stakeholder practices across various digital governance decision-making contexts. By doing so, the NetMundial plus 10 ultimate outcomes contribute to fostering a more effective, inclusive and results-oriented model of Mood Stakeholder collaboration at the global level. The Sao Paulo Guidelines seek to strengthen governance processes by offering a flexible, inclusive and actionable framework grounded in principles of transparency, participation and adaptability, thereby reinforcing the legitimacy and effectiveness of Mood Stakeholder approaches. In light of the importance of disseminating these outcomes widely, this statement has been translated into multiple languages and compiled into a book available in both digital and print formats. Launching this publication at the Internet Governance Forum is a meaningful milestone, one that allows us to promote and discuss the NetMundial plus 10 results with a broader global community. This moment is particularly significant given that NetMundial plus 10 recognizes the IGF as a forum that ought to be further strengthened and as a central hub for Internet governance decisions. Today’s launch also serves as a timely opportunity for reflection and dialogue, making one year since the NetMundial plus 10 event. Our session will feature contributions from key stakeholders involved in the process, who will discuss the Sao Paulo Guidelines, the Mood Stakeholder statement and the challenges encountered in producing a multilingual publication of this nature. We are grateful for your presence here and engagement in this session. Printed copies of the book are available. Please feel free to request one if you have not received one yet. The digital version can also be accessed online at cgi.br. Thank you. I’ll hand out to our speakers. Perhaps Pierre can be the first one. Can you, please?
Pierre Bonis: Thank you. Obrigado. Thank you very much for welcoming us here. So it’s a little bit ironic because I’m going to speak in English. Because while we are presenting this work that I will talk about a little bit later, in the UN official language and Portuguese, this open space that is a very cool one is the one where you don’t have translation. So I will keep on speaking English. Just to share the fact that, first of all, having been invited by cgi.br and nick.br is always a pleasure. We are, at AFNIC, the French registry and we see the work that has been done by nick.br and cgi.br for years as a real example of a multi-stakeholder approach. And an inspiring one, really. Just want to share, of course we are happy to have been able to contribute to translate in French this document. But I want to testify of something that is very important to us. That NetMundial and NetMundial Plus10 are, I think, the best example of a multi-stakeholder approach that can deliver in a timely manner. And the timely manner is a very important point here. So we can be talking, and that’s always good to talk, to exchange, to dig more and more and more some subjects. But sometimes people look at our model, at the multi-stakeholder model, saying, okay, that’s nice, but it doesn’t deliver anything. And NetMundial and NetMundial Plus10, at two very important moments of the Internet governance, the first one, we remember it, it was after the Snowden thing, and just before the transition of the IANA function and the move of the American government and NetMundial Plus10, a few weeks before the adoption of the digital global compact emergency, we had to talk and to see if together, at a global level, we had something to say, to add to what we said 10 years before. The decision to bring all the stakeholders, lately, and CGI.br organized an online platform, very demanding, very efficient. And when you look at these three or four days of meetings in Sao Paulo that reached that point, you see that in four days, you get a consensus that is a solid one, that can last four years, as in other fora, you may talk for 10 years without having anything like that. So that’s why, and I will finish with that, that’s why we say, and that’s not just to be polite, even if we try to be polite, but when we say that your work is inspiring, it’s really inspiring, this way of delivering things has to be applauded, so thank you very much.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you Pierre for such nice words, and please, Jennifer.
Jennifer Chung: Thank you very much, well that is a very hard act to follow Pierre, I feel like we can just applaud and that’s it, we can just celebrate. My name is Jennifer Chung, I work for .Asia, and .Asia is of course the registry operator for the top level domain, the generic top level domain .Asia, we have a mandate to promote internet adoption and development and capacity building in Asia Pacific, so obviously when we’re talking about translation, we’re doing the Asian languages, specifically Chinese. But taking a half step back, and really echoing a lot of things that Pierre has mentioned, NetMundial and NetMundial plus 10 is really held up to be such a shining example of what works, what actually can be done right, with the multi-stakeholder process, with the multi-stakeholder model, and the fact that the entire community comes together and produces something so beautiful is testament to the fact that it actually works, and every time there are naysayers and criticisms about, oh, you know, multi-stakeholder process is messy, it’s slow, it doesn’t produce results, this is a result, it’s beautiful, it’s a book, six languages, amazing. So taking another step back as well, to look at the Thank you very much. So, I think the multistakeholder guidelines gives us a way to measure, to look at things with a critical eye, to actually make sense of when we’re talking about multistakeholder model, we’re not talking about one model, we’re not talking about a monolith. There are different ways to look at and measure and another important part is how can we improve the multilateral process and this actually tells us very much how we can do this. In fact, sitting here, you know, in UN IGF, UN itself is multilateral but the IGF is multistakeholder and that is the beauty of it, how we are able to work together in this kind of environment and this is one of the things that really allows us to look at it in a very critical eye. I guess I’m going to turn a little bit to the translation part which is why I’m here. The interesting part about my mother tongue, Chinese, is I actually have two because I speak Cantonese because I am from Hong Kong but I also speak Mandarin which is of course the official language, the official Chinese. The script itself is also quite interesting. We have the traditional script which looks a little more complicated because when you look at the character, oh, there’s a lot more lines and of course, there’s the official script which is simplified. So when we looked into the translation process, we really had to, even within the Chinese community, do a lot of collaboration because we find that certain terms are translated in different ways and to be as inclusive as possible, we had to consult with and coordinate and cooperate with many, many different friends. So it really isn’t just .Asia doing everything, it absolutely isn’t. So it’s .Asia, there’s friends from mainland, there’s Sienic friends, there’s also friends who understand the different terminologies that is used with the Chinese-speaking community around the world. So I guess I’ll stop here with a little bit of flavor and context of the translation and hand it right back to you.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you, Jennifer. We have here Valeria, she could make, and thank you for joining us and please, the floor is yours.
