[IRPCoalition] Self-Nomination Statement: Santosh Sigdel

[Michael J. Oghia]

Thank you Santosh!

Best,
-Michael


On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 4:38 AM Santosh Sigdel <santoshsigdel at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Dear IRPC Members,
>
> With the utmost commitments to the rights and principles relating to the
> Internet, I had nominated myself as the candidate for the member of the
> IRPC Steering Committee. I am a human rights lawyer and rights advocate
> from the South-Asian Country Nepal. I have been engaged in promoting
> digital rights and internet principles for many years.
>
> I have engaged in policy review, capacity building, awareness, coalition
> building for promoting digital rights. I led a research on "Freedom of
> Expression on the Internet in Nepal", which is the first such report in the
> context of Nepal. Similarly, I was engaged with the Internet Society Nepal,
> a local civil society organization and Nepal chapter of the "Internet
> Society (ISOC) and led the organization in different capacities, including
> as the Chairperson. I convened many events, training, seminars and was
> engaged in organizing "Nepal Internet Governance Forum (NepalIGF), Nepal
> School on Internet Government (NPSIG) and seminars on freedom of
> expression, privacy and data protection. I am also engaged with the
> Asia-Pacific Regional IGF (APRIGF). Further, I have been closely associated
> with and a member of the Asia-Pacific School of Internet Governance (APSIG).
>
> In the policy level, I have reviewed many policy documents, in the context
> of Nepal, relating to digital rights from the human rights perspective. I
> also reviewed the draft Information Technology Bill and provided inputs to
> the members of the parliament to introduce amendment proposals on the bill.
> Currently the bill is in the parliament. I also reviewed the draft of the
> "Individual Privacy Bill" and organized events with the civil society to
> raise concerns on the proposed provision of the Bill. Similarly, I have
> brought a number of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court
> on Nepal. In a successful right to privacy writ petition, the court ordered
> the government to bring the privacy law immediately, whereas a writ
> petition against the Online Media Operation Guideline is still subjudice in
> the court.
>
> I have obtained a master's degree in law (LL.M) from the Central European
> University (CEU), Budapest, Hungary. I have closely worked with the civil
> society organizations and networks in Nepal. I have also worked with
> International organizations such as UNDP, CARE, International Center for
> Transitional Justice (ICT), Article19 and FHI 360. I am founding chair of
> the "Digital Rights Nepal", a civil society initiative to promote digital
> rights.
>
> The role and responsibilities I would carry out as a member of the IRPC
> steering committee will largely be shaped by the objectives, policies and
> priorities set by the Coalition itself. Nevertheless, I see following as
> possible areas that I can contribute:
>
> -        *Awareness raising:* It is necessary to raise awareness about
> the internet rights and principles among the stakeholders, around the
> world, South Asian region and in Nepal. With growing dependence on the
> internet, the risks towards the open, secure, accessible and affordable
> internet has also increased. Thus, it is necessary to raise awareness among
> stakeholders about the internet rights and principles.
>
>
>
> -        *Capacity Building,* Along with awareness it is also important
> to build capacity of the stakeholders. This is not only about the technical
> capacity but the capacity in terms of pursuing authorities and stakeholders
> about values, principles around digital rights. Due to lack of capacity to
> engage in the policy processes countries have adopted laws that trumps the
> freedom of expression and opinion, privacy, data protection. Thus, it is
> important to build the capacity of the stakeholders and I can play an
> important role in this front.
>
>
>
> -        *Represent the Coalition to stakeholders including the
> government, CSOs network, *It is important to make the IRPC visible in
> every country and region where it participates in the policy processes;
> engage with the CSOs and network, provide technical assistance etc. In this
> front, I think my role representing the Coalition in the region would be
> very important.
>
>
>
> -        *Promoting the Internet rights and Principles, *One of the major
> objectives of the Coalition is to promote internet rights and principles.
> As a SC member, my role would be to share about the rights and principles
> in forums, during policy discourse, through capacity building and by
> involving with other CSOs and networks.
>
>
>
>
>
> -        *Policy review and analysis, *I believe that IRPC should be more
> active in reviewing the international, national and regional frameworks,
> policies, guidelines from the perspective of internet rights and
> principles. International and regional instruments such as GDPR, or
> cyber-crime convention or rules for digital platforms should be reviewed
> and analyzed whether they are consistent with the internet rights and
> principles or not. I see my role contributing in such policy review and
> analysis.
>
>
>
> -        *Institutional strengthening:* I also see my role in the
> activities relating to strengthening the IRPC/IRPC Secretariat. I will be
> involved in meetings, activities and also be part of any initiative geared
> towards that.
>
>
>
> *I would like to sincerely thank all the members who seconded my
> nomination. No matter, I am on the steering committee or not, I am looking
> forward to working closely with the IRPC in promoting internet rights and
> principles. *
>
>
> With best regards,
>
> Santosh Sigdel
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 9, 2021 at 7:04 PM Michael J. Oghia <mike.oghia at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you very much Eileen!
>>
>> And as a reminder to all candidates whose nominations or self-nominations
>> have been seconded (Mohamed, June, Marianne, and Raashi), please submit a
>> candidate statement to the IRPC list as well.
>>
>> In case I overlooked anyone's nomination or self-nomination, please do
>> flag it as I may have missed an email over the holiday period.
>>
>> Best,
>> -Michael
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 9, 2021 at 1:46 PM Eileen Cejas <eileencejas at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone, happy new year.
>>>
>>> I second Raashi's nomination. She is a very active young person in the
>>> IG community, having represented us in several instances, to name some of
>>> them, last year included the Youth4DigitalSustainability program and We The
>>> Internet in India. To give a bit of background on her bio, Raashi is a
>>> member of the Scientific Committee with Missions Publiques, she currently
>>> works on rebuilding structures with citizens on matters pertaining to
>>> Internet Universality and Governance. Raashi has been a speaker at several
>>> international forums such as UN Internet Governance Forum, RightsCon, World
>>> Learning events, Campus Party and Communities & Technologies for her
>>> valuable contributions in the Internet Governance Space. Her capacity
>>> building & advocacy efforts in digital rights, gender rights and youth
>>> participation have strengthened the Internet freedom movement in several
>>> parts of India.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>>
>>> *Eileen Cejas*
>>>
>>> Criminal Lawyer/Regional Engagement Director- Latin America and the
>>> Caribbean for Youth Observatory
>>> Websites:*www.eileencejas.com <http://www.eileencejas.com>, *
>>> *https://youthsig.org* <https://youthsig.org>
>>>
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>
>
> --
> SANTOSH SIGDEL
> Post Box No. 554
> Kathmandu, Nepal
> PHONE: 00977-1-9851096745
> Twitter: @sigdelsantosh
>
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