[WSIS CS-Plenary] Consultation on CSTD - Tuesday 13 February (13:30-15:00)

Mon Feb 12 08:39:39 GMT 2007

Thanks Philippe, and apologies for responding just a day before the meeting.
At the CSTD at its inter-sessional at Paris in November 2006, Renate and I
did discuss at length the issues that we will like to push. However, I will
still reiterate some points for your consideration to be presented at the
CSTD consultations. 

1.	That CSTD does change its composition, mandate etc suitably and
sufficiently to accommodate the IS (information society) agenda. And that
fulfilling this new role calls for some fundamental changes in CSTD
functioning, including moving from an expertise based to a more political
role, which may keep expanding in the future. 

2.	That the WSIS mandated role of WSIS system wide follow up should be
adopted and followed in letter and spirit. And among other things it will
require interface with and obtaining/ requesting reports form all UN
entities and other bodies which are doing WSIS follow up along different
action lines and themes. This process should be formalized at the
forth-coming annual meeting of the CSTD, so that all the work of various
WSIS follow up and implementation entities has a point of political
reporting and coordination.

3.	In the above regard, the suggestion of the Brazilian representative
at the CSTD, that the commission does less of deep probe activities in any
particular area (since the IS arena compassing so many arenas, it is easy to
miss the woods for the trees) and do more of 'system wide' political
coordination/ supervision/ report-taking. He also suggested that the
commission should develop political touch-stones - like the WSIS umbrella
concept of a people centred, inclusive and development-oriented IS - and
judge various WSIS follow up activities as per these political principles,
and make general reports at this level. I think this activity will
correspond best to CSTD's WSIS mandate of a system-wide follow up.

4.	In the above respect, it is important that CSTD does not take the
usual route of developing a work program which is ordered by few pre-decided
topics taken up every year. The fast evolving scenario of the IS does not
admit of such neat ordering of relevant issues, and the CSTD should be able
to take cognizance of key issues as they emerge. (This was stressed at the
inter-sessional meeting of CSTD, the issue is reflected in its
recommendation, as are several other issues listed here.)

5.	It was also stressed, and reflected in the recommendations of the
inter-sessional that CSTD coordinates and takes reports from not only the
activities on the 11 action lines, but other themes - primarily financial
mechanisms, and IG. Hence, it may also request report from the IG as to its
progress of meeting its WSIS mandate. 

6.	Also stressed was the point that CSTD should experiment with new
electronic platforms for an inclusive and democratic working. This should be
formalized at the annual meeting.

7.	And the issue, which I am sure you will present strongly, as Renate
did at the Paris meeting, of getting more open with CS participation, and
our complete lack of satisfaction with the present level of CS
participation. Such participation even if done is presented more as an
expertise input and not a political participation on a multi-stakeholder
principle of WSIS. We look forward to considerable progress on this issue. 

The above are the points that come to my mind. I am sorry that they may not
be worded too well, and if you are to include any of them in your input
papers you may have to clean them up a bit. (I write this from a place with
poor connectivity.)

Thanks

Parminder 

________________________________________________

Parminder Jeet Singh

IT for Change, Bangalore

Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities 

Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890

Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055

 <http://www.itforchange.net/> www.ITforChange.net 

  _____  

From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf
Of CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:41 AM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org; bureau at wsis-cs.org; governance at lists.cpsr.org
Cc: 'Renate Bloem'; 'CONGO - Philippe Dam'
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Consultation on CSTD - Tuesday 13 February
(13:30-15:00)

Dear all, 

This is a preliminary up date on the preparation of the briefing and
consultation meeting on the 10th session of CSTD (Room XXIV, Palais des
Nations). It will take place on Tuesday 13 February 2007 during lunchtime
(13:30-15:00). Participation will be open mainly to CS entities and to the
Private Sector. As previously mentioned, two issues will be addressed:

-       Briefing on the preparations for the up coming cluster of WSIS
related events (CSTD and ALF meetings, May 2007)

-       Informal Consultation on the multi-year work programme and the
methods of work of the CSTD.

Participation will be open to all CS participants in the CSTD. For most of
you, the registration to the IGF stock taking will allow you to access this
meeting. For the other ones, we will make sure that you will be provided a
badge (contact us: wsis at ngocongo.org). 

I think we should come to this briefing with some common understanding of
the message we want to deliver to the CSTD Secretariat (and to some of the
member States representatives who might pop in during the meeting) about the
points which will be addressed. 

This includes the following main issues:

-       Preparation for the up coming 10th session of the CSTD and of the
WSIS related cluster of events;

For your information, the CSTD session will be held on 21-25 May;
additionally some 8 ALF meetings might be held around that session. More
information will follow. 

Up dated calendar: http://www.csbureau.info/posttunis.htm 

-       Modalities for NGO/CS participation in the CSTD;

-       Other CSTD working methods for the follow up to WSIS (including
reporting activities and relationship with other UN entities); 

-       Multi-year programme of work of the CSTD.

Based on the ECOSOC
<http://www.un.org/docs/ecosoc/documents/2006/resolutions/Resolution%202006-
46.pdf>  resolution renewing the CSTD mandate in July 2006, the Commission
will work through biennial action cycle. The programme of work is still to
be determined and the CSTD Panel in Paris (6-8 Nov. 2006) addressed this
issue (see report of the CSTD Panel,
http://www.unctad.org/sections/dite_dir/docs/dite_pcbb_stdev0045_en.pdf,
read in particular pages 15-16). 

Please send us your contributions and comments on these issues. We will come
back to you with more details.

All the best, 

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:  <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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