Valeria Betancourt: Apologies for being late, it’s just running from one session to another. I really value the opportunity to talk about my experience of assisting with the translation into Spanish, but before I dig into the specific issue, what I want to say is that, and I have been saying in different panels, that when we look back at processes that we engage in relation to shaping Internet governance and the governance of digital technologies in general, we not only remember the issues that were important for us, the people that we met, the collaborations that we established, we really remember how things happened, how the process was conducted. And I think this is at the core of the multi-stakeholder guidelines. These principles and these guidelines really help us to build different ways of running processes when it has to do with the application of the multi-stakeholder approach, not only to the conversations, but actually to the collaborations and to finding solutions, which I think help us to address specific problems, either acknowledging that there are different interests on the table, acknowledging that the dynamic of stakeholder engagement is not easy, but actually helping us to move beyond the simple dialogue and conversation which is essential and important to specific solutions to address the different and critical challenges that we face in order to crystallize the vision that many of us envisage of having governance that is inclusive, that is democratic, that is transparent, that is accountable. So all of that is at the center of these guidelines and the possibility to honor also the principles that were stated 20 years ago in relation to inclusivity in the information society, not only to sit in the different stakeholders on the table, but actually to be able to meet their interests and to respond to the realities that people face, acknowledging that the way in which tech is embedded in our lives is really rendering us in many different ways. So in relation to the translation, the translation is not just a mere transposition, a literal transposition of specific content from one language to another. When doing the translation we are actually also expressing different views of reality, different perspectives, so in that sense the translation in Spanish is not only an exercise and an attempt and an effort to expand the reach of the multi-stakeholder guidelines, but I think it is a very important effort to actually respond to the contextual realities that are needed in order to be able to make progress in democratic governance. So that’s the importance for me of having the multi-stakeholder guidelines, the Sao Paulo multi-stakeholder guidelines in different languages has to do with that. It’s not only a communication strategy, it’s not only the possibility for different people to be able to relate with the principles and the guidelines in their own language, but for me it’s actually mostly an attempt to respond to the contextual realities of people, if we really want to be inclusive, if we really want to be able to make progress in terms of democratic governance. So let me leave it like that for now.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you very much, Valeria. We have time for questions, yes?
Audience: Thank you. Greetings everybody. The process that took place about 11 years ago, the first Netmundia, of course those that can remember, you know it was like a conscience on the whole information ecosystem. So the Netmundia process has become the conscience of the information society vis-a-vis the multi-stakeholder engagement. So the process was great, before I forget, I’m James Ndolufuye from Africa, Africa. The process involved is really a case in point, and I’m so happy that this has been translated so that others can benefit from it. The scoping, the engagement, and the inclusivity across the region is exemplary, and we’ve been talking about this a lot in Nigeria, and government people have a dozen of it, but it’s like the reference point, and we are scaling it across Africa. And so we also offer to at least translate into Swahili, into Yoruba, into Hausa. So we will proceed with that initiative as well. Thank you very much.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you. Any more comments? Everton, please. I should say that this was possible because of the great team that we have on NIC.br, all those persons who were able to do in a timely manner, and Everton was one of those, and Vinicius was the other, and many other people. So all the NIC.br team, thank you Rafa.
Everton Rodrigues: Very quickly, just as a follow-up of what Jimson was mentioning, NetMundial, the success of NetMundial depends a lot on the future of what we did one year ago. So it’s a living experience. The process didn’t stop on those two days that we gathered in Sao Paulo. Part of that is also that the process of translation is still ongoing, so we are open to keep receiving those translations in other languages. The six UN languages are published here with the book, but we have ongoing efforts in other languages as well, so please feel invited to send us those new translations to contact us also to make those translations available. They will be credited on NetMundial Plus 10 website, so join the effort, because the future of NetMundial is still ongoing. Thank you very much.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you, Everton. We have here with us Jorge Cancio, who was also involved in the process of translation, and we will have a few words from him. Please, Jorge. Anything you want.
Jorge Cancio: Hello, everyone. I’m Jorge Cancio from the Swiss government. I’m very sorry that I was late. We had an open forum just discussing, amongst other things, how we can use the NetMundial Plus 10 and the Sao Paulo multistakeholder guidelines to inspire the different processes we have. It’s really in our hands, so it’s like the translations. We did one into Italian, and then our colleague, Titi Casa, really went on. document and especially the Sao Paulo multi-stakeholder guidelines, which are very close to my heart Not only because of the product but because of the process we had Before Sao Paulo and in Sao Paulo last year, which was really amazing very intense very very Heavy also in emotions, but very productive It’s really in our hands to put them to work. I think that’s the the most important part of them To them because if it’s just a piece of paper It will get forgotten in in some years of time but if we put them to use be it here in the dynamic coalitions be it in the best practice for our beard in the policy networks or be it in national and regional IGF’s they will really gain some reality, they will inform what we do on a Multi-stakeholder in a multi-stakeholder fashion at the different levels. So I really invite you wherever your responsibility lies Be it at the local at the national at the regional or at the global level To really use them to put them to work and to Bring back your feedback on what works what doesn’t work where we have to improve them and here in the IGF Which is like the caretaker of the Sao Paulo multi-stakeholder guidelines Thanks to the invitation of net munia plus 10. This is the place to then keep on evolving them and just Very small commercial on my side in that sense. We are trying to implement them For the Swiss IGF, so we have a role in the Swiss IGF we are part of a multi-stakeholder community there and now we are looking into how we use the Sao Paulo multi-stakeholder guidelines to make sure that the Processes that affect the Swiss IGF are really bottom-up open inclusive and take into account Also the the asymmetries of power and influence of the different stakeholders Which is the first guideline from Sao Paulo, so I’ll leave it by that. Thank you
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank You Jorge I’ll hand out the microphone to Renata Miele who was able to join us from another session Please Renata
Renata Mielli: Well, I’m sorry I was in another session first of all, thank you everybody for being here for our Book launching and What I’m going to say I’m going to say that I’m very very very Happy to see that the work we’ve done we in net mundial plus 10 It was a hard work We joined some Marvelous people in our Agalec the the committee the high-level committee that put the the net mundial Who organized and Helped to Deline all the discussions. We we’ve made in net mundial and Some are here with us now and in the IGF and it’s very very wonderful, there is no words to say how Amazing is to see when we are on workshop and see people in all the world Making reference to the net mundial stakeholder guidelines, you know in so What we try to do when we start this discussion on CGI.br Well, let’s do another net mundial. I think we achieve our goal and in I hope this guidelines can Impact on the future of the governance of the Internet and the governance of the digital world in a way that the mood stakeholder approach can be improved and applied in Everywhere, so thank you very much. I’m very happy with the result of our collective job because only in the collective we can achieve And Things that can be Have a real impact in the society. Thank you very much
