AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been selected as a fellow at the IGF Academy.
BNNRC Leads Supports and Advocates for the Initiators to actively provide independent community media development (Community Radio, TV & Film) in Bangladesh since 2000 with support from Free Press Unlimited.
IGF Academy was initiated by iRights in March 2016. It aims to foster freedom of expression on the Internet and inclusive and transparent national Internet governance and policy processes. Fellows from four African and four Asian countries will be supported in the creation and/or consolidation of multi-stakeholder, national Internet governance structures.
The UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) serves to bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet. While there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors. At their annual meeting delegates discuss, exchange information and share good practices with each other. The IGF facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.
The UN IGF is also a space that gives developing countries the same opportunity as wealthier nations to engage in the debate on Internet governance and to facilitate their participation in existing institutions and arrangements. Ultimately, the involvement of all stakeholders, from developed as well as developing countries, is necessary for the future development of the Internet.
The academy offers its fellows mentoring from internationally renowned experts in the Internet governance process and a platform for peer-learning and networking among experts locally, regionally and at a global level. Fellows will also take part in regional workshops with peers from other countries, as well as in the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The IGF Academy thus contributes to a (cross) regional and UN global dialogue on freedom of expression and information preparing for the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
The IGF Academy is run by iRights in cooperation with Association of Progressive Communication (APC) and LIRNEasia and funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
The fellowship will provide experienced individuals with the opportunity to receive mentoring from internationally renowned Internet governance practitioners, deepen their understanding of Internet governance issues and processes, expand their networks nationally, regionally and globally, develop a strategic roadmap to strengthen existing or initiate inclusive national Internet Governance processes in their countries, peer learning with experts from their country, their region and cross-regionally, participate in a regional training event, participate in a training event at the global IGF, participate in the global UN IGF 2016 in Guadalajara, be part of a (cross)regional and UN global dialogue on freedom of expression and information preparing for the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Presently AHM Bazlur is one of the founder member of Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS), Community Radio Monitoring Committee, and National Broadcasting Act Drafting Committee 2016 of Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, founder member of Bangladesh UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), and Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Members of Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum. More information about IGF Academy: http://igf.academy/#about-igf-academy
