[WSIS CS-Plenary] Up date on ITU Reform and CS participation

Tue Sep 12 21:21:18 BST 2006

Dear all, 

This is to inform you about some recent developments regarding ITU Reform.
Further to a consultation in which some CS representatives participated
(held in the framework of the ITU Council WG on WSIS on 1st February 2006,
cf. previous discussion on this list in January 2006
http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/public/plenary/2006-January/date.html and
February 2006
http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/public/plenary/2006-February/date.html#14782)
, additional discussions are taking place in Geneva, within the tenth
meeting of this WG on WSIS (12-13 September 2006), in which ITU Member
States and Sector Members have been invited.

The webpage of the ITU WG on WSIS is quite self explanatory:
http://www.itu.int/council/wsis/wsis_WG.html. All working documents are
available for download.

In particular, I would like to draw your attention to two proposals related
to CS participation in the work of ITU:

A Swiss
<http://www.itu.int/council/wsis/Working_Group_on_WSIS/Sept-2006/20060831%20
CH%20proposal%20for%20enhanced%20CSO%20participation.doc>  paper includes
two main suggestions: creation of a High Level CS Advisory Board (tobe
consulted by the ITU SG and heads of sectors); and the establishment of a
consultative or observer status for CS entities to participate in
intergovernmental meetings of the ITU, first for the ITU-D related meeting,
to be potentially extended to the other sectors in the future (such a status
includes access to documentation and meeting rooms, speaking rights and
written contributions, and would be free). This proposal is quite close to
the concerns expressed by NGOs on 1st February.

An Argentinean
<http://www.itu.int/council/wsis/Working_Group_on_WSIS/Sept-2006/035e_argent
ina.doc>  paper also supports an extension of CS participation in the ITU
based on the experience of WSIS, but only proposes that the next ITU 2006
Plenipotentiary Conference set up an other working group, mandated to
present conclusions and recommendations on the amendment on the ITU
Constitution by the next ITU Plenipot (2010). A draft resolution is included
in this proposal.

The recommendation to be transmitted by the ITU Council WG on WSIS to the
ITU Plenipot will be adopted tomorrow and it seems discussions today have
shown that support is rather going towards the Argentinean proposal than
towards the Swiss one. Many States do actually not support more openness of
ITU for CS (for budgetary reasons for the USA and some EU States, or because
they consider ITU is already inclusive enough with non State actors).

Some other documents are dedicated to the Role of ITU in Implementing the
WSIS outcomes.

We will keep you informed about the next developments in this regard.

All the best, 

Philippe

Philippe Dam
CONGO - Conference of NGOs 
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mail:  <mailto:wsis at ngocongo.org> wsis at ngocongo.org
Website:  <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org> 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 <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org/> 

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