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank You Renata any more comments I see people here who were involved in the process anyone want to comment anything no Jennifer please
Jennifer Chung: Just a quick comment, actually, I was gonna go straight to Akinori, I wanted to acknowledge that he is also on the HLAC and I’m sure he’s gonna talk about the translation
Akinori Maemura: Okay All right Okay. Thank you very much my name is Akinori Maemura one of the member of the HLAC for the net mundial plus 10 and then I am actually the net mundial 2014 I was involved in the EMC. So this is this is my second Fabulous experience to join this this party I’d like to share two things. One is that As the whole head said the process was great I I was so totally astonished by the editing process You know, do you can you imagine that the all HLAC member is in the zoom call and Then from all over the world editing the same that a single Google document to move ahead so a lot of castles are here and there and Editing and someone doing the some edition editing in in, you know a little bit, you know a Why are you saying that the sentence of the forthcoming sentences, so it is really dynamic that dynamic process to edit and then my brain is really sizzling to Catch up the discussion. That’s one one one one thing and then another thing is I I actually contributed for the the Japanese translation of the Of the net mundial plus 10 Statement and then it is it is, you know only, you know contributing for the Japanese community for You know better Understand what is net mundial plus 10 a statement and the guidelines are but it is for me it is very important that that statement is not only the statement, but it is it is it it is Get more valuable when it was utilized made use of in their own process, so I’d like to have it Utilized in Japanese some Some a multi-stakeholder process in in in the Japanese community So if if it is utilized like that, then the value of the this this document is more and more Tangible and then a substantial one. So what that’s two points of mine. Thank you very much.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you Vinicius please
Vinicius W. O. Santos: Thank you I’m Vinicius. I was part of the secretariat as they mentioned I won’t repeat many of the great sentences that you all already Brought to us here in this group, but just to add small comments related to the translation process itself we could just reach this result here this Book because we had a lot of help We needed and we had a lot of help from many people from these people here But also from other people that are not here exactly. For example, we had also Manao So just recognizing here Manao Christina Arida also Zena that were responsible for reviewing the translation to the Arabic We had the same for the Russian translator. We had a Collaborator as well his name Leonid Todorov that was also responsible for reviewing the the translation for us We had translators some some translations. It was really a collaborative process So we had some translations that were made from people here with us Also some translations made by by specific professionals hired for that but all the translations were reviewed by people of the field of this field here the internet governance community and people that were involved with the net mundial process and could Review the work and help us out with all the details because there are a lot of details and you know that So that’s it just to recognize these people and all this work because it’s a very complex and very very minimalistic work and we really need to be very Helped to to reach this kind of result. Thank you very much. That’s it
Valeria Betancourt: Thank you. Sure a very important comment that I want to make well I hope it is important But as many of you know, we are going through the plus 20 review of the World Summit on the Information Society and And I think this instrument that we have here, it has very practical and pragmatic steps and recommendations on how to make inclusion a reality. And I mention this because the opportunity that the PLAS-20 review of the WSIS present us is to precisely increase the representation of underrepresented views, perspectives, communities, and stakeholders. And I think if we really want to achieve the WSIS vision and to make progress in terms of a digital future with dignity and justice, it cannot happen if we don’t really in practice at all levels, national, regional, local, global, increase the representation of perspectives that have been overlooked or because of different reasons are not present here as they should be. So I think this is a powerful instrument for us to use in order to make sure that those voices, perspectives, and realities are taken into consideration as part of the review. So we actually can move towards a future that is truly more inclusive. Thank you.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Pierre?
Pierre Bonis: Yeah, thank you. If I can add a few words because I was so thrilled by the process that everyone talked about that I almost talk about that only, but on the translation process in French. So first of all, I want to thank Lucien Castex because it has been a work to read the translation that we asked to a professional translator. And in that process, I think we see in this document that the concept of the Internet governance are better translated that for instance, the official translation that we can find even in the UN system. Because when you had the WSIS for instance, the translation of the Geneva Declaration and Agenda of Tunis was made by very competent translators from the UN system, but not from the field. So now if you look at the words, at least in French, there is a new translation of IG concept that is closer to the field that it was before. So maybe it gives an idea for the next WSIS plus 20 process to ask some of the community of the multi-stakeholder community to read the official translation of the UN before they are published. Maybe it will be more understandable later, but anyway, thank you to have given us this opportunity to do it. And once again, thank you to Lucien who have done that brilliantly in French.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you. Thank you. Jennifer, please.
Jennifer Chung: Thank you so much. Just very briefly because of what Akinori and Valeria said about going through the WSIS plus 20 process and actually this is a good time to use and actually kind of enshrine these principles, these guidelines into the input. And I wanted to take up on specifically on translation because of language. Because we are, when we live and breathe internet governance and multi-stakeholderism, we live and dream it, we are able to actually translate it into our native languages and this actually helps us with capacity building in our own communities for them to understand these concepts so they too can be leveled up to be able to substantively input into the WSIS plus 20 process. So this is such a valuable undertaking and thank you again CGI, WPR, Renata and all of those, I’m looking around, I don’t see them anymore, Everton and Vinicius and all of, oh there you are, to actually do this, to enable us to have this resource so we can uplift our own communities. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: We thank you, Jennifer. People are saying to me that I have to say to you that the copy of this book is free so please pick up one of these. We have some on our booth as well on the CGI.br but I think there are many on the tables, on the chairs and anything, anyone wants to add some more comments or from the audience? We still have five minutes, I want to ask you a question if you allow me. Is there anything in the process of translation that made more clear to you or made more important to you some of the principles that are in this book? I know that the process of translation is always a process of rethinking, reflecting on the text. So if you have something on your mind. Jorge told us about power imbalances, which is very much addressed in this book. So please.
Valeria Betancourt: I can say something, obviously as I mentioned earlier, translation, it’s also permeated by politics, your politics, your understanding of processes of existence, of issues, of problems, of your own reality, all of that is also translated into the exercise of translating content. So in that sense I think the fact that we have the NetMundial principles in different languages, it also increases the level of appropriation. And appropriation of the instruments that we have at the moment, whether they are frameworks of principles, whether they are guidelines, whether they are set of policies or practices, whatever the instrument it is, the possibility to relate with those instruments on your own language I think increases the possibility or appropriate them in a way that is meaningful. And only by being meaningful we can engage with the governance arrangements that could respond to the challenges that we face in a way that really means something for the different groups and realities. So that is what I want to highlight in terms of the translation. It’s not exempt of those politics and the political dimension that the processes have, particularly if they have to do with the governance of digital technology. Thank you.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Renata?
