[WSIS CS-Plenary] A quiet summit...?

[Robert Guerra]

<http://www.dailysummit.net/english/archives/2003/12/12/a_quiet_summit.a
sp>



A quiet summit. Civil society has had a quiet summit. It has delivered
few of the press conferences, eye-catching stunts and noisy
demonstrations that normally keep the media entertained.

Its representatives adopted a counter-declaration, condemned the Swiss
authories and summit organisers, but failed to provide a definitive
assessment of the summit's outcome. 

Instead, the human rights caucus delivered a somewhat lacklustre final
press conference, expressing relief that "a major setback in the
international consensus on human rights has been avoided in the final
declaration."

After the conference, Diana Bronson said that WSIS had not been a waste
of time, despite the brick wall activists had met on a number of issues. 

"There is a sense of real frustration that there has been a lack of
advance but it is never a waste of time for governments to sit down and
talk," she said. "I am pleased that they understand that the information
society is not just about laying a cable around the world."

Civil society's uncertainty has two causes. Invited into the WSIS
process, it's now reluctant to stamp its feet when it doesn't get its
own way. Also, it knows this is a summit of two halves. NGOs may well
arrive in Tunis in much less compliant mood.

Written with Claire Regan.