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

[Jean-Louis FULLSACK]

dear all
I'd just remember that CSDPTT has sent three proposals concerning CS inclusion in the ITU to the ITU Reforl WG. These are in french and were (always are?)  displayed  on the ITU WSIS site. As far as ITU membership is concerned, only the PLenipo has the mandate to amend/complete and take the decision. 
Thus, a compromise solution could be the Plenipo agrees on the principle of CS inclusion (e.g. voluntary CSOs as members of the TDB) and mandates the ITU Council for taking the decision for the CS inclusion process itself in its early meetings. 
Further, I do hope that a french (and other language) version of Philips' mail will soon be dispayed on the list.
Jean-Louis Fullsack
CSDPTT- France




 
> Message du 12/09/06 22:33
> De : "CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam" 
> A : plenary at wsis-cs.org, bureau at wsis-cs.org
> Copie à : wsis at ngocongo.org, "'Renate Bloem'" 
> Objet : [WSIS CS-Plenary] Up date on ITU Reform and CS participation
> 
> 
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 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 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: wsis 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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