[WSIS CS-Plenary] FW: CONGO statement and CS basic points for CSTD

[Renate Bloem]

Dear all,

Please find below the statement CONGO delivered during the ECOSOC convened
discussion on the future of the CSTD (16 May), and the basic elements,
agreed by those present, to be bottom line points, presented during a panel
discussion with members of the CSTD (18 May) 
Best
Renata
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Mr. President, 

I welcome this opportunity to take the floor as President of the Conference
of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) to
address the very crucial issue of the review of the CSTD. I thank you for
convening this second round of discussion towards a strengthened Commission
and I particularly appreciate that NGOs are involved in this discussion,
including non-ECOSOC civil society entities accredited to the WSIS process.
I would also like commend the UN CSTD Secretariat for the very helpful and
informative background note circulated in preparation for this meeting. 

As many of you know, CONGO is an international, membership association that
facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and
decisions. It is advocating to enhance consultative status and ensure the
participation of NGOs within the ECOSOC and in the wider UN system on issues
of global concern. Our involvement in the two phases of the WSIS process
fully supported the participation of civil society actors and contributed to
improve relevant and constructive interactions between civil society
constituencies, governments and the orther groups of stakeholders. (We have
been very actively involved in creating the first ever Civil Society Bureau
(CSB) as interface to the Governmantal Bureau).

Our discussion today inscribes itself in the process from Tunis to the
review of the CSTD by ECOSOC in July. Since we had our first preliminary
brainstorming on the future role and the strengthening of the UN CSTD on 13
February, the General Assembly has given an additional dimension to this
Commission by endorsing in its resolution 60/252 a final confirmation of
ECOSOC’s role. Consultations so far have also demonstrated that there is a
strong wish to go in that direction among the international community. We
need to achieve the commitments made in Tunis and confirmed in New York, by
giving shape to a strengthened CSTD. The setting up of such an
intergovernmental body for the follow-up to WSIS will offer an opportunity
to improve the capacity of the UN towards the achievement of development
objectives, including the MDGs. Civil society actors in particular are
willing to work with States and international organisations and to feed into
a strengthened Commission their expertise and commitment. 

Mandate
The Tunis agenda requests ECOSOC to oversee the system-wide follow-up and to
review the CSTD with the view to strengthen its mandate. In its paragraph
105, the new mandate of the Commission must also include effective
mechanisms to ensure the follow-up to the commitments agreed in Geneva and
Tunis. 

As CONGO we considers that the initial mandate of the Commission on the
implication of science and technology on development should be preserved and
improved at the expert level, while considering a more specific focus on
elements related to the information society and the use of ICT for
development. 

Approach
While defining a mandate in line with the outcomes of the UN World Summit in
September 2005 and of WSIS, the CSTD should adopt an approach which is
coherent with the new challenges rooted in the information society and which
takes into account its complexities and the diversity of its needs: 

-	Beyond the technical aspect and the economic implication of science
and technologies, in particular ICT, over development, the CSTD should also
develop a people-centred, inclusive and equitable understanding of the
information society. This implies a social and political approach to the
economic and technical developments of the information society with the view
to ensure justice and peoples' full participation and empowerment. Indeed
the WSIS process addressed complex and multi-dimensional issues, linking the
use of ICT for development to concerns related to human rights, gender
issues, the protection of vulnerable groups, sustainable development and
democracy. Therefore, we consider the new mandate of the UN CTSD should
embrace such a cross cutting methodology.

-	As underlined by civil society in its declaration to WSIS Phase I in
Geneva, technologies, and in particular ICT, represent fundamental means for
economic and social development, but should not become ends in themselves.
The renewed CSTD should work recognising that bridging the Digital Divide is
only one step on the road to achieving development for all. 

- The information society is the society of tomorrow, still under shaping
and construction. All actors involved in this technical and social process
should keep a visionary approach in a pro-active, open and inclusive manner.
This also includes the necessity for the UN CSTD to show its ability to
adapt itself to the evolution of the ICT and of their applications. Its
policy analysis and recommendations should be in complete adequacy with the
technical trend and the needs they imply.

