[WSIS CS-Plenary] ECOSOC reviewing WSIS follow up and implementation: CSTD, UNGIS, ALF, IGF, GAID

Mon Jul 9 09:39:22 BST 2007

Thanks a lot Philippe, for keeping us updated, and making this extremely
useful summary of important issues in the SG’s report. 

>The SG report seems quite restrictive in defining the involvement of CS
actors in the CSTD processes. Contrary to the Tunis Agenda which requested
to take into >account the multi-stakeholder approach, the SG Report defines
quite poorly the CSTD as an intergovernmental process “with contributions
from non-governmental >stakeholders channelled through the multi-stakeholder
Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and
Development” (§14 of E/2007/76). >CONGO considers that this quotation is not
reflecting paragraph 105 of the Tunis Agenda for the IS and ECOSOC
Resolution 2006/46: we understand GAID is a >multi-stakeholder component in
CSTD and ECOSOC, but certainly not the only one, and that NGO contributions
should not be channelled / screened before >reaching the CSTD / ECOSOC:
CONGO is therefore willing to correct that in the ECOSOC Plenary.

.

I think this is the most serious part which requires urgent attention from
civil society. We were at Geneva CSTD meeting, and I don’t remember during
any discussions on multistakeholder (MS) participation GAID being mentioned
as THE conduit of this participation. Such characterization is dangerous,
and civil society must put all its weight behind correcting it
. I do not
know how the SG report can put in something which was never even brought up,
much less agreed to, at the CSTD. Just because GAID had a day of the CSTD
proceedings for bringing in diverse views, which no doubt was a useful
effort, doesn’t make it THE conduit of MS participation in CSTD. 

CSTD is the apex co-ordination and follow up body for WSIS, and losing the
privilege of direct and complete participation in its working will be a big
loss for the CS. First, at the CSTD meeting, as it re-examined its mandate
and membership it, in fact, ignored the Tunis mandate of ‘ considering the
strengthening of the Commission, taking into account the multi-stakeholder
approach’. This would it in a normal meaning of the text mean that some
non-governmental membership of CSTD was possible to consider. However, CSTD
asserted its fully inter-governmental character, and not many in the CS
challenged this, even if only as a formal assertion of ‘acceptance under
protest’ kind.  

While the CSTD’s final resolution at Geneva was very good from a substantial
point of view  - as having integrated information society (IS) agenda firmly
and centrally in its work, as well as (very importantly) putting in place a
good reporting mechanism/ interface with all WSIS follow-up and implementing
agencies – as well as mentioning MS participation in CSTD, if only with
reference to earlier ECOSOC resolutions which are, well, OK, the present
document – the SG report – represents a major step back. 

Moreover, this lacks political authority, because at no point did CSTD
discuss GAID as being THE channel of MS participation. It is only one of the
channels. And we must assert the legitimacy of our direct participation in
CSTD as per existing ECOSOC resolutions reasserted by the CSTD report, and
also having made some progress procedurally – on the ground – in Geneva. The
CSTD/ SG/ GAID secretariats – whoever put this thing in – cannot do such a
thing on their own.

Philippe, I think we should put something of the nature of a sign-on
campaign protesting this part of the document, and for ecosoc to reassert
direct and full MS participation in CSTD as it stands in ECOSOC resolutions.
We are fine with GAID being one of the channels, even an important channel,
and we ourselves see GAID as playing an important role, and engage with it
strongly. However, the present formulation, as per SG’s report, that
suggests that GAID is THE channel of CS participation in the CSTD is not
acceptable.

We should write both the CSTD and to GAID on this to seek clarification, and
to present our position.

Philippe, I am ready to be an active part of this if you devise a strategy
on how to go ahead with this. We will also like to hear the views of the
others, but time is short, and therefore I request people to give their
comments at the earliest. 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: Friday, July 06, 2007 11:35 PM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org; bureau at wsis-cs.org; governance at lists.cpsr.org
Cc: rbloem at ngocongo.org; 'CONGO - Philippe Dam'
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] ECOSOC reviewing WSIS follow up and
implementation: CSTD, UNGIS, ALF, IGF, GAID
Importance: High

Dear all, 

As some of you might know, the UN ECOSOC opened its annual substantive
session earlier this week. 

