[WSIS CS-Plenary] drastic changes to the proposed WSIS implementation mechanisms in the new text

[Bertrand de La Chapelle]

Dear Parminder, 
 Thanks for raising this issue. I also noticed the evolution reading the new 
text and was surprised by the toning down of the proposition. I suppose it 
reflects the lack of general understanding among governments on how 
ambitious the follow-up / implementation mechanism is going to be. - if any. 
In any case, it clearly does not come from the various inputs given by 
various actors during open consultations, most of whom, as you mention, did 
support s detailed mechanism based on multi-stakeholder groups. 
 Another element might be the desire of the PrepCom President to lower the 
stakes on the implementation issue, given the expected difficulties on the 
Internet Governance part, in order to reduce the risk of deadlock at 
PrepCom3.
 Informal discussions on Sept 6 will probably give some light on that, but 
we seem to be headed towards a very low-key document for Tunis and probably 
a strange discussion during PrepCom3.
 In any case, it is worth discussing before PrepCom3.
 Best
 Bertrand
   

 On 8/25/05, Parminder <Parminder at itforchange.net> wrote: 
> 
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> The new text proposed by the chair of the GFC for paras 10, 11 and 29 of 
> the
> operational part of the Tunis document, which deals with the actual
> implementation and follow-up structures, carries some drastic changes. In
> effect, specific implementation structures consisting of multi-stakeholder
> teams around various actions lines, with overall co-ordination by a
> 'well-defined co-ordination body' as suggested in the existing text are
> sought to be completely removed.
> 
> See http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1671|0 for
> the new draft.
> 
> If this draft is accepted (as it most probably will be, unless strong
> opposition to it is articulated NOW), it would essentially mean NO real
> implementation and follow-up structures for WSIS. This will deny the world 
> a
> much needed global Information Society (IS) policy (and implementation)
> forum, at which rapidly arising important IS issues could be taken up.
> 
> What is surprising is that the approach taken in the new text, where
> implementation is subsumed under follow-up, is quite contrary to the
> declaration by the Chair of GFC in a recent meeting organised by ITU where
> he affirmed that "for the first time that there is an evolving 
> understanding
> within the UN that the implementation process and follow-up must be seen 
> as
> separate processes". These thoughts are also clearly articulated in the
> document 'food for thought' earlier distributed by the chair of GFC.
> http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1604|0
> 
> I have prepared a comparison of the existing text and the proposed one, on
> the more relevant points, which I am enclosing here.
> 
> The last date to give comments on the proposed text is 30th August. While
> there may be differences in views within the CS about which agencies 
> should
> play a pivotal role in implementation-follow up, I expect most of us to
> agree on the point that the current drastic changes to the text, before
> substantive discussions are taken up at prepcom 3, are completely
> un-warranted. These changes are too far reaching for them to come in like
> this, almost surreptitiously, as a proposed revised text when most of the
> submissions to the earlier distributed draft on these points speak about
> strengthening these points rather than removing/replacing them. (please 
> see
> http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1618|0 )
> 
> Regards
> 
> Parminder
> 
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________
> Parminder Jeet Singh
> IT for Change
> Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
> 91-80-26654134
> www.ITforChange.net <http://www.ITforChange.net>
> 
> 
>
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