Role within the UN system
Such an approach would guarantee that the CSTD would be strengthened to
better help ECOSOC overseeing the system wide follow-up to WSIS. Based on
the WSIS legacy, its multi disciplinary approach and the recognition of the
wide range of potential impacts of ICT (such as in fighting poverty,
famines, and overcoming pandemics such as HIV/AIDS), a strengthened CSTD
would be better armed to provide inputs to the overall UN system in a
complementary and constructive way. 

The CSTD, once renewed to serve as the follow up body to WSIS, will be part
of the UN integrated follow-up process and contribute to achieving the MDGs.
As the first intergovernmental body to perform such a follow-up effort
within the MDG agenda, the CSTD should adopt a very effective mechanism
which would radiate through the other development oriented substantive
intergovernmental organs of the UN.

Model for an effective follow-up to WSIS
The follow-up model to be developed within the CSTD is crucial to ensure a
strong and effective follow up to the commitments agreed in Geneva and in
Tunis in a comprehensive manner. There is currently no intergovernmental
body for a follow up on ICT related world processes. All other structures
established by the Tunis Summit developed facilitation mechanisms or
multi-stakeholder forum for discussions. Previous initiatives on ICT
developed outside and parallel to the WSIS process were not
intergovernmental. Therefore the CSTD will be the only leading
intergovernmental body in charge of reviewing ICTs and science and
technologies for development in which NGOs and civil society could
participate and be consulted. This generates great expectations on the
capacity of the UN to measure trends, evaluate needs and take efficient
initiatives. 

An appropriate model should therefore be determined, and I would like to
draw upon the two year cycle proposed in the background note provided by the
Secretariat. During the review session, the CSTD should base its reflection
on the work and progresses of the various established thematic mechanisms
for implementation at the international level, including the action line
facilitation meetings, the inter-agency coordination mechanism, as well as
the outcomes of the Global Alliance. The regional implementation framework
could represent a significant input for the CSTD in observing the specific
regional contexts and the particular needs of states facing similar
problems. It should fully contribute to the development of a common
understanding at the international level on the progress of the Tunis and
Geneva commitments, but also identify weaknesses of the implementation
process and their reasons. Areas where WSIS outcomes are not in the process
of being achieved, thematic clusters of issues requiring more detailed
attention and policy recommendations, and regional contexts in which WSIS
commitments have demonstrated not being successful should be identified and
well documented. The review session should be handled with the view to allow
the policy session to address them in a targeted solution-oriented manner.
For more continuity and efficiency, the review session should also identify
some kind of inter-sessional process facilitating reflection and expert
advice on the issues of concern with the view to better inform and enlighten
the policy review on potential solutions.

The policy session should therefore draw upon and answer the questions
raised by the review session, and build on the expert advice it would have
received on these specific issues. 


I would recommend that each follow-up cycle should address and focus on all
identified priority issues, in order to avoid any gap and ensure continuity
in the follow-up activities.

Substantive theme
The background note proposes to maintain that a substantive theme should be
addressed by the CSTD on a yearly basis. Such a practice fully contributes
to the development of a common understanding among the international
community. My three observations at this stage are the following:
- the selected themes should include and address concerns and issues related
to the information society and the use of ICT4D, with the view to contribute
to the achievement of the MDGs;
- NGOs/CSOs must be fully involved in the process leading towards the
identification of a theme. 
- Lastly, a long term approach is necessary to identify a workable and
constructive framework of reflection and set priorities towards the
achievements of the Geneva and Tunis agendas and other development goals
related to science and technology.