Renata Mielli: I want to make a comment, not about the translation process, but about the importance in having the guidelines in different languages. When I’m going to discuss the NetMundial plus 10 guidelines with Spanish people, I don’t read the guidelines in English or in Portuguese. I look for the guidelines in Spanish because I can see the difference in the impact that the very specific language has in the translation. So for us, it’s amazing to see that. When I’m going to talk about in English, I go to the English version because it’s different for the Portuguese. And the other day I made a meeting and I talked about NetMundial plus 10 for Brazilian people. And I didn’t read the Portuguese version until that moment. And I saw differences that make more sense in Portuguese. So for us, it’s also important to have this book in all these languages. It’s very interesting and an education process for me.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Jorge?
Jorge Cancio: Yeah, perhaps a similar example. We were having a discussion in the management board of my office, where we were talking about a process, a procedure that was rather internal, but that had some elements of needing inclusion and openness. And it was super handy for me because I could refer to the text, to the process steps, both in German and in French, because normally it’s the languages we work in, we discuss. And it has a completely different impact for my colleagues who are not used to work in English, so that I could show them, indicate them the text I was referring to in German or in French.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Thank you. Thank you. Any more comments? I think our time is over. So please, Renata, do you want to say something?
Renata Mielli: No. I want to say, don’t go. Let’s take a picture with everybody who is here from the HLAC before closing the session.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista: Okay. So let’s make a picture. But thank you all for attending this presentation, and please pick up a copy of the book. Thank you. Thank you.
Rafael de Almeida Evangelista
Speech speed
107 words per minute
Speech length
925 words
Speech time
515 seconds
Introduction of multilingual publication in six UN languages plus Portuguese
Explanation
Rafael introduces the NetMundial Plus 10 book launch, emphasizing that the document has been published in the six official UN languages in addition to Portuguese. This multilingual approach ensures broader global accessibility and understanding of the guidelines.
Evidence
Shows the physical book during presentation and mentions it’s available both in digital and print formats at cgi.br
Major discussion point
Multilingual accessibility of governance guidelines
Topics
Sociocultural
Announcement of free book distribution and digital availability
Explanation
Rafael announces that printed copies of the book are available for free distribution to attendees and that digital versions can be accessed online. This ensures maximum accessibility and dissemination of the guidelines.
Evidence
States ‘Printed copies of the book are available. Please feel free to request one if you have not received one yet. The digital version can also be accessed online at cgi.br’
Major discussion point
Open access to governance resources
Topics
Development
Recognition of NIC.br team’s contribution to timely publication
Explanation
Rafael acknowledges the great team at NIC.br, specifically mentioning Everton and Vinicius among others, for their ability to deliver the publication in a timely manner. This recognition highlights the collaborative effort behind the successful publication.
Evidence
Specifically names Everton and Vinicius as key contributors and mentions ‘all the NIC.br team’
Major discussion point
Collaborative team effort in governance initiatives
Topics
Development
Pierre Bonis
Speech speed
110 words per minute
Speech length
674 words
Speech time
364 seconds
NetMundial demonstrates multi-stakeholder approach can deliver results in timely manner
Explanation
Pierre argues that NetMundial and NetMundial Plus 10 are the best examples of multi-stakeholder approaches that can deliver concrete results quickly. He contrasts this with other forums that may take years without producing similar outcomes.
Evidence
Cites that NetMundial achieved consensus in 3-4 days that can last for years, while other forums may talk for 10 years without similar results. References timing around Snowden revelations and IANA transition for first NetMundial, and Digital Global Compact for Plus 10
Major discussion point
Effectiveness of multi-stakeholder governance models
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Jennifer Chung
– Audience
– Renata Mielli
Agreed on
NetMundial demonstrates effectiveness of multi-stakeholder governance
AFNIC contributed French translation as part of collaborative effort
Explanation
Pierre explains that AFNIC, the French registry, was happy to contribute to the French translation of the document. He emphasizes this as part of a broader collaborative effort in the multi-stakeholder community.
Evidence
States ‘we are happy to have been able to contribute to translate in French this document’ and thanks Lucien Castex for reviewing the professional translation
Major discussion point
International collaboration in translation efforts
Topics
Sociocultural
Internet governance concepts are better translated by field experts than general UN translators
Explanation
Pierre argues that having translations reviewed by experts from the internet governance field results in better, more accurate translations than those done solely by UN system translators. This leads to concepts that are closer to the field and more understandable.
Evidence
Compares the NetMundial translations favorably to official UN translations from WSIS, noting that UN translators were competent but ‘not from the field’
Major discussion point
Quality and accuracy in technical translation
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Jennifer Chung
– Vinicius W. O. Santos
Agreed on
Translation requires collaborative effort from field experts
Disagreed with
– Vinicius W. O. Santos
Disagreed on
Translation approach – professional vs community-based
Jennifer Chung
Speech speed
169 words per minute
Speech length
767 words
Speech time
271 seconds
NetMundial serves as shining example that multi-stakeholder process works and produces tangible results
Explanation
Jennifer argues that NetMundial Plus 10 serves as a powerful counter-argument to critics who claim multi-stakeholder processes are messy, slow, and don’t produce results. The beautiful book in six languages is concrete proof that the process works.
Evidence
Points to the physical book as tangible evidence, stating ‘this is a result, it’s beautiful, it’s a book, six languages, amazing’
Major discussion point
Tangible outcomes of multi-stakeholder governance
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Pierre Bonis
– Audience
– Renata Mielli
Agreed on
NetMundial demonstrates effectiveness of multi-stakeholder governance
Multi-stakeholder guidelines help measure and improve multilateral processes
Explanation
Jennifer explains that the guidelines provide a framework for critically examining and measuring different multi-stakeholder models, recognizing that there isn’t just one monolithic approach. They offer ways to improve multilateral processes.
