15:00 IST (UTC+5.5), 11 March 2026
09:30 UTC, 11 March 2026
Jasmine Hall 1A (Secondary Ballroom/Brd Wrkshp)
ID# 17840
Session DetailsPublic Interest, Internet Governance, and Civic Space in the Middle East: The Role of ICANN’s Non-Commercial Community Brief description
Public interest and inclusive participation are increasingly important in Internet governance discussions across the Middle East. While ICANN’s multistakeholder model provides a global framework for shared decision-making, engagement from the region—particularly from civil society, academia, and individual users—remains limited and varies across stakeholder groups.
This session will examine how civic space in the Middle East intersects with Internet governance processes at ICANN, with attention to public-interest considerations in DNS policy development. The discussion will explore participation pathways within ICANN, regional challenges to engagement, and the value of diverse perspectives in contributing to more balanced and legitimate outcomes.
By grounding global Internet governance debates in Middle Eastern realities, the session aims to support greater understanding of ICANN processes and encourage informed, sustainable participation from the region.- Agenda
- Opening and Scene Setting (3 min)
- Internet Governance and Civic Space in the Middle East (8 min) – Farzaneh Badii
- Participation Pathways within ICANN’s Multistakeholder Model (8 min) – Rafik Dammak
- Global Perspective & Engagement Opportunities (10 min) – Chris Buckridge
- Looking Ahead: Strengthening Middle East Participation ( 3 min) – Ines Hfaiedh
- Q&A (7 min)
- Fellows participation in ICANN85 from the Middle-East (15 min).
- Closing Remarks (3 min)
Session Leader: Baher Esmat
Staff Facilitator: Fahd Batayneh
Session RecordingsZoom ArchiveEnglish audio archive
