[WSIS CS-Plenary] official Note on the Informal Meeting in Tunis

[Ralf Bendrath]

http://www.wsistunis2005.org/plateforme/detail.php?id=207

Note on the Informal Meeting for the2 nd Phase of the WSIS
Tunis,2 - 3March2004

The meeting which was convened by the Government of Tunisia, in close
cooperation with ITU.

The objective of the meeting was to have a preliminary discussion on the
phase 2 of the WSIS around the following themes divided into working
groups: 

• Theme1 : Implementation of the Geneva Action Plan
• Theme2 : Expected results of the second phase of the WSIS
• Theme3 : The process of the second phase of the WSIS

The meeting was opened and closed by the Minister of Transport,
Communication and Technology of Tunisia while the plenary sessions were
chaired by the Secretary of State of Information and Communication
Technology of Tunisia.

Government, Civil Society Organizations, the Private Sector,
International organizations, the United Nations Regional Commissions and
other invited guests took part in the meeting.

At the end of the meeting a summary of the discussions was read by the
Minister who emphasized the non official nature of the conclusions,
which will be put forward to official organs of the WSIS for debate.

>From the discussions, participants considered the need for continuity
between the two phases and the full involvement of all stakeholders.

Below please find the main elements for each theme:

Theme1 : Implementation of the Geneva Action Plan

Questions raised at the beginning of the session:
• How to go about the implementation process
• Identify who the main actors are / define their respective roles
• How to ensure real progress & goals are adequately met
• Implementing the Action Plan beyond Tunis (up to2015 ): what would be
the role of the Summit?

In deliberating on Theme 1 the following points should be considered:

• Implementation as an action of its own
• Documenting the process
• Follow up and coordination
• Evaluating implementation through indicators (to be developed)
• Linking thematic and regional approaches
• Looking into complementarity between the various levels
(international, regional and national)
• Mobilizing resources for implementation

Theme II: Expected results of the second phase of the WSIS

As participants considered the Tunis phase as part of one single Summit,
discussions centered around the need for a strong political document
which would renew commitments of stakeholders on building an inclusive
information society from what was agreed upon in Geneva. This would
avoid reopening debates on the Geneva Declaration and Action Plan.

The following would be considered as potential deliverables for the
Summit:

• A document containing a political message from Heads of States
• A document which may be an Agenda in form of a plan to federate
several operations including Regional Action Plans

In deliberating on Theme 2 the following points should be considered:

• Complementarity between thematic and regional dimensions
• Reaffirming the value of Digital Solidarity
• “Partnership for Development” as a potential rallying theme for the
Tunis phase
• Anchoring the Summit outputs  in the UN Development System and
Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) to ensure follow-up and periodic
review

Theme3 : The process of the second phase of the WSIS

Participants noted that even though the rules of procedures which were
adopted in Geneva will apply to the two phases; it was necessary to
improve synergy with the various stakeholders for an inclusive process
which should cover both the preparatory phase and the Summit itself. 

In deliberating on Theme 3 the following points should be considered:

• Implementing the Geneva Action Plan
o Documenting the process
o Follow up and coordination
o Development of evalutation tools such as indicators

• Planning for the  Tunis Summit
o PrepComs
o Regional Conferences
o Thematic Conferences
• Constraints  (Time and resources)
• Production of reports requested by the Geneva Phase
• Coordination issues
• Use of planned events to reduce costs of the process
• Use of ICT in the facilitation and planning process