Evidence
References the setting of UN IGF as an example where multilateral (UN) and multi-stakeholder (IGF) approaches work together
Major discussion point
Framework for evaluating governance processes
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Chinese translation required coordination across different Chinese-speaking communities and scripts
Explanation
Jennifer describes the complexity of Chinese translation, involving coordination between different Chinese-speaking communities, scripts (traditional vs simplified), and regional variations. This required extensive collaboration beyond just .Asia’s efforts.
Evidence
Explains her bilingual background (Cantonese and Mandarin), different scripts (traditional and simplified), and mentions collaboration with friends from mainland China, Sinic friends, and others understanding different terminologies
Major discussion point
Complexity of multilingual translation efforts
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Pierre Bonis
– Vinicius W. O. Santos
Agreed on
Translation requires collaborative effort from field experts
Multilingual availability enables capacity building in local communities
Explanation
Jennifer argues that having resources in native languages helps with capacity building in local communities, enabling them to understand concepts and participate more substantively in processes like WSIS Plus 20. This levels up community participation.
Evidence
Specifically mentions how native language resources help ‘level up’ communities to ‘substantively input into the WSIS plus 20 process’
Major discussion point
Language accessibility for community empowerment
Topics
Development
Agreed with
– Valeria Betancourt
– Jorge Cancio
– Renata Mielli
Agreed on
Multilingual resources enable meaningful community engagement
Valeria Betancourt
Speech speed
131 words per minute
Speech length
932 words
Speech time
424 seconds
Translation expresses different views of reality and responds to contextual realities
Explanation
Valeria argues that translation is not merely literal transposition but expresses different perspectives and worldviews. Having guidelines in multiple languages responds to contextual realities needed for democratic governance progress.
Evidence
States ‘translation is not just a mere transposition, a literal transposition of specific content from one language to another. When doing the translation we are actually also expressing different views of reality’
Major discussion point
Cultural and contextual dimensions of translation
Topics
Sociocultural
Having guidelines in native languages increases appropriation and meaningful engagement
Explanation
Valeria contends that translation is permeated by politics and personal understanding, and having instruments in one’s native language increases the possibility of meaningful appropriation. This is essential for engaging with governance arrangements that respond to real challenges.
Evidence
Explains that translation includes ‘your politics, your understanding of processes of existence, of issues, of problems, of your own reality’ and that native language access ‘increases the possibility or appropriate them in a way that is meaningful’
Major discussion point
Political and personal dimensions of language access
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Jennifer Chung
– Jorge Cancio
– Renata Mielli
Agreed on
Multilingual resources enable meaningful community engagement
Guidelines provide practical steps for making inclusion reality in WSIS Plus 20 review
Explanation
Valeria sees the guidelines as a powerful practical instrument for the WSIS Plus 20 review process, providing concrete steps to increase representation of underrepresented views and communities. This can help achieve the WSIS vision of digital future with dignity and justice.
Evidence
References the ongoing WSIS Plus 20 review and emphasizes the need to ‘increase the representation of underrepresented views, perspectives, communities, and stakeholders’
Major discussion point
Practical application in global governance processes
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Jorge Cancio
– Akinori Maemura
Agreed on
Guidelines must be actively implemented to remain valuable
Guidelines can be used to increase representation of underrepresented communities
Explanation
Valeria argues that the guidelines offer practical mechanisms to ensure that voices, perspectives, and realities that have been overlooked are taken into consideration in governance processes. This is essential for moving toward a truly inclusive future.
Evidence
Emphasizes the need to include ‘perspectives that have been overlooked or because of different reasons are not present here as they should be’
Major discussion point
Inclusive representation in governance
Topics
Human rights
Audience
Speech speed
116 words per minute
Speech length
160 words
Speech time
82 seconds
NetMundial process has become the conscience of information society regarding multi-stakeholder engagement
Explanation
The audience member (James Ndolufuye from Africa) argues that the NetMundial process has become the moral compass or conscience of the information society when it comes to multi-stakeholder engagement. The process is exemplary and serves as a reference point.
Evidence
States it’s ‘like the reference point’ and mentions they are ‘scaling it across Africa’ and that ‘government people have a dozen of it’ in Nigeria
Major discussion point
NetMundial as a governance reference model
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
– Renata Mielli
Agreed on
NetMundial demonstrates effectiveness of multi-stakeholder governance
Everton Rodrigues
Speech speed
129 words per minute
Speech length
137 words
Speech time
63 seconds
Translation efforts are ongoing and open to additional languages beyond UN official languages
Explanation
Everton explains that the translation process didn’t stop with the six UN languages published in the book, but continues to be open to translations in other languages. The community is invited to contribute additional translations that will be credited on the NetMundial Plus 10 website.
Evidence
States ‘we are open to keep receiving those translations in other languages’ and mentions they will be ‘credited on NetMundial Plus 10 website’
Major discussion point
Ongoing collaborative translation efforts
Topics
Sociocultural
Jorge Cancio
Speech speed
136 words per minute
Speech length
519 words
Speech time
228 seconds
Guidelines must be put to work in various contexts to gain reality and avoid being forgotten
Explanation
Jorge emphasizes that the guidelines will only remain relevant if they are actively used in practice across different levels and contexts – from local to global. Without practical application, they risk becoming forgotten documents.
Evidence
Mentions applications in ‘dynamic coalitions’, ‘best practice forums’, ‘policy networks’, and ‘national and regional IGFs’, and warns they will ‘get forgotten in some years of time’ if not used
Major discussion point
Practical implementation of governance guidelines
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Akinori Maemura
– Valeria Betancourt
Agreed on
Guidelines must be actively implemented to remain valuable
Swiss IGF is implementing Sao Paulo guidelines to ensure bottom-up, inclusive processes
Explanation
Jorge provides a concrete example of implementation by describing how they are using the Sao Paulo guidelines in the Swiss IGF to ensure processes are bottom-up, open, and inclusive, particularly addressing power and influence asymmetries among stakeholders.
Evidence
Specifically mentions they are ‘looking into how we use the Sao Paulo multi-stakeholder guidelines’ and references ‘the asymmetries of power and influence of the different stakeholders which is the first guideline from Sao Paulo’
Major discussion point
National-level implementation of global guidelines
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Native language resources help colleagues who don’t work in English understand concepts better
Explanation
Jorge provides a practical example of how having guidelines in German and French helped him explain concepts to colleagues in his office who don’t typically work in English. This demonstrates the concrete impact of multilingual resources in professional settings.
