An appeal for [WSIS CS-Plenary] Future role of the CSTD

Tue May 23 13:38:23 BST 2006

*Dear   Renate Bloem  and All members*
*Greetings *
*I appeal to you to consider and bring to the kind attention of the
authority.*

*With gracious and profound regards may I have the honor to present my
humble appreciation for your kind cooperation and outstanding efforts. You
all are  doing an outstanding job and service to humanity. I wish all the
65   our respected members were given the same chance.Even the 65  is not
enough.Manny areas are  of the world is not covered. This bigger team with
talents and hidden talents would have done more than we can currently
achieve. The world is too small .For effective work greater the team greater
the accomplishment .Talented who have volunteered will never get a chance to
show  what  they can do. .Every body does what is one capable to do. My
experience as human resource management has taught  me  a lot. We practice
it around the globe. *

*The news travels faster and reaches all corners of the globe. Your personal
touch to the conference will open new avenues. I think if enough voices of
goodwill are heard, mankind may be saved from its path toward a precipice.
Thank you so very much for your kind words. You will put new soul in
this new method at WSIS_CS .You all are  doing a dynamic job by spreading it
to all the corners of the globe. We need the team work for a change.*

* I am honored to add my contribution. . We are happy to share with hard
labor and research  to fit to the program with your dynamic cooperation I
think we can accomplish a lot. *

*Your participation is highly appreciated .You all are working hard   to the
point for solving some of the crucial crises left over from the 20th century
that have come to the fore with incredible force in this new century. I
agree totally with you  that we must urgently establish long-lasting harmony
worldwide .New technological advancements can bear fruits. You have been a
great help for world peace. Worldwide your peace efforts have been
appreciated.*

