[WSIS CS-Plenary] fyi: foss at unctad intergovernmental meeting

[magaly pazello]

Dear all,

(sorry for cross-posting)


An Intergovernmental meeting will be held in Geneva on FOSS under 
UNCTAD coordination:

Expert meeting on Free and Open Source Software: Policy and development 
implications
Geneva, 22–24 September 2004

http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=1942&lang=1&m=8936

Resources available on UNCTAD webpage on FOSS linkaged to some issues 
and aplications:

http://r0.unctad.org/ecommerce/ecommerce_en/freeopen_en.htm

For who from developing and LD countries has good relationship or 
contacts with key people in its Governement and also can be considered 
an expert on FOSS by the Government there are fellowships available.

Cheers,

Magaly Pazello

_______________________________
Notification

The Expert Meeting on Free and Open Source Software, convened in 
accordance with the decision taken by the Commission on Enterprise, 
Business Facilitation and Development at its eighth session, will be 
held from 22 to 24 September 2004. The Meeting will open at the Palais 
des Nations, Geneva, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 September 2004.

Background and purpose of the Meeting

An increasing number of countries are developing national policies and 
strategies to promote the digital economy. Many have recognized the 
important role of software - in addition to hardware, affordable access 
and human capacities and skills - as the medium that enables people to 
use technology productively.

Because social and economic activities are heterogeneous and human and 
natural environments are varied and different, the role of software as 
the interface between this human diversity and, often ubiquitous, hard 
technology is fundamental to the wide adoption of information 
technologies and to closing the digital divide.

Given this singularly important role of software, the increasing 
prominence and use of so-called free and open source software (FOSS) 
has encouraged a debate about its ability to help, in particular, 
developing countries overcome the digital divide and increase the use 
and productive effects of information technology in commercial 
activities, governance and other fields. FOSS is software whose source 
code - its set of instructions - has been made open to the public and 
freely available under a license that prevents its appropriation. It is 
not necessarily free, as in "gratis" or free-of-charge. It is "free" 
and "open" because it can be used, changed and redistributed in a 
relatively unhindered manner.

This Expert Meeting will bring together experts from both developed and 
developing countries, from international and regional bodies involved 
in FOSS issues, from the software technology industry and from civil 
society organizations. The objective of the Expert Meeting is twofold. 
First, it will provide the UNCTAD Commission on Enterprise, Business 
Facilitation and Development with a substantive basis that could 
support discussions about FOSS at a higher policy level. Second, it 
will allow an assessment and exchange of experience among experts from 
UNCTAD member States, while benefiting from inputs from participating 
FOSS specialists from academia, business and civil society.

Participation

Experts are expected to include officials from government offices 
responsible for information technology strategy, including software and 
FOSS policy and implementation. Representatives from other public or 
private institutions, the academic world and NGOs, with proven 
expertise in the subject, will also be invited to participate. Experts 
are nominated by their national governments but will participate in the 
Meeting in their personal capacities. Nominations should be submitted 
to the UNCTAD secretariat no later than 26 July 2004.

In addition, experts from international and regional organizations 
dealing with FOSS issues will be invited. Specialized agencies and 
intergovernmental bodies wishing to participate in the Meeting, as well 
as non-governmental organizations in the General Category and those in 
the Special Category wishing to participate as observers, are requested 
to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the names of their representatives.

Financial assistance

Funds will be made available to finance the participation of a limited 
number of officially nominated experts from developing countries and 
economies in transition. Governments of developing countries and 
countries with economies in transition requiring funding are therefore 
invited to explicitly request financing in their letters of nomination. 
The Secretary-General of UNCTAD will base the decision as to which 
experts should receive financing on the principle of equitable 
geographical representation, beneficiary needs, in particular LDCs, and 
the expertise of the experts concerned. Changes in nominated experts 
will be considered as new nominations. Nominations with requests for 
financing should be received no later than eight weeks before the 
meeting (i.e. by 26 July 2004 at the latest), and should be accompanied 
with the following information about the nominee:
	▪ 	Curriculum vitae;
	▪ 	 Mailing address;
	▪ 	 Telephone and fax number;
	▪ 	 E-mail address; and
	▪ 	 Name of a contact person in the Permanent Mission in Geneva.

  It should be noted in this connection that once the list of experts to 
be financed has been finalized, the Secretary-General of UNCTAD will 
have all travel arrangements made in accordance with United Nations 
rules and regulations, though use of the least costly travel fare will 
be authorized.

Background documents and contributed papers

The provisional agenda for the meeting, together with the secretariat´s 
annotations, is being circulated as document TD/B/COM.3/EM.21/1. The 
UNCTAD secretariat has prepared, as official documentation for the 
meeting, a background paper entitled "Free and open source software" 
(TD/B/COM.3/EM.21/2), aimed at facilitating the discussions.

Experts are encouraged to submit written contributions on experiences 
with FOSS at the national level, focusing on the following items: (i) 
overall familiarity with FOSS and the FOSS debate in the Government; 
(ii) what strategic, administrative or normative approaches are being 
considered or implemented; (iii) the extent of FOSS use in business and 
households; (iv) examples of significant localization efforts and 
applications; (v) possible economic effects and influence on related 
sectors and issues such as education and intellectual property 
regulation.

These papers will be made available to other participants in the form 
and language in which they are received.

Logistics

The meeting will take place at the United Nations Office of Geneva, 
Palais des Nations. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in the 
six official languages of the United Nations.

Upon arrival, participants are requested, before entering the Palais 
des Nations, to collect their badge at the UN Security Service, Villa 
Les Feuillantines, 13 Avenue de la Paix (close to the main entrance to 
the Palais on the Place des Nations, on the opposite side of the road). 
The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (non-stop). Due to 
the existing security measures in force, participants are strongly 
advised to arrive before 8.30 a.m. in order to complete procedures and 
reach the Meeting in good time. Walking from Villa Les Feuillantines to 
the E-Building (Bâtiment E) of the Palais takes about 10 minutes. 
Participants are requested to carry a passport or similar national 
identity card with them. There is a general interdiction on the entry 
of taxis to the grounds of the Palais des Nations, and visitors will be 
dropped off at the requested entrance gates. Further, luggage is not 
authorized inside the buildings unless the Security Service grants 
special clearance.

Further information and contact details

Links to information and details can be accessed at: 
http://www.unctad.org/ecommerce

Nominations and related communications concerning representation at the 
Meeting should be sent to the UNCTAD Secretariat, Intergovernmental 
Affairs and Outreach Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10;  
fax: + 41(0)22 917 0056;  e-mail: correspondence at unctad.org.

Substantive and other enquiries should be addressed to Mr. Dimo 
Calovski, Economic Affairs Officer, as the coordinator in the Services 
Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency Division; E.7063, 
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10; tel: +41(0)22 917 9946 or 917 
5912 or 917 5515, fax: +41(0)22 917 0052, e-mail:  fossem at unctad.org

(signed)
  Rubens Ricupero
  Secretary-General of UNCTAD
  1 June 2004


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