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

Mon Jul 9 13:07:18 BST 2007

Many thanks to both Philippe for giving this important information and Parminder for mentioning its dangerosity !
I support Parminders concerns about GAID being the compulsory channelling organizartion for CS contributions to, and exchanges with, CSTD. 
CS has to have its own and proper process and exchange modalities with CSTD, full stop.
Therefore I join my voice to Parminder's for combating vigourously this dirty trick of GAID. This is also the reason for me to disaprove ... my friend Parminder in his opinion about GAID such as "We are fine with GAID being (...) even an important channel, and we ourselves see GAID as playing an important role, and engage with it strongly."
I never supported the idea of GAID being THE CS relay or even THE MS coordination body for WSIS follow-up, especially in the framework of bridging the "digital divide" or building information societies in DCs. That was in particular CSDPTT's position during the WSIS' second phase, at least for one main reason : the relation between CS organizations (present in the Plenary) and GAID has never been debated upon nor were some common positions agreed on during CS Plenary sessions. In so far there isn't any legitimacy for CS being in a formalized partnership with GAID.   
Jean-Louis Fullsack
President of CSDPTT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Parminder 
  To: plenary at wsis-cs.org ; bureau at wsis-cs.org ; governance at lists.cpsr.org 
  Cc: rbloem at ngocongo.org ; 'CONGO - Philippe Dam' 
  Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 10:39 AM
  Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] ECOSOC reviewing WSIS follow up and implementation: CSTD, UNGIS, ALF, IGF, GAID

  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

  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: philippe.dam 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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