Evidence
Describes a specific meeting where he could ‘show them, indicate them the text I was referring to in German or in French’ which had ‘a completely different impact for my colleagues who are not used to work in English’
Major discussion point
Workplace application of multilingual resources
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Valeria Betancourt
– Jennifer Chung
– Renata Mielli
Agreed on
Multilingual resources enable meaningful community engagement
Renata Mielli
Speech speed
119 words per minute
Speech length
425 words
Speech time
213 seconds
Collective work is essential for achieving real societal impact
Explanation
Renata emphasizes that meaningful impact on society can only be achieved through collective effort. She expresses satisfaction that the NetMundial guidelines are being referenced globally and hopes they will improve multi-stakeholder approaches in internet and digital governance.
Evidence
States ‘only in the collective we can achieve things that can have a real impact in the society’ and mentions seeing people ‘in all the world making reference to the net mundial stakeholder guidelines’
Major discussion point
Collective action for governance impact
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
– Audience
Agreed on
NetMundial demonstrates effectiveness of multi-stakeholder governance
Different language versions have distinct impacts and make more sense in specific contexts
Explanation
Renata explains that she deliberately chooses different language versions of the guidelines depending on her audience, as each version has a different impact and makes more sense in specific linguistic contexts. This demonstrates the value of having multiple language versions.
Evidence
Provides specific examples: uses Spanish version when talking to Spanish speakers, English version for English discussions, and discovered meaningful differences when reading the Portuguese version for Brazilian audiences
Major discussion point
Contextual effectiveness of multilingual resources
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Valeria Betancourt
– Jennifer Chung
– Jorge Cancio
Agreed on
Multilingual resources enable meaningful community engagement
Akinori Maemura
Speech speed
150 words per minute
Speech length
337 words
Speech time
134 seconds
Dynamic online editing process with global HLAC members was remarkable collaborative experience
Explanation
Akinori describes the intensive collaborative editing process where HLAC members from around the world simultaneously edited the same Google document during Zoom calls. This dynamic process was both challenging and remarkable, with multiple people editing different parts simultaneously.
Evidence
Describes the specific process: ‘all HLAC member is in the zoom call and then from all over the world editing the same that a single Google document’ with ‘a lot of castles are here and there and editing’ making his ‘brain really sizzling to catch up the discussion’
Major discussion point
Innovative collaborative editing methodology
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Japanese translation contributes to better understanding in Japanese community
Explanation
Akinori explains his contribution to the Japanese translation and emphasizes that the real value comes when the guidelines are utilized in actual Japanese multi-stakeholder processes. The translation becomes more valuable when it’s actively used rather than just available.
Evidence
States he ‘contributed for the Japanese translation’ and emphasizes ‘if it is utilized like that, then the value of this document is more and more tangible and substantial’
Major discussion point
Community-specific translation value through usage
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Jorge Cancio
– Valeria Betancourt
Agreed on
Guidelines must be actively implemented to remain valuable
Vinicius W. O. Santos
Speech speed
162 words per minute
Speech length
272 words
Speech time
100 seconds
Translation process was highly collaborative involving multiple reviewers and field experts
Explanation
Vinicius explains that the successful translation outcome was only possible due to extensive collaboration involving many people, including specific reviewers for different languages and both professional translators and community volunteers. All translations were reviewed by people from the internet governance field.
Evidence
Names specific contributors like ‘Manao Christina Arida also Zena that were responsible for reviewing the translation to the Arabic’ and ‘Leonid Todorov that was also responsible for reviewing the translation for us’ for Russian
Major discussion point
Collaborative quality assurance in translation
Topics
Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
Agreed on
Translation requires collaborative effort from field experts
Disagreed with
– Pierre Bonis
Disagreed on
Translation approach – professional vs community-based
Agreements
Agreement points
NetMundial demonstrates effectiveness of multi-stakeholder governance
Speakers
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
– Audience
– Renata Mielli
Arguments
NetMundial demonstrates multi-stakeholder approach can deliver results in timely manner
NetMundial serves as shining example that multi-stakeholder process works and produces tangible results
NetMundial process has become the conscience of information society regarding multi-stakeholder engagement
Collective work is essential for achieving real societal impact
Summary
All speakers agree that NetMundial represents a successful model of multi-stakeholder governance that delivers concrete results quickly and serves as an inspiring example for the global community
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Translation requires collaborative effort from field experts
Speakers
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
– Vinicius W. O. Santos
Arguments
Internet governance concepts are better translated by field experts than general UN translators
Chinese translation required coordination across different Chinese-speaking communities and scripts
Translation process was highly collaborative involving multiple reviewers and field experts
Summary
Speakers unanimously agree that high-quality translation of technical governance documents requires collaboration among experts from the internet governance field rather than relying solely on professional translators
Topics
Sociocultural
Multilingual resources enable meaningful community engagement
Speakers
– Valeria Betancourt
– Jennifer Chung
– Jorge Cancio
– Renata Mielli
Arguments
Having guidelines in native languages increases appropriation and meaningful engagement
Multilingual availability enables capacity building in local communities
Native language resources help colleagues who don’t work in English understand concepts better
Different language versions have distinct impacts and make more sense in specific contexts
Summary
All speakers agree that providing resources in native languages significantly enhances understanding, appropriation, and meaningful participation in governance processes
Topics
Sociocultural
Guidelines must be actively implemented to remain valuable
Speakers
– Jorge Cancio
– Akinori Maemura
– Valeria Betancourt
Arguments
Guidelines must be put to work in various contexts to gain reality and avoid being forgotten
Japanese translation contributes to better understanding in Japanese community
Guidelines provide practical steps for making inclusion reality in WSIS Plus 20 review
Summary
Speakers agree that the true value of the guidelines lies in their practical implementation across various governance contexts rather than their mere existence as documents
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Similar viewpoints
Both speakers emphasize that translation is not merely technical but involves cultural and contextual adaptation that makes content more meaningful and impactful for specific audiences
Speakers
– Valeria Betancourt
– Renata Mielli
Arguments
Translation expresses different views of reality and responds to contextual realities
Different language versions have distinct impacts and make more sense in specific contexts
Topics
Sociocultural
Both speakers view NetMundial as definitive proof that multi-stakeholder processes can be effective and produce concrete outcomes, countering critics who claim such processes are ineffective
Speakers
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
Arguments
NetMundial demonstrates multi-stakeholder approach can deliver results in timely manner
NetMundial serves as shining example that multi-stakeholder process works and produces tangible results
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Both speakers see multilingual resources as tools for empowerment and inclusion, enabling broader participation in governance processes
Speakers
– Jennifer Chung
– Valeria Betancourt
Arguments
Multilingual availability enables capacity building in local communities
Guidelines can be used to increase representation of underrepresented communities
Topics
Development | Human rights
Unexpected consensus
Technical complexity of collaborative online editing
Speakers
– Akinori Maemura
Arguments
Dynamic online editing process with global HLAC members was remarkable collaborative experience
Explanation
While not directly contradicted by others, the detailed appreciation for the technical and logistical complexity of simultaneous global editing represents an unexpected focus on process innovation that wasn’t emphasized by other speakers
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Ongoing nature of translation efforts beyond official publication
Speakers
– Everton Rodrigues
Arguments
Translation efforts are ongoing and open to additional languages beyond UN official languages
Explanation
The commitment to continue accepting translations beyond the six UN languages represents an unexpected expansion of the project’s scope that goes beyond typical publication cycles
Topics
Sociocultural
Overall assessment
Summary
The discussion shows remarkable consensus across all speakers on the value of NetMundial as a governance model, the importance of collaborative translation by field experts, the necessity of multilingual resources for inclusive participation, and the need for practical implementation of guidelines. There were no significant disagreements or conflicting viewpoints expressed.
