[WSIS CS-Plenary] UNCTAD XII - ministerial conference - 20-25 April 2008, Accra

Wed Jan 23 14:23:45 GMT 2008

Dear all, 

This is a quick up date on the preparatory process leading towards the 12th
Ministerial Conference of UNCTAD to be held in Accra, Ghana, 20-25 April
2008. Find attached the draft text circulated at the beginning of the
negotiation dated November 13, as well as the consolidated text under
negotiation dated 22-1-2008. A number of paragraphs refer to ICT issues, in
particular in the follow up to the WSIS (see paragraphs 116-117, 134-137).

Note that a UNCTAD Hearing with civil society will take place on 28 January
2008, with the possibility for NGO accredited to the UNCTAD process to make
oral contributions on issues addressed or not yet addressed by the
negotiation process. CONGO will be there and we would be happy to forward
short comments on the UNCTAD XII text in relation to post WSIS issues
(please send us comments at wsis at ngocongo.org preferably before this Friday
so that we can compile something out of it). See below draft text relating
to ICT.

In addition, for your information, we've been informed that the UNCTAD
Secretariat will organise a high level roundtable within the official
programme of the UNCTAD XII meeting whose theme might be closely related to
ICT issues. More information coming soon.

All organizations that do not have observer status but wish to be part of
the preparations and the Conference itself are encouraged to apply for
accreditation. Deadline for sending the accreditation questionnaire is 31
January 2008. Information about the accreditation procedures and on line
questionnaire:
<http://www.unctadxii.org/en/Civil-Society-Outreach/Accreditation/> click
here. Please visit here
<http://www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=news&id=10469>  the CONGO website
page on UNCTAD XII and its preparatory process.

Best regards, 

Philippe

------------------------

ICT related Extracts of the UNCTAD XII negotiation document (see full text
attached):

Enhancing the enabling environment at all levels to strengthen productive
capacity, trade and

investment: mobilizing resources and harnessing knowledge for development

(.)

B. Policy responses 

(.)

116. Measures must be taken to narrow the digital divide and to ensure

countries' full and effective participation in the knowledge-based economy.

These should be supported by a fuller participation of developing countries
in

ICT-related international discussions, in particular those within the
framework

of the follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society and the

discussions in the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

117. At the national level, ICT policies and strategies need to create an
enabling

environment for the domestic information economy and a competitive ICT

industry. The main elements include developing the ICT infrastructure and
the

telecommunications sector, upgrading digital skills, implementing a legal
and

regulatory framework to support ICT-related business development, trade and

investment, e-government and technological innovation. These actions need to

be integrated in national development plans or poverty reduction strategy

papers, and ICT policies need to be regularly reviewed.

(.)

C. UNCTAD's contribution

(.)

134. UNCTAD should further strengthen its research and analysis in the area
of

science, technology and innovation and ICTs, and should promote the design,

implementation and monitoring of international and national policies in this

area. UNCTAD should help strengthen North-South and South-South

cooperation in harnessing knowledge and technology for development and
assist

developing countries and countries with economies in transition through

science, technology and innovation policy reviews and related technical

assistance.

135. UNCTAD should also support international debate, including within the

Commission on Science and Technology for Development, on science and

technology, including ICTs, and their implications for development, and
should

assist developing countries in accessing technological innovations. UNCTAD

should continue to help developing countries to participate effectively in

international discussions on technology transfer and knowledge-sharing and
to

identify policy options and best practice in this area.

136. UNCTAD should continue to provide technical assistance to countries on

ICT policy reviews, pro-poor ICT policies, legal and regulatory frameworks,
and

the development of the information economy, including through the
Partnership

on Measuring ICT for Development launched at UNCTAD XI. It should

continue to expand its work on the measurement of the information economy

and its related capacity-building activities in developing countries.

137. In its capacity as secretariat to the Commission on Science and
Technology

for Development, UNCTAD should pursue its role in the follow-up to and

implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information

Society.

(.)

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 

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