*Thanking you in anticipation, *

*Dr. Malik S. Khan *

On 5/22/06, CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam <wsis at ngocongo.org> wrote:
>
>   Dear all,
>
>
>
> We've up-dated our webpage dedicated to the WSIS follow-up ECOSOC CSTD,
> with information on what happened between 15 and 19 May:
> http://www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=pag&id=10207.
>
>
>
> It includes the documents Renate circulated this morning as well as a
> summary of the ECOSOC consultation on the future role of the CSTD in the
> WSIS follow-up (copied below).
>
>
>
> More up-dates will follow soon on the post-Tunis process:
> http://www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=resources&id=278&start=1.
>
>
>
> *Philippe Dam*
>
> *CONGO - WSIS CS Secretariat *
>
> *11, Avenue de la Paix*
>
> *CH-1202 Geneva*
>
> *Tel: +41 22 301 1000*
>
> *Fax: +41 22 301 2000*
>
> *E-mail: wsis at ngocongo.org*
>
> *Website: www.ngocongo.org *
>
> * wisis at 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*
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> *ECOSOC Consultation on the future role *
>
> *of the UN CTSD in the system-wide follow up to WSIS*
>
> *16 May 2006*
>
> * *
>
> * *
>
> *Please also refer to the substantial oral statement provided by the
> Conference of NGOs (Renate Bloem): full text available HERE<http://www.ngocongo.org/files/statement_to_the_ecosoc_consultation_16_may_v_3.doc>
> .*
>
> * *
>
> *Introductory remarks*
>
> *HE Ambassador Ali Hachani* stressed the intergovernmental character of
> the process leading to the review of the mandate, agenda and composition of
> the CSTD. The purpose of this second consultation is to hear the views of
> the CSTD and its members in Geneva, civil society and the private sector.
> *Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, UNCTAD SG*, raised the issues he would like to
> see addressed at this stage of the discussion: 1. How the CSTD could
> contribute to the WSIS follow-up while continuing to implement its mandate
> in the context of the UN World Summit? 2. How the multi-stakeholder approach
> can be applied to the functioning of the CSTD? He also presented an outline
> of his vision of the follow up to WSIS as a review process of the
> implementation of the WSIS commitments where ECOSOC would be in charge of
> overseeing the WSIS follow-up. Recalling the experience of the CSTD in
> working on ICT, he stressed the role the Commission could play in providing
> high level advice to ECOSOC and the UN GA and means for policy guidance,
> promotion of dialogue and partnership. *Mr. Yoshio Utsumi, ITU SG*, while
> stressing the development oriented approach of the Geneva and Tunis
> outcomes, underlined the strict distinction between implementation and
> follow-up process, as well as between the intergovernmental,
> multi-stakeholder and inter-agency processes. He stressed that follow-up
> activities would only be possible after looking at the effect of
> implementation. ECOSOC would provide support to the UN agencies having
> difficulties to implement action lines, while in no way duplicating the
> implementation activities. ECOSOC should be flexible enough to adapt in a
> changing environment and the WSIS follow-up should be integrated into the
> follow-up of the other UN summit towards the achievement of the MDGs. The
> rules of the UN CSTD should be further studied and revised to allow for a
> multi-stakeholder dimension and to engage civil society and the private
> sector. *Patrizio Civili, from UN DESA*, stressed that follow-up and
> implementation are distinct but interrelated processes. The Global Alliance
> for ICT and Development could serve as the multi-stakeholder component of
> the follow-up WSIS, providing autonomous advice to the UN SG, and full
> contribution and support to intergovernmental bodies such as ECOSOC and the
> CSTD.
>
>
>
> *Mandate***
>
> *Pakistan** (G77 and China)* emphasized the new mandate of the CSTD would
> include both the outcomes of the UN World Summit in September 2005 (§60) and
> of the WSIS (§105 of the Tunis Agenda). The review process should include
> the following elements: mainstreaming the follow-up dimension in all ECOSOC
> activities; review progress at the national, regional and international
> levels; policy recommendations for guidance and future action; promoting
> dialogue and partnerships with all stakeholders within established practices
> of ECOSOC.
>
>
>
> *Chili (GRULAC)* stressed the CSTD should be in a position to examine the
> implementation progress of the Geneva and Tunis at the national, regional
> and international levels and to provide recommendations to ECOSOC and
> through it to the different UN agencies. It should become a place for
> dialogue for all stakeholders, in particular on cooperation for development.
>
>
>
>
> *Egypt* added the mandate should rely on three elements: the initial
> mandate as revised, the outcome of the UN World Summit and the WSIS
> outcomes. *China* and later on *Marocco* underlined that ICT was only one
> of the areas of science and technology. For *Austria*, the CSTD could be
> considered as a think tank for ECOSOC and other UN organisations, with
> specific ways of work and the participation of experts such as Nobel Prize
> laureates. The approach to IS related issues gave the CSTD sound legitimacy
> to perform the WSIS follow-up. *Tunisia* proposed a close collaboration
> with the UN GIS and with the WSIS action lines facilitators. *Indonesia*emphasized the value of the policy session and also underlined that the CSTD
> should interact with relevant initiative in a bottom up approach, with the
> view to share ICT4D best practices. *Thailand* added that the review
> process of action lines implementation should lead towards recommendations
> for policy guidance, while the agenda should focus on capacity building and
