| Biographical Statement | I have now been in computing and related fields professionally and personally around 45 years, as designer, professor (Computing and the Humanities innovating in education, medicine, psychology, law, and linguistic studies, inter alia), programmer for industry, staff analyst, social networker, author. I was on the original small GML design Team and I designed, coded, documented and maintained the system for authoring (precursor to html, xml, etc., and we had a form of xml then in '70's and '80's). I am now a United Nations civil society Rep, Disability Convention Rep, which of course concerns many aspects of ACCESS - and others. I am a woman. I have disabilities. But I did get to WSIS-Tunis this last time as a Speaker and my paper is online. I also was at WSIS-II Geneva and participated in several thematic groups and spoke from the floor. I am now continuing to connect with people in Tunisia on ICT work, as well as in Europe and elsewhere. As to multistakeholder aspects in focus here, with my Law Degree I have taken I have taken cases that involve human and social values and rights up from the lowest courts to the U.S. Supreme Court. My special area has been * CyberLibel *; as we know, the focus is most often on * CyberCrime* . In each area (increasing ones, both) there is a great deal of need to balance various interests and perspectives. But as to * CyberTorts*, which I believe I may have been first to coin or among those who did so ... in a multistakeholder framework it is clear that personal injuries to reputation and self-concept are especially pertinent to the Internet. Doing this social and legal work has involved not only considering what is felt to be humane in computer Network use, according to different stakeholders, but also formal issues of e.g. jurisdiction and reach under the Laws; when does a person in one country find redress with international events in the scenario? In what sorts of Fora? Courts included, but we may evolve alternate dispute e-resolution mechanisms. Hopefully. Then, how can for instance the old mechanisms of retraction function on the Internet ... a sampling of juristic e-enigmas and challenges. I have done all the legal work, document preparation, and court presentations ... which involves research and motion practice and explaining to Judges and Juries how the Internet works. How harms can be irreparable, or might be mitigated. There are a lot of factors involved. I just thought I should let you know that regarding the IGF but also individually, I am quite available to you and our mutual groups on these matters of sensitivity and scope. One does not necessarily win these cases in the immediate time-frame, but fortunately the later law journals etc. pick up on them and their themes. It is real hard work but an investment for future stakeholders. A very interesting mode of mentoring not without its rewards. If your groups here or in other venues form a legal/justice wing please let me know. As to directly online multistakeholder venues, the National Disability Party of which I am President and which is now through international membership rolls evolving into The International Disability Party, a 'Party in Interest', the NDP is an exemplar of online teamwork: a group united in broad themes of equality, but also respecting diversity and individual borders and beliefs with respect to autonomy. And all this on the Internet through email correspondence and other interconnections, consistent with major thematic thrusts in Tunis and Geneva and globally. Submitted most respectfully, at your service with pleasure, and with best wishes, L. D. Misek-Falkoff, Ph.D., J.D. (Law, Computing, Humanities). For Identification: Netizen, ARPANet-Internet. National Disability Party, Persons with Pain International; International Disability Caucus Steering Committee for the United Nations 'Intl. Human Rights based 'Disability Convention' toward a Treaty; Communications Coordination Committee for the U.N., *Respectful Interfaces* [RESPITES] and *International Forum For Respectful Interfaces* [IFFRI]; Presenter, WSIS/SMSI Tunis '05; Participant Geneva '03; Member Fall '06 all DPI/NGO Conference Planning Committee, Media and Networking sub-Committees; Inviting |
