30th March 2023, Kathmandu
Universal Acceptance (UA) Day is an annual event that aims to promote the use of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) and email addresses in all applications and systems. The event is usually held on the second Tuesday of September each year.
The purpose of UA Day is to raise awareness of the importance of Universal Acceptance for the internet to be truly inclusive and accessible to all users, regardless of their language or script. This means ensuring that all internet applications, systems, and devices can handle domain names and email addresses in all languages and scripts, including non-Latin characters and scripts.
Currently, many applications and systems still do not fully support IDNs and email addresses in non-Latin characters and scripts, which can lead to issues such as broken links, email delivery failures, and a lack of access to online services for users who use non-Latin scripts or characters.
To promote Universal Acceptance, UA Day events are held around the world, bringing together stakeholders from different industries, including technology companies, domain name registries, governments, and civil society organizations. These events aim to raise awareness of Universal Acceptance issues, share best practices, and encourage collaboration and innovation to promote a more inclusive and accessible internet for all users.
Nepal also celebrated ‘Universal Acceptance Day’
Nepal also marks Universal Acceptance (UA) Day on March 28th every year. On Tuesday, as part of a joint effort between the Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) and Youth IGF Nepal, a special program was held in Kathmandu in cooperation with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Internet Exchange Nepal provided support for the initiative, and Worldlink Communications Limited served as the internet partner.
To offer domain support in a wide range of languages and scripts. Universal Acceptance Day is observed worldwide.
In addition to policymakers, government officials, internet service providers, law practitioners, civil society, and internet governance, there were institutional, objective, individual, and state-district members of the CAN Federation and other active people in the ICT field at the event titled Celebrating Universal Acceptance Day: Promoting Universal Acceptance Day and Internationalized Domain Name in Nepal.
According to the speakers who spoke on the occasion, this day is critical in ensuring that all valid domain names and email addresses can be used by all kinds of internet applications, devices, and systems.
According to Ranjeet Kumar Poddar, President of the CAN Federation, such a day is significant because the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has granted permission to send emails and post websites in various foreign languages, including Devanagari.
Stakeholders discussed the significance of subdomains, the benefits of hosting a website with them, how it can promote local language and culture, what is being done abroad, and how it can be used in Nepal during the program.
On that occasion, Dipesh Bista, Chief Executive Officer of the Electronic Governance Commission, discussed the lack of adequate cooperation between Nepal’s pertinent agencies and expressed his belief that appropriate policy arrangements are needed. He emphasized that the domain system should be set up to serve the native languages of rural communities, including Devanagari.
Vivek Silwal, a member of the Youth IGF Nepal, presented a paper on “Universal Acceptance of Domain Name and Email Address” during the program. There was also a panel discussion on two different subjects.
Hempal Shrestha of the FOSS Nepal Community, a member and associate professor at Kathmandu University took part in the first debate. Rupesh Bhakta Shrestha CEO of Internet Exchange Nepal, Kathmandu University from Dr. Balkrishna Bal, Technical Vice President of Subisu Cable Net Ram Krishna Pariyar, President of the Apiralo Policy Forum, Shreedeep Rayamajhi, and other experts from different fields spoke. On that occasion, the speakers agreed that a clear strategy is required to raise awareness of Universal Acceptance while also managing and regulating subdomains in Nepal.
Similarly, the speakers at the following panel discussion, Advocate Baburam Aryal, Director of the Government of Nepal (Ministry of Education) Subhash Dhakal, Suraj Adhikari former manager of the dot NP CCTLD, President of the Nepal Internet Foundation, Bikram Shrestha, and researcher Kriti Bhuju, emphasized the importance of removing language barriers by making the Dawn NP domain a global standard.
Similarly, Anand Gautam, Vice Chair of Youth IGF Nepal, Phyo Thiri Lwin of ICANN NextGen, Namr Nasir Awan, ICAN Fellow, Ashirwad Tripathi, Vice Chair of APRGF, and Udeep Baral, Manager of CAN Federation spoke about the role of youth in promoting universal acceptance and the role of youth in the field of ICANN and Internet governance in the following panel discussion. He voiced his thoughts on the chance.
Similarly, Chiranjibi Adhikari, general secretary of the CAN Federation, stated that such a day was observed to raise awareness among stakeholders and the general public, stating that accepting the inter-domain system in a nation with diverse linguistic communities, such as Nepal, is exemplary. Chiranjibi Adhikari, General Secretary of the CAN Federation, concluded the program by thanking the organizations and people who directly and indirectly contributed to the success of Universal Acceptance (UA) Day.
