[WSIS CS-Plenary] information on WSIS roundtables

[Rik Panganiban]

Colleagues,

I cut and pasted the text from the new information document on the WSIS 
Roundtables in December.  Note that the URL on the ITU website is 
incorrect.  The correct URL for this document is:

	http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/geneva/rt/info_roundtables.doc

Cheers,

Rik Panganiban
WFM
..................................................

7 November 2003
Original: English


WSIS ROUND TABLES


Contact
Abdelkrim Boussaid
International Telecommunication Union
Place des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland
Phone +41 22 730 5900      Fax  +41 22 730 6393
e-mail  Boussaid at itu.int

Contents

1. Schedule and timing of round tables
2. Guidelines for round table participants
3. Round table topics
4. Extracts from Proposed Format of the Geneva Phase of the WSIS



1. Schedule

Four round tables will be held in parallel with the plenary meetings as 
follows:


1. 10 Dec. 1700-1900  Creating Digital Opportunities
2. 11 Dec. 1100-1300  Diversity in Cyberspace
3. 11 Dec. 1500-1700 ICT as a Tool to Achieve the Millennium 
Development Goals
4. 12 Dec. 1030-1230   Empowering All Citizens


2. Guidelines for participants

These guidelines provide information for chairmen, moderators and 
participants. The guidelines complement the general information on 
round tables contained in Annex 2 of the document on the proposed 
format of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information 
Society, which was approved by PrepCom 3.

1. The round tables are organized around one overarching theme: “An 
Information Society for All: Opportunities and Challenges”. Three of 
the round tables will cover a cluster of related topics and the fourth 
round table will be more generic in nature.

2. The title and theme of each round table is meant to provide guidance 
to participants, thereby ensuring focus and coherence in each session.

3. The Round tables are intended to stimulate an interactive discussion 
in raising, under the overarching theme, broad policy issues relating 
to the information society.

4. Presentations should preferably conclude with relevant policy 
suggestions so that the outcome of the discussions translates into 
suggestions/proposals for Summit follow-up, thus paving the way toward 
its second phase in Tunis.

5. A Head of State or Government, invited by the President of the 
Summit, will chair each round table. The role of the chairman is to 
lead the session and ensure effective time management.

6. Each round table will be moderated by an eminent personality who 
will help keeping discussions well focused and interactive. Moderators 
will be nominated by the Secretary-General of the Summit. The role of 
the moderator is to animate the round table sessions by summing up the 
key points stemming from presentations by Heads of State or Government, 
and by addressing questions and issues to the participants.

8. After introductory remarks by the chairman, the moderator will 
invite Heads of State or Government to make brief initial comments if 
they so wish. The moderator will sum up the key points and invite 
participants to start exchanging views, bearing in mind that time is 
not available for formal presentations or prepared statements.

9. Participants are requested to plan their interventions in keeping 
with the following time schedule:

ϖ	Introductory remarks by the chairman	3 minutes
ϖ	Introductory remarks by the moderator	3 minutes
ϖ	Initial comments by Heads of State or Government	 3 minutes each
ϖ	Dialogue among participants	60 minutes
ϖ	Moderator’s summary and concluding remarks	3 minutes
ϖ	Chairman’s concluding remarks and thanks	 1 minute	

10. Interpretation shall be provided in the official languages of the 
Summit: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. A 
participant may use any other language if he/she provides the relevant 
interpretation. In such cases, the WSIS Executive Secretariat needs to 
be informed by 30 November at the latest.

11. The proceedings of the round tables will be broadcast to an 
overflow room that will be open to the media. These sessions will also 
be broadcast through the Internet and television.

12. Each Head of State or Government—or in their absence, Head of 
Delegation--participating in a round table may be accompanied by two 
advisers. Other participants may be accompanied by one advisor each.  
There will be no seating available for a general audience in the round 
table room.  The audience is invited to follow the proceedings in the 
overflow room located in Hall 2 of PALEXPO.


3. Round tables Topics

The round tables are organized around the overarching theme: “An 
Information Society for All: Opportunities and Challenges”. The 
following is an indicative list of topics, which the chairpersons and 
moderators will use to help guide discussions. .


