[WSIS CS-Plenary] information on WSIS roundtables

Wed Nov 12 09:01:37 GMT 2003

URL now fixed 
<http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_single.asp?lang=en&id=1090>

One of the ITU secretariat staff said that French and Spanish will be 
available soon (I asked when I asked them to fix the broken link), I 
hope this is correct.

Adam

>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: ³An 
>Information Society for All: Opportunities and Challenges². 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:
>
>v	Introductory remarks by the chairman	3 minutes
>v	Introductory remarks by the moderator	3 minutes
>v	Initial comments by Heads of State or Government	 3 minutes each
>v	Dialogue among participants	60 minutes
>v	Moderator¹s summary and concluding remarks	3 minutes
>v	Chairman¹s 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: ³An 
>Information Society for All: Opportunities and Challenges². 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:
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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:
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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:
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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:
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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?
>
>É³	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: 
>³An Information Society for All: Opportunities and Challenges². 
>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.
>
>
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>  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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