Consensus level
Very high consensus with strong mutual reinforcement of key themes. This unanimous support suggests the NetMundial Plus 10 process has successfully built broad stakeholder buy-in and demonstrates the maturity of the multi-stakeholder governance community in recognizing effective practices. The consensus has significant implications for legitimizing and scaling multi-stakeholder approaches globally.
Differences
Different viewpoints
Translation approach – professional vs community-based
Speakers
– Pierre Bonis
– Vinicius W. O. Santos
Arguments
Internet governance concepts are better translated by field experts than general UN translators
Translation process was highly collaborative involving multiple reviewers and field experts
Summary
Pierre emphasizes the superiority of field expert translations over professional UN translators, while Vinicius describes a hybrid approach using both professional translators and community reviewers. They differ on the optimal translation methodology.
Topics
Sociocultural
Unexpected differences
Overall assessment
Summary
The discussion showed remarkably high consensus among speakers with only minor methodological differences regarding translation approaches
Disagreement level
Very low disagreement level. The speakers demonstrated strong alignment on core principles of multi-stakeholder governance, the value of multilingual accessibility, and the importance of practical implementation. The minimal disagreements were constructive and focused on methodology rather than fundamental principles, suggesting a mature and collaborative community working toward shared goals.
Partial agreements
Partial agreements
Similar viewpoints
Both speakers emphasize that translation is not merely technical but involves cultural and contextual adaptation that makes content more meaningful and impactful for specific audiences
Speakers
– Valeria Betancourt
– Renata Mielli
Arguments
Translation expresses different views of reality and responds to contextual realities
Different language versions have distinct impacts and make more sense in specific contexts
Topics
Sociocultural
Both speakers view NetMundial as definitive proof that multi-stakeholder processes can be effective and produce concrete outcomes, countering critics who claim such processes are ineffective
Speakers
– Pierre Bonis
– Jennifer Chung
Arguments
NetMundial demonstrates multi-stakeholder approach can deliver results in timely manner
NetMundial serves as shining example that multi-stakeholder process works and produces tangible results
Topics
Legal and regulatory
Both speakers see multilingual resources as tools for empowerment and inclusion, enabling broader participation in governance processes
Speakers
– Jennifer Chung
– Valeria Betancourt
Arguments
Multilingual availability enables capacity building in local communities
Guidelines can be used to increase representation of underrepresented communities
Topics
Development | Human rights
Takeaways
Key takeaways
NetMundial Plus 10 successfully demonstrates that multi-stakeholder processes can deliver concrete, timely results and produce tangible outcomes
The Sao Paulo Multi-stakeholder Guidelines provide a practical, actionable framework for improving governance processes with principles of transparency, participation, and adaptability
Translation into multiple languages is not merely linguistic conversion but enables cultural appropriation and contextual understanding of governance concepts
Collaborative translation processes involving field experts produce better results than standard institutional translations
The guidelines serve as a living document that gains value through practical implementation rather than remaining theoretical
Multi-language availability significantly increases community capacity building and enables broader participation in governance processes
The NetMundial process represents a successful model for inclusive, bottom-up decision-making that can be replicated at various levels
Resolutions and action items
Continue accepting and publishing translations in additional languages beyond the six UN languages
Implement the Sao Paulo Guidelines in various contexts including national IGFs (specifically Swiss IGF mentioned)
Use the guidelines as input for the WSIS Plus 20 review process to increase representation of underrepresented communities
Apply the guidelines in dynamic coalitions, best practice forums, and policy networks
Provide feedback on implementation experiences to evolve and improve the guidelines
Utilize the IGF as the platform to continue developing and refining the multi-stakeholder guidelines
Unresolved issues
How to effectively scale the NetMundial model to other regions and contexts beyond the examples mentioned
Specific mechanisms for collecting and incorporating feedback from implementation experiences
How to ensure sustained engagement and prevent the guidelines from being forgotten over time
Methods for measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines in addressing power imbalances and asymmetries
Coordination mechanisms for ongoing translation efforts in additional languages
Suggested compromises
None identified
Thought provoking comments
Sometimes people look at our model, at the multi-stakeholder model, saying, okay, that’s nice, but it doesn’t deliver anything. And NetMundial and NetMundial Plus10… you see that in four days, you get a consensus that is a solid one, that can last four years, as in other fora, you may talk for 10 years without having anything like that.
Speaker
Pierre Bonis
Reason
This comment directly addresses a fundamental criticism of multi-stakeholder governance – that it’s inefficient and doesn’t produce concrete results. By contrasting NetMundial’s 4-day consensus with other forums that ‘talk for 10 years without having anything,’ Pierre provides a powerful counter-narrative that reframes the discussion from theoretical benefits to practical effectiveness.