Round table 1: Creating Digital Opportunities

The establishment of a modern, reliable and efficient communication 
system is seen as fundamental in creating Digital Opportunities. This 
session will focus attention on issues such as access, funding and 
building partnerships:

υ	Connectivity: An information society for all is built on modern and 
widely available information and communication infrastructures. What 
should be done to attract investment and expand networks and services?  
What are the respective roles of governments, the private sector and 
civil society?

υ	Digital solidarity: Any agenda for development must address financing 
and funding issues. What are the appropriate mechanisms that concretely 
support the development of networks, services and applications in 
underserved areas? Several financing options have been suggested, 
including the creation of innovative digital solidarity funds, a more 
effective utilization of existing mechanisms, and/or a greater 
involvement of the private sector in addressing the needs of these 
populations. Which solution (s) will best succeed in bridging the 
Digital Divide?

υ	Universal Access: Access to communications and the Internet is a 
cornerstone of the information society. Digital inclusion cannot be 
achieved without providing all citizens access to the information 
highway. What is universal access all about? How best can access be 
ensured for the benefit of all citizens? What are the guiding 
principles that should be included in a universal access strategy to 
level the playing field?


Round table 2: Opportunities and challenges: Diversity in cyberspace

This session will address the challenge of reconciling free flow of 
information and the need to preserve the common heritage in a digital 
world:

υ	Cultural and linguistic diversity: This diversity is a reflection of 
human knowledge, cultures and traditions. It is the common heritage of 
mankind. While cyberspace offers tremendous opportunities for 
interaction among people, some suggest that cultural and linguistic 
diversity may also be threatened by information and communications 
technologies?  How is it possible to ensure that cultural and 
linguistic diversity are respected in the information society? What 
needs to be done to promote the development of local content?

υ	Freedom of expression and media ownership: The media plays an 
important role in the information society. With globalization and the 
convergence of technologies,  infrastructure and content are 
increasingly made available through a few dominant sources. In this 
context, what principles could best ensure media independence, 
pluralism and freedom of expression?

υ	Law and ethics on the Internet: Is the digital world a lawless world? 
Is there a need for a cyber-governance? To which extent are ethics and 
values threatened by the use of ICTs? How can one strike a balance 
between creativity and freedom and the need to take into account 
ethics, values and local practices?

Round table 3:  ICT as a tool to achieve the Millennium Development 
Goals

Technology is an enabling tool that is reshaping business and the 
global marketplace as well as a broader range of societal activities. 
The session will address issues relating to the role of ICT in meeting 
the Millennium Development Goals:

υ	Capacity building: Education and knowledge are critical factors for 
development and competitiveness in the global marketplace. What is the 
potential for ICTs to expand access to education and training? What 
strategies are foreseen to lower the barriers to access and use of 
scientific knowledge and to close the knowledge gap? How can we best 
strike a balance between Intellectual Property Rights and the need to 
expand access to knowledge?

υ	ICT for sustainable development: ICT has the potential to make a 
major contribution towards sustainable development and environment 
protection. How can ICTs be used to encourage commercial or industrial 
activities that reduce the trend of environmental degradation?

υ	ICTs as a catalyst for innovative social service delivery: What is 
the potential of ICTs to improve the delivery of health, education and 
other social services in under-served regions? Which e-service delivery 
strategies are proving to be most effective? Does the investment in 
e-service delivery infrastructure justify the cost?

υ	Eradicating poverty and hunger: Alleviating poverty and hunger cannot 
be achieved without sustained economic growth. In this respect, ICTs 
can play a significant role. How can ICTs best be used to help promote 
economic growth and eradicate poverty and hunger?

υ	National E strategies and international cooperation: Many nations are 
already formulating and implementing national e-strategies as a 
powerful tool to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Is there a 
role for regional and global organizations in harnessing international 
cooperation that fits the needs of countries in the information society?