Participation of NGOs and multi-stakeholder component of the CSTD
Paragraph 105 of the Tunis Agenda states that the review of the CSTD should
“take into account the multi-stakeholder approach”. CONGO has already
devoted a lot of efforts to ensure that WSIS accredited civil society
entities could fully participate in the work of the CSTD as from its first
session addressing WSIS follow-up. Some of the most active civil society
participants in the WSIS process, in particular from the global South, were
involved in an international process for the first time within WSIS, and
have therefore not yet been granted ECSOC Consultative Status. However, to
guarantee the continuity of the involvement of all stakeholders and to keep
the momentum and the mobilization of all actors, it is necessary to consider
how such entities will work with the Commission. A formal mechanism should
be established so that CS contributions from WSIS accredited entities will
be presented to the CSTD, including in its review functions and in the
agenda setting, as of 2007. This includes the right to submit written
contribution and oral declarations and all other rights included in ECOSOC
Resolution 1996/31. Previous practices of interim measures for participation
on Commissions’ Roster (deriving from Rio and Johannesburg) should be
explored in a speedy way.

Within the framework provided by ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, NGOs must be
entitled to take the floor both individually and collectively under each of
the agenda item of the renewed Commission, including in the discussion on
the substantive theme and the follow up to WSIS. 

Civil society entities should therefore be a full partner of the UN CSTD in
ensuring an effective follow up to the WSIS. This includes their involvement
in measuring the progresses on a year to year basis. Such contribution would
definitely enhance the capacity of the overall UN system to identify trends
on the ground and at the global level in terms of ICT4D. 

Side events
The practice within other ECSOC substantive Commissions has demonstrated the
benefits provided by side events organised by a variety of actors including
NGOs. The CSTD, hereby becoming a major ECOSOC substantial Commission,
should also allow all involved participants to organise such thematic side
events during and in the framework of its regular session. I fully support
in this regards the mention of side events in the background note provided
by the Secretariat. In addition, drawing on the example of this year’s
cluster of events organised by international organisations around the World
IS Day (17 may), I would support that this should be repeated in a more
constructed manner next years. Follow-up activities, side events,
implementation facilitation meetings, and IS Day celebration would
definitely address the same themes and issues, in a complementary manner.
There is both a substantial coherence and a functional utility to continue
the organisation of such clustering of WSIS related meetings around the
World Information Society Day. The yearly session of the UN CSTD would
facilitate bringing all different actors, in particular those coming from
the regions, and all different perspectives to the same place at the same
time. Such gatherings could therefore encourage a cross fertilization of the
worldwide efforts for a democratic, inclusive, participatory, human centred
and development oriented information society, while take into account the
rich cultural diversity of the world.

I remain at your disposal for any questions. I also expect my colleagues
from civil society to complete my comments on more specific issues. I thank
you for your attention and for giving me this opportunity to speak. 
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CS approach for – May 18th –  Elements discussed 


1.	CSTD is the natural Instrument to facilitate WSIS follow-up

Follow-up to major UN Conferences is customary placed under the
responsibility of ECOSOC with the help of specialized functional Commissions
with a variety of mandates. Key examples include :
-	The Commission on Sustainable Development for the Rio and
Johannesburg Summits
-	The Commission on the Status of Women for the Beijing Conference
-	The Commission for Social Development for the Copenhagen Conference

Similarly, paragraph 105 of the WSIS Tunis Agenda, clearly states :  “We
request ECOSOC to oversee the system-wide follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis
outcomes of WSIS. To this end, we request that ECOSOC, at its substantive
session of 2006, reviews the mandate, agenda and composition of the
Commission on Science and Technology for Development, including considering
the strengthening of the Commission, taking into account the
multi-stakeholder approach.”

In view of these precedents, the formulation of the above paragraph and the
lengthy discussions that took place in Tunis, we consider as self-evident
that the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is the
natural instrument to facilitate WSIS follow-up and subsequently feed
reporting into ECOSOC. The question should therefore not be whether CSTD
should be given a role in WSIS follow-up or not, but only what the extent
and modalities of that role need to be.  

Similarly, any follow-up involves at least the regular review of progress
achieved in implementation. Any WSIS follow-up facilitated by the CSTD
should therefore provide an appropriate articulation with the implementation
process established by the Tunis Agenda, including, among other approaches,
the structure by Action Lines. 