Issues related to the follow up and implementation of WSIS will be discussed
and addressed by ECOSOC later this month (according to the provisional
timetable of the ECOSOC session, WSIS follow up might be tabled on 23rd and
on 25th July).

In general, the documents addressing WSIS follow up to be considered by
ECOSOC will be:

-       The SG report on “integrated and coordinated implementation of the
outcomes of and follow up to major UN conferences and summit” (E/2007/76,
here attached, to be discussed on 23 July; it contains a series of
paragraphs in relation to WSIS); See below for some extracts on the various
post WSIS processes.

-       The final report of the 10th session of the Commission on Science
and Technology for Development (21-25 May 2007), including the two WSIS
related decisions of the CSTD (on the flow of information for WSIS follow
up, and on multi-year programme of work): see E/2007/31, hereby attached as
well, to be discussed on 25 July.

As far as we understood from diplomats here in Geneva, there might not be
any additional negotiation in Geneva. It is expected that the CSDT decision
will be confirmed by ECOSOC. We will anyway monitor the on going process and
keep you posted – and hopefully engaged. 

CONGO would be willing to address the ECOSOC on these various issues, under
the two segments that might be available in this regard. We will of course
need your remarks, suggestions and feedback.

General note

The SG report recognises that “implementation and follow-up require a broad
engagement of non-governmental stakeholders and partners” (§ 12 of
E/2007/76).

Commission on Science and Technology for Development

The SG report seems quite restrictive in defining the involvement of CS
actors in the CSTD processes. Contrary to the Tunis Agenda which requested
to take into account the multi-stakeholder approach, the SG Report defines
quite poorly the CSTD as an intergovernmental process “with contributions
from non-governmental stakeholders channelled through the multi-stakeholder
Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and
Development” (§14 of E/2007/76). CONGO considers that this quotation is not
reflecting paragraph 105 of the Tunis Agenda for the IS and ECOSOC
Resolution 2006/46: we understand GAID is a multi-stakeholder component in
CSTD and ECOSOC, but certainly not the only one, and that NGO contributions
should not be channelled / screened before reaching the CSTD / ECOSOC: CONGO
is therefore willing to correct that in the ECOSOC Plenary.

UNGIS and Action Line Facilitators process

The SG Report only provides a factual description of the creation of the UN
Group for the Information Society (“Coordination among the United Nations
system entities is undertaken by the United Nations Group on the Information
Society, created by the Secretary-General in accordance with the request of
the Summit”, § 14 of E/2007/76) and of the May 2007 cluster of WSIS action
line facilitation meetings.

Internet Governance Forum and enhanced cooperation

The SG Report states that WSIS “requested the Secretary-General to convene
the Internet Governance Forum, a new forum for multi-stakeholder policy
dialogue, to discuss, inter alia, public policy issues related to Internet
governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security,
stability and development of the Internet. The inaugural meeting, entitled
“Internet governance for development”, was held in Athens from 30 October to
2 November 2006, and the second meeting is scheduled to be held in Rio de
Janeiro from 12 to 15 November 2007. Consultations are under way to start a
process towards enhanced cooperation among all relevant stakeholders with
regard to Internet governance, as requested by the Summit” (§ 14 of
E/2007/76).

Global Alliance for ICT and Development

The SG Report includes an annexed two-page description of GAID and a
synopsis of its activities. See pages 21-22 of E/2007/76.

Please send us your comments and suggestions in this regard. We will come
back to you early next week with more details.

All the best, 

Philippe

Philippe Dam
CONGO - Information Society &
Human Rights Coordinator
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mail:  <mailto:wphilippe.dam at ngocongo.org> philippe.dam 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  <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org/> www.ngocongo.org

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