India's proposal for a United Nations Committee for Internet-Related Policies (CIRP)

The following statement was presented to the UN General Assembly on 26 October 2011. It comes after a similar proposal received heavy criticism at the Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi the previous month.

Statement by

Mr. Dushyant Singh
Hon'ble Member of Parliament, India

on

Agenda item 16:
Information and Communications Technologies for Development

Sixty Sixth Session of the UN General Assembly
New York

October 26, 2011

Mr. Chairman,

We thank the Secretary-General for his report on enhanced cooperation on public policy issues pertaining to the Internet, contained in document A/66/77, which provides a useful introduction to the discussions under this agenda item.

As a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and democratic society with an open economy and an abiding culture of pluralism, India emphasizes the importance that we attach to the strengthening of the Internet as a vehicle for openness, democracy, freedom of expression, human rights, diversity, inclusiveness, creativity, free and unhindered access to information and knowledge, global connectivity, innovation and socio-economic growth.