Round table 4: Empowering All Citizens

This session will consider to which extent ICT can empower citizens and 
communities to better control their daily lives and fully exercise 
their rights:

υ	New governance: Just as information and communication technologies 
are reshaping business, they enable governments to develop new ways of 
delivering services and providing information to their citizens. 
Democracy demands an effective involvement of informed citizens. How 
can the use of ICTs best support effective participation in the 
decision-making processes? What are some potential public strategies to 
build the governance of the 21st century?

υ	Balancing network security with personal privacy protection: What are 
the limits beyond which privacy is infringed by measures aiming at 
protecting information and communication networks against the risk of 
attacks and mischief?  How best can governments strike a balance 
between network security and privacy?

υ	Social inclusion: ICTs can be perceived as a barrier to social 
inclusion because of inadequate access.  Persistent inequalities build 
barriers that limit the development of an inclusive information 
society. How best can ICT be used to help break down these barriers? 
How can ICT help users from disadvantaged groups and improve education 
and employment prospects?


4. Organization of Round tables (As approved by Prep Com 3)

1. Round tables will be organized to provide Heads of State or 
Government –or in their absence, Heads of Delegation--the opportunity 
to share their vision of the Information Society along with leaders 
from intergovernmental organizations, civil society (including NGOs) 
and business sector entities (including ITU sector members).

2 Each round table will run for two hours. The number and the schedule 
of the round tables will be determined by the Secretary-General of the 
Summit. The maximum number of round tables will be four.

3. The round tables will be organized around one overarching theme: “An 
Information Society for All: Opportunities and Challenges”. Three of 
the round tables will cover a cluster of related topics and the fourth 
round table will be more generic in nature.

4. To allow enhanced interactivity among participants, each round table 
will comprise up to 30 participants: 15 Heads of State or Government 
and 15 leaders from intergovernmental organizations, civil society 
(including NGOs) and business sector entities (including ITU sector 
members). If the number of participating Heads of State or Government 
in a round table is less than 15, Heads of Delegation will be invited 
by the Secretary-General of the Summit to participate.

5. The round tables will be chaired by Heads of State or Government, 
who will be invited by the President of the Summit. The Chairmen of the 
round tables will come from the African Group, the Asian Group, the 
Eastern European Group and the Latin American Group.

6. Each round table will be moderated by an eminent personality who 
will assist participants with keeping discussions on track and 
interactive. Moderators will be nominated by the Secretary-General of 
the Summit, in consultation with participating States.

7. Each Head of State or Government—or in their absence Head of 
Delegation--participating in a round table may be accompanied by two 
advisers. Other participants may be accompanied by one advisor each.

8. The proceedings of the round tables will be broadcast to an overflow 
room that will be open to the media. They will also be broadcast 
through the Internet and television.

9. States will be invited by the Executive Secretariat to register 
their Heads of State or Government to participate in one of the round 
tables by 15 November. Heads of Delegation interested in participating 
in the round tables will be invited by the Executive Secretariat to 
inform the Secretariat by the end of November.

10. Palestine, in its capacity as observer, may participate in one of 
the round tables.

11. Intergovernmental organizations that are members of the High Level 
Summit Organizing Committee (HLSOC) will also be invited by the 
Executive Secretariat to register their Executive Heads to participate 
in one of the round tables by 15 November. The final decision rests 
with the Secretary-General of the Summit.

12 Participants from civil society (including NGOs) and from business 
sector entities (including ITU sector members) will be identified 
through their self-organizing mechanisms, in coordination with the 
Secretary-General of the Summit.

13. The reports of the round tables will be annexed to the final report 
of the Summit in accordance with past UN Summit practice.

14. The following documents will be provided by the Executive 
Secretariat to participants following their registration.
(a)Guidelines for participants: This document will provide participants 
with information on the conduct and time management of the round tables.
(b)Round table topics: The theme which has been identified for the 
round tables is broad and comprehensive. The Executive Secretariat will 
therefore describe, in this document, the scope of topics encompassed 
within the theme.


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  Rik Panganiban             email: rikp at bluewin.ch
  Special Adviser            tel: +41 22 734 9774
  World Federalist Movement  Fax: +41 22 734 9775
  www.wfm.org                Mobile: +41 76 473 3274
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