2.	Support for the proposal of a open ended working group

One of the outcomes of the ECOSOC consultation on the future role of the
CSTD in the system wide follow up to WSIS was the proposed setting up of an
open ended working group towards the ECOSOC review of the CSTD mandate,
agenda and composition. This suggestion was introduced by the GRULAC
representative who stated: “It might be convenient for ECOSOC to establish
an open-ended working group in Geneva, with the participation of
representatives of civil society and the private sector, with the task to
prepare draft proposals on the reform of the Commission, which could be
considered by ECOSOC in its July substantive session”. Such a process would
allow for a more in-depth reflection on the content of this review. NGOs
fully support this initiative and are willing to participate in such an open
ended working group with multi-stakeholder composition in order to further
the discussion on the future of the CSTD in an all inclusive manner. 

3.	Fast track process for participation of CS WSIS accredited entities
Civil society entities, including those accredited to the WSIS process,
should fully participate in the work of the CSTD as from its first session
substantially addressing WSIS follow-up. Many of these entities do not have
the consultative status with ECOSOC. A formal arrangement should be
established so that CS contributions from WSIS accredited entities will be
presented to the CSTD as of 2007. Precedents in term of fast-track interim
measures of NGOs accredited to a World Conference process to participate in
the ECOSOC substantial Commission in charge of the related follow-up should
be further explored. We could for example follow the model used within the
Commission on Sustainable Development after Johannesburg, after which the
ECOSOC decided that WSSD accredited NGOs could participate in the two first
CSD sessions following the Summit, provided they actually apply for ECOSOC
consultative status. We would therefore fully support the inclusion of WSIS
accredited NGOs in a roster, allowing them to participate in the CSTD at the
same level of NGOs in ECOSOC consultative status, including the right to
present oral statements, to submit written contributions under each agenda
item of the CSTD


4.	Content 
a.	More development oriented approach
In addition to focussing on the technical aspects and the economic
implications of science and technologies, in particular ICT, on development,
the CSTD must broaden the scope of deliberations to also include the
influence, impact and potential of social and political development on the
information society, with the view to ensure justice and peoples' full
participation and empowerment. As underlined by civil society in its
declaration to WSIS Phase I in Geneva, technologies, and in particular ICT,
represent fundamental means for economic and social development, but should
not become ends in themselves. It is of key importance that the work of the
renewed CSTD reflects the recognition that ICTs are an integral part of the
broader development agenda.

b.	CS inclusion in determining annual themes and the follow-up to WSIS
The background note proposes to maintain that a substantive theme should be
addressed by the CSTD on a yearly basis. Such a practice fully contributes
to the development of a common understanding among the international
community. In addition Civil Society entities should be a full partner of
the UN CSTD in ensuring an effective follow up to the WSIS. This includes
their involvement in measuring the progresses on a year to year basis. Such
contribution would definitely enhance the capacity of the overall UN system
to identify trends on the ground and at the global level in terms of ICT4D.
This means that:

•	the selected themes should include and address concerns and issues
related to the information society and the use of ICT4D, with the view to
contribute to the achievement of the MDGs;

•	NGOs/CSOs must be fully involved in the process leading towards the
identification of a theme
 
•	A long term approach is necessary to identify a workable and
constructive framework of reflection and set priorities towards the
achievements of the Geneva and Tunis agendas and other development goals
related to science and technology 

•	Within the framework provided by ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, NGOs
must be entitled to take the floor both individually and collectively under
each of the agenda item of the renewed Commission, including in the
discussion on the substantive theme and the follow up to WSIS


c.	CS inclusion in review and policy process
Paragraph 105 of the Tunis Agenda provides that the review of the CSTD
should “take into account the multi-stakeholder approach”. Therefore while
NGO participation could be based on existing arrangements established within
ECOSOC, such as ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, future practices of the CSTD
should draw upon the multi-stakeholder interactions and contributions as
experienced during the WSIS process. Only this would guarantee the
continuity of the involvement of all actors in the work of the Commission at
the same level of mobilization and contribution as during WSIS. 



Renate Bloem
President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mil: rbloem at ngocongo.org
Website: www.ngocongo.org
 
 
 
The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, membership association
that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and
decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the
presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United
Nations agencies on issues of global concern.  For more information see our
website at www.ngocongo.org
 
 

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