Impact
This comment established a defensive yet confident tone for the entire discussion, positioning NetMundial as proof-of-concept for multi-stakeholder effectiveness. It influenced subsequent speakers to emphasize concrete outcomes and practical applications rather than just theoretical principles.
Translation is not just a mere transposition, a literal transposition of specific content from one language to another. When doing the translation we are actually also expressing different views of reality, different perspectives… It’s not only a communication strategy… but for me it’s actually mostly an attempt to respond to the contextual realities of people, if we really want to be inclusive.
Speaker
Valeria Betancourt
Reason
This insight transforms the discussion from viewing translation as a technical process to understanding it as a political and cultural act. Valeria introduces the concept that language carries worldviews and that true inclusivity requires acknowledging these different realities, not just linguistic accessibility.
Impact
This comment elevated the entire conversation about translation, leading other speakers to reflect more deeply on their translation experiences. It prompted Renata to later observe how different language versions had different impacts on audiences, and influenced the discussion toward viewing translation as a tool for democratic governance rather than just communication.
It’s really in our hands to put them to work… if it’s just a piece of paper it will get forgotten in some years of time but if we put them to use… they will really gain some reality, they will inform what we do on a multi-stakeholder fashion at the different levels.
Speaker
Jorge Cancio
Reason
This comment shifts the focus from celebrating the achievement to acknowledging the responsibility for implementation. Jorge introduces urgency and agency, warning against the common fate of policy documents that remain unused, and emphasizes the need for active application across different governance levels.
Impact
This comment created a turning point in the discussion, moving from retrospective celebration to forward-looking action. It prompted speakers to discuss practical applications and inspired concrete examples of implementation, such as Jorge’s own work with the Swiss IGF and references to using the guidelines in WSIS+20 processes.
The interesting part about my mother tongue, Chinese, is I actually have two because I speak Cantonese… The script itself is also quite interesting. We have the traditional script… So when we looked into the translation process, we really had to, even within the Chinese community, do a lot of collaboration because we find that certain terms are translated in different ways.
Speaker
Jennifer Chung
Reason
This comment reveals the complexity hidden within seemingly simple categories like ‘Chinese translation.’ Jennifer exposes how even within a single language community, there are multiple variants, scripts, and terminologies that require extensive collaboration and negotiation, demonstrating that inclusivity requires attention to intra-community diversity.
Impact
This comment deepened the discussion about translation complexity and reinforced Valeria’s earlier point about translation as a collaborative, political process. It led to greater appreciation for the collaborative nature of the entire translation effort and influenced later comments about the importance of community involvement in translation work.
We had ongoing efforts in other languages as well, so please feel invited to send us those new translations to contact us also to make those translations available… the future of NetMundial is still ongoing.
Speaker
Everton Rodrigues
Reason
This comment reframes NetMundial from a completed project to an ongoing, living process. By opening the door for additional translations and emphasizing continuity, Everton transforms the book launch from an endpoint to a milestone in an continuing journey, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the initiative.
Impact
This comment energized the discussion and led to immediate offers of additional translations (James Ndolufuye offering Swahili, Yoruba, and Hausa). It shifted the conversation from retrospective to prospective, encouraging active participation and expanding the scope of the initiative beyond the current publication.
Overall assessment
These key comments fundamentally shaped the discussion by transforming it from a simple book launch celebration into a sophisticated dialogue about governance effectiveness, cultural politics of translation, and ongoing responsibility for implementation. Pierre’s opening defense of multi-stakeholder efficiency set a confident tone that influenced all subsequent speakers to emphasize concrete outcomes. Valeria’s insight about translation as cultural-political work elevated the entire conversation about language and inclusivity, leading to richer reflections from other translators. Jorge’s call for active implementation created a crucial pivot from celebration to action, while Jennifer’s detailed account of Chinese translation complexity and Everton’s invitation for ongoing contributions transformed the event from a conclusion to a beginning. Together, these comments created a dynamic flow that moved the discussion through multiple layers – from defending multi-stakeholder governance, to understanding translation as political work, to accepting responsibility for future implementation – ultimately positioning the NetMundial guidelines as both a proven model and a living tool for democratic governance.
Follow-up questions
How can the NetMundial Plus 10 guidelines be effectively implemented and utilized in various multi-stakeholder processes at local, national, regional, and global levels?
Speaker
Jorge Cancio
Explanation
Jorge emphasized that the guidelines need to be put to work in practice rather than remaining as documents, and invited feedback on what works, what doesn’t work, and where improvements are needed when implementing them in real processes
How can the Sao Paulo multi-stakeholder guidelines be applied to improve the Swiss IGF processes?
Speaker
Jorge Cancio
Explanation
Jorge mentioned they are actively trying to implement the guidelines for the Swiss IGF to ensure processes are bottom-up, open, inclusive, and take into account asymmetries of power and influence
How can the NetMundial Plus 10 guidelines be used as input for the WSIS Plus 20 review process?
Speaker
Valeria Betancourt and Jennifer Chung
Explanation
Both speakers highlighted the opportunity to use these practical guidelines to increase representation of underrepresented communities and ensure more inclusive participation in the WSIS Plus 20 review
How can translation into additional local languages (Swahili, Yoruba, Hausa) be coordinated and implemented?
Speaker
James Ndolufuye
Explanation
James offered to translate the guidelines into African languages to scale the approach across Africa, indicating a need for coordination of additional translation efforts
How can the multi-stakeholder community contribute to improving official UN translations of internet governance concepts?
Speaker
Pierre Bonis
Explanation
Pierre suggested that the community could review official UN translations before publication to make them more understandable and closer to field terminology, particularly for the WSIS Plus 20 process
How can the guidelines be utilized in Japanese multi-stakeholder processes to make their value more tangible and substantial?
Speaker
Akinori Maemura
Explanation
Akinori emphasized that the document becomes more valuable when utilized in actual processes and expressed interest in applying it to Japanese community multi-stakeholder processes
What feedback and lessons learned can be gathered from ongoing implementations of the guidelines in various contexts?
Speaker
Jorge Cancio
Explanation
Jorge called for bringing back feedback on implementation experiences to continue evolving and improving the guidelines based on real-world application
Disclaimer: This is not an official session record. DiploAI generates these resources from audiovisual recordings, and they are presented as-is, including potential errors. Due to logistical challenges, such as discrepancies in audio/video or transcripts, names may be misspelled. We strive for accuracy to the best of our ability.
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