Council of Europe Strategy


Internet Governance strategy
The overall aim of the Council of Europe's Internet Governance Strategy is to ensure that public policy for the internet is people-centred in order to build democracy online, to protect internet users, and to ensure respect and protection for human rights online.
Current Strategy:
Final report of the Secretary General on the Internet Governance (2016-2019)
Mid-term report of the Secretary General on the Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019
Implementation Table: Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2017 Progress in implementation of actions and activities
Previous Strategy:
Final report of the Secretary General on the Internet Governance (2012-2015)
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Inter-secretariat Task Force on Internet Governance and Information Society
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Coherent realisation of the Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy is facilitated, coordinated and monitored by the Inter-secretariat Task Force on Internet Governance and Information Society (IGTF).
IGTF is a platform for joint and complementary action established in order to:
- Coordinate the implementation of and reporting on the Council of Europe Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019;
- Serve as a mechanism for collaboration and information and knowledge sharing across the Council of Europe;
- Develop future Council of Europe strategies in the fields of the Information Society and Internet Governance with the view to:
- ensuring efficiency and increased impact of Council of Europe activities and messages,
- identifying where and how political and financial support might be needed and secured,
- overseeing strategic cooperation with European and international institutions and organisations as well as relevant stakeholder groups and fora, professional bodies, technical communities and civil society organisations,
- identifying priorities, objectives, expected results and conduct risk management analysis and evaluation of methods, resources and strategic partnerships; - Co-ordinate Council of Europe contributions to, including participation where justified in, major international events such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) forum, the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), and the World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS), recognizing these processes as opportunities to promote Council of Europe activities, values and messages;
- Support Council of Europe partnerships with internet companies in order to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law on the internet.
On 5 April 2018 Mr Jan Kleijssen, Director of Information Society and Action Against Crime has been nominated as Internet Governance Coordinator.

Cooperation with companies
The Council of Europe will strengthen its co-operation with the private sector in order to promote an open and safe internet, where human rights, democracy, and the rule of law are respected.
International Dialogue
Council of Europe takes part in Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) and and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

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"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights
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