[WSIS CS-Plenary] The March meeting: suggestions

[Sean O Siochru]

Karen, Adam and friends,

I agree we need a Content and Themes person there.

Of course, in the absence of funding (and cheap airlines to Tunis) this is 
only the beginning of  ongoing problems of participation for civil society 
in the process.  Furthermore, if the events are going to be more Thematic, 
and sponsored by various UN organisations, we are going to see much more 
'hand-picking' of which NGO representatives will get their fares paid and 
far less scope for CS Plenary to opening debate it.

Incidentally, someone might check out the scope for participation of NGOs 
that are NOT accredited.  I notice the Tunisians are careful to mention 
those accredited.

I cannot go to any of these consultations as I am travelling for 2 weeks 
end of February to early march.

Sean

At 14:35 12/02/2004 +0000, you wrote:

>Dear plenary,
>
>I was going to ask for further information about the March meeting, who 
>was attending, on what basis etc, but the recent posting from Mr. Geiger 
>is useful in that respect.
>
>[extract..
>
>>Let me now turn to the invitation of Tunisia:
>>
>>The host country of the second phase has invited the members of the three
>>Bureaus (Intergovernmental Bureau of the PrepCom, Civil Society Bureau,
>>Consultative Committee of Business interlocutors) as well as the focal point
>>members of the HLSOC (High Level Summit Organizing Committee, basically the
>>interested UN Agencies) to a informal brainstorming meeting at Tunis. This
>>meeting is not part of the formal preparatory process.
>
>It is good to see that Civil Society has been invited,  along with other 
>stake-holders, in the representation of the CS Bureau.
>
>However, and although this meeting is not part of the formal preparatory 
>process, i think we all know that this will be a very important meeting, 
>that will layout a possible shape and direction for the implemenation of 
>Phase II.
>
>I'm sure that the host country - and all participants - will want to 
>ensure that the outcomes of this meeting, inform the first preparatory 
>meeting, and the entire preparatory process. No doubt it will deal with 
>process issues, but i would imagine it will also deal with content issues. 
>As Mr. Grieger goes on to say:
>
>>The meeting intends to kickstart the reflection process among all
>>stakeholders on what should be the value added of phase 2 of WSIS. As you
>>know, agreed languange was that phase 1 would end with a Declaration and a
>>Plan of Action (and it did!), and phase 2 would focus more on developmental
>>issues and also monitor and evaluate progress made since the first phase of
>>the Summit. This is a vague statement. For real monitoring and evaluation,
>>the time span of 23 month between the two phases is too short, as every
>>development expert knows.
>
>In that respect, I feel it is very important that we uphold our ways of 
>working during WSIS phase I, and extend an invitation to the Content and 
>Themes working group, to identify a representaive for the meeting.
>
>The ICCB is attending and i imagine will certainly wish to focus on some 
>content issues, i believe it's imperative that the WSIS Content and themes 
>group is simiarily represented.
>
>I understand the funding contraints, but the issue here is also one of 
>principle, if we can agree on that first, then we can second deal with the 
>financial difficulties.
>
>I would like to know how others feel about this?
>
>karen
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>
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