[WSIS CS-Plenary] CS plenary intervention

[Steve Buckley]

Dear all

Below is the statement I presented today on behalf of the European Caucus 
for the civil society slot in the intergovernmental plenary at Prepcom 2. 
There were two other interventions- from the African caucus and from an ad 
hoc group on financing.

Steve

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Mr Chairman, I represent the World Association of Community Radio 
Broadcasters and I speak here today on behalf of the European regional 
civil society caucus. I wish to make some general points on the Political 
Chapeau and Implementation Plan and some specific recommendations on the 
question of financing which is addressed in Chapter 2.

At this first substantive discussion of the Draft political chapeau and 
implementation plan we wish first to remind governments of the declaration 
of civil society at the Geneva Summit in 2003. In that statement, tabled at 
the closing plenary, civil society organisations articulated a clear vision 
grounded firmly in human rights principles and in sustainable development 
priorities. We found there was a degree of convergence with governments on 
the Principles but divergence in perspectives on the Plan of Action.

Government of the north and south have a responsibility to engage with 
civil society to ensure effective implementation but this requires 
addressing our different perspective on the Plan of Action. The Political 
Chapeau and Implementation Plan of the Tunis phase is an opportunity to 
retake this discussion and, in particular, to ensure that the Action Plan 
and its implementation is oriented towards the implementation of 
internationally agreed human rights standards and internationally agreed 
sustainable development goals.

This includes ensuring that investment is oriented towards a vibrant civil 
society capable of holding governments to account, defending human rights 
and empowering people and communities. This includes ensuring that 
commitments to 0.7 per cent development assistance are met. This includes 
ensuring that aid is not confused with trade. This includes ensuring that 
investment is oriented towards community-driven solutions. This includes 
substantive engagement in discussion on new and innovative financing 
mechanisms. This includes support for initiatives from the south such as 
the Digital Solidarity Fund. This includes addressing not only the digital 
divide, but also the communications divide including support for 
independent and community media and other civil society communications 
initiatives and appropriate technology solutions.

Government of the north must ensure that, on the principles and priorities, 
they have their own house in order. Internal commitment to human rights and 
social development can not be secondary to economic growth or discarded on 
the grounds of national security. They should be demonstrably consistent 
with external policies on aid and investment.

Governments, north and south, must ensure their approach to financing 
communications for development is assessed to ensure positive not negative 
impact on the realisation of human rights. It must be gender sensitive and 
consider the rights of minorities. It must be rooted in the social and 
economic needs of the south, especially the least developed countries and 
people and communities most at risk of social and economic exclusion.
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        Please note my new contact details:
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                          Steve Buckley
  15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX - U.K.
              Email: sbuckley at gn.apc.org
                    Tel: +44 114 220 1426
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      www.communitymediasolutions.co.uk
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