Changes

'''ICANN Accountability''' refers to ICANN's commitment to maintain and improve mechanisms for public input, responsibility, and transparency so that ICANN’s decision-making processes reflect the public interest and are accountable to the Internet community. Toward this aim, ICANN has created a number of offices and programs for assessment and review of its level of accountability and transparency. For a period of time, ICANN published a quantitative report of [[ICANN Accountability Indicators|accountability indicators]] to demonstrate progress toward [[ICANN Governance]] objectives, as outlined in the organization's strategic and operating plans. This effort has since been folded into ICANN org's Annual Report, although it is unclear which indicators are still being tracked. ICANN also issues a "Transparency Report" at the end of each fiscal year, documenting statistics relevant to transparency efforts.<ref name="20ti">See, e.g. [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/transparency-report-30jun20-en.pdf ICANN Transparency Report - 2019-20], June 30, 2020</ref> regarding the total percentage of internal process documents that are made publicly available. ICANN org has also established the [[ICANN Documentary Information Disclosure Policy]] to assist members of the public in obtaining information regarding ICANN's operations and decision-making.<ref name="didp">[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/didp-2012-02-25-en ICANN.org - Documentary Information Disclosure Policy], last updated February 25, 2012</ref> Amendments to the [[ICANN Bylaws]] have also established four mechanisms for reviewing and reconsidering ICANN actions and decisions: [[ICANN Empowered Community]], [[Reconsideration]], [[IRP|Independent Review]], and an [[Ombudsman]].

'''ICANN Accountability''' refers to [[ICANN]]'s commitment to maintaining and improving mechanisms for [[Public Comment|public input]], responsibility, and [[transparency]] so that ICANN’s decision-making processes reflect the public interest and are accountable to the Internet community.  

Toward this aim, ICANN has created a number of offices and programs for the assessment and review of its level of accountability and transparency.  

For a period of time, ICANN published a quantitative report of [[ICANN Accountability Indicators|accountability indicators]] to demonstrate progress toward [[ICANN Governance]] objectives, as outlined in the organization's strategic and operating plans.  

The indicator effort has since been folded into [[ICANN Organization]]'s [[Annual Report]], although it is unclear which indicators are still being tracked.  

ICANN also issues a "Transparency Report" at the end of each fiscal year, documenting statistics relevant to transparency efforts.<ref name="20ti">See, e.g. [https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/transparency-report-30jun20-en.pdf ICANN Transparency Report - 2019-20], June 30, 2020</ref> regarding the total percentage of internal process documents that are made publicly available.  

ICANN org has also established the [[ICANN Documentary Information Disclosure Policy]] to assist members of the public in obtaining information regarding ICANN's operations and decision-making.<ref name="didp">[https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/didp-2012-02-25-en ICANN.org - Documentary Information Disclosure Policy], last updated February 25, 2012</ref>  

Amendments to the [[ICANN Bylaws]] have established four [[Accountability Mechanisms]] for reviewing and reconsidering ICANN actions, inactions and decisions:  

* [[ICANN Empowered Community]],  

* [[Reconsideration]], * [[IRP|Independent Review]], and  

* The office of the [[Ombudsman]]

==History==

==History==

==CCWG-Accountability==

==CCWG-Accountability==

The [[Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability|CCWG-Accountability]] was developed in response to a community that did not believe that ICANN’s Board’s proposal adequately met the needs of the global multistakeholder community. The accountability process that was originally designed by ICANN received unfavorable public comments, resulting in a revised proposal. After the revised version, suggesting a two-tier working group once again received a negative response during the public comment period, ICANN stakeholders submitted a joint rejection letter to the ICANN Board demanding a community-driven approach. <ref>[http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-enhancing-accountability-06sep14/pdfggcThDbfOp.pdf Stakeholders Joint Letter]</ref>

The [[Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability|CCWG-Accountability]] was developed in response to a community that did not believe that the [[ICANN Board]]’s proposal adequately met the needs of the global [[Multistakeholder Model|multistakeholder community]]. The accountability process that was originally designed by ICANN received unfavorable public comments, resulting in a revised proposal. After the revised version, the suggestion of a two-tier working group once again received a negative response during the [[Public Comment]] period. ICANN stakeholders submitted a joint rejection letter to the ICANN Board demanding a community-driven approach.<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-enhancing-accountability-06sep14/pdfggcThDbfOp.pdf Stakeholders Joint Letter]</ref>

The joint letter combined with reiterated demands for accountability improvements at an ICANN Town Hall Session at the United Nations Ninth Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and favorable comments coming from the NTIA, led the board to concede at ICANN 51 in Los Angeles that accountability and the IANA Transition are ultimately intertwined.  

The joint letter combined with reiterated demands for accountability improvements at an ICANN Town Hall Session at the United Nations Ninth Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and favorable comments coming from the NTIA, led the board to concede at ICANN 51 in Los Angeles that accountability and the IANA Transition are ultimately intertwined.