Council 2018 Geneva, 17-27 April 2018

Agenda item: PL 1.3

Report by the Secretary-General

REPORT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CWG-INTERNET ON draft resolution on international public policy on access to the Internet for persons with disabilities and specific needs

Summary As per the summary record of the ninth Plenary Meeting of Council 2017 (Document C17/131), the Chairman of the Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues reported on the outcome of informal consultations held following the eighth plenary meeting on Document C17/102, which contained a draft resolution on international public policy on access to the Internet for persons with disabilities and specific needs. Action required The Council is requested to further elaborate the matter and take appropriate action which could include transmission of its conclusion to PP-18. References Documents C17/102 and C17/131

1. As per the Summary Record of the Ninth Plenary Meeting of Council 2017 (Document C17/131), “the Chairman of the Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) reported on the outcome of informal consultations held following the eighth plenary meeting on Document C17/102, which contained a draft resolution on international public policy on access to the Internet for persons with disabilities and specific needs.

Council agreed on the following conclusion that Council in its 2017 Session considered the contribution from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia proposing adoption of a Resolution on “Adopting International Public Policy on Access to the Internet for Persons with Disabilities and specific needs”.

There was support and opposition to this proposal however due to the scope of its application and in particular lack of sufficient time, it was concluded that the issue is referred to the 2018 session of the Council with the view to further elaborate the matter and take appropriate action which could include transmission of its conclusion to PP-18.

This conclusion would not prevent the CWG on International Internet-Related public policy issues to review the topic, the issue, in the light of the further contributions from Member States which may be received by the CWG-Internet.”

2. Council 2018 is therefore invited to further elaborate the matter and take appropriate action which could include transmission of its conclusion to PP-18.