> transfer of technologies. *Malaysia* stressed the CSTD should contribute
> to reduce the technology gap, while creating knowledge and encouraging
> innovation.
>
>
>
> *The USA* underlined the follow-up activities should be in line with the
> context of the overall UN reform, within existing approved resources. The
> CSTD should focus on follow-up activities only, taking into account IS and
> science and technology elements beyond WSIS, while implementation would be
> processed by each agency. The mandate should therefore not be completely
> changed.
>
>
>
> *ESCWA* stressed the new CSTD mandate should contribute to develop new
> multi-stakeholder commitments for public private partnerships and exchange
> of best practices to facilitate project implementation. The CSTD should also
> look at regional specific efforts. The *Gender Advisory Group* emphasized
> that the WSIS follow-up should better recognise the gender dimension.
>
>
>
> *Working methods*
>
> *Pakistan *proposed to increase to 10 working days the annual CSTD session
> (4 days for Sciences and Technology, 4 days for WSIS follow-up and 2 days
> for multi-stakeholder inputs), with the possibility to have two action
> oriented sessions (review session and policy session). *The UK* also
> supported a longer session to take on board the WSIS follow up activities.
> *The USA* opposed to any extension of the yearly session. *Latvia*considered difficult any extension of the yearly session and suggested the
> working models of other ECOSOC commissions should be adopted.
>
>
>
> *The EU* and the *CCBI *supported the better use of electronic means for
> the follow up to WSIS.
>
> * *
>
> *Composition***
>
> *Pakistan** *highlighted the intergovernmental nature of the CSTD, to be
> considered during the on-going review process. *Egypt* stressed the wider
> composition of the CSTD could make its geographic representation more
> balanced; *Brazil*,* Thailand*, *Sierra Leone** *and* Malaysia *also
> supported a wider membership. *The USA* opposed to any extension of
> membership.* The UK* also expressed reservations on the increased
> membership.
>
> * *
>
> *Multi-stakeholder participation***
>
> *Pakistan *emphasised that the CTSD should deepen it tradition to work
> with stakeholders and should adopt the same participation modalities of
> other Commission, in particular with ECOSOC NGOs and the business community,
> with a specific attention to stakeholders from developing countries. *
> Austria* stressed that the practical activities would give the CSTD the
> possibility to cooperate with experts from outside (including NGOs and
> business). *The EU* and the *UK** *insisted on the multi-stakeholder
> nature of the follow-up process. The global Alliance should be complementary
> and supportive to the ECOSOC follow-up process, while not creating a new UN
> organ, not duplicating other activities and not increasing the UN regular
> budget. *Switzerland** *said the CSTD should open itself to all
> stakeholders more regularly and more intensely.* Tunisia* and later on the
> *Sudan* defined the multi-stakeholder approach within the CTSD should be
> more inclusive with international organisations, civil society actors and
> the private sector. *Thailand* added the Global Alliance could be a model
> in terms of multi-stakeholder approach. *Latvia* noted that WSIS was a
> precedent within the UN in terms of CS and PS inclusion, so that the review
> process should keep the into the policy debate within the CSTD. In addition
> to Renate Bloem's statement<http://www.ngocongo.org/files/statement_to_the_ecosoc_consultation_16_may_v_3.doc>,
> *Francis Muguet (WTIS)* proposed a resource network for the Information
> Society and the organisation of a World Forum for the Information Society,
> back to back with the IGF yearly meeting. He added that there should be a
> multi-stakeholder coordinating body through ECOSOC, in which the Global
> Alliance could be one of the elements.
>
>
>
> *The CCBI* stressed the Internet is multidimensional nature of the
> Internet as a tool for development, which should not be dealt only in an
> intergovernmental manner, but through a multi-stakeholder approach. ECOSOC
> should therefore be shaped to integrate all stakeholders in the WSIS
> follow-up process.
>
>
>
> *Next steps*
>
> Considering the ECOSOC will have to take decisions in July on a number of
> elements taking into account the views of all stakeholders, *Chili*proposed to establish an open ended working group in Geneva, with the
> inclusion of civil society and the private sector, with the view to draft
> proposals for the ECOSOC. *Brazil* supported the need of an open ended
> working group, the *UK* expressed support for a small working group within
> ECOSOC and *Switzerland** *emphasized its multi-stakeholder nature. *
> Pakistan*, in a second intervention, supported the establishment of a
> working group which could better look into the issues of strengthening its
> mandate, composition, agenda and the nature of stakeholders' participation.
>
>
>
> *The USA* stressed that proposals for change should only come from member
> states, which should submit their proposals by a deadline to allow ECOSOC to
> duly address this issue.
>
> * *
>
>
>
>
>
> To conclude, *Ambassador Ali Hachani* outlines he would propose and
> consult the ECOSOC Bureau on the establishment of a facilitating mechanism
> such as a working group. He mentioned there is an agreement that the CSTD
> should not give up its original mandate and add follow up activities. He
> called for Member States to bring other ideas at this stage of the process.
>
>
>
> *Notes by Alejandra Mendoza and Philippe Dam (Conference of NGOs)*
>
> * *
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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