[hr-wsis] Fwd: [wsis-prep1] UNESCO online discussion for PrepCom 2

[Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org>]

Hi all,

Here is a short report by Peter Benjamin (APC) on the last UNESCO 
meeting on on-line participation to the WSIS.
Attendance to this meeting was by invitation only, and was supposed to 
include only accredited NGOs (from the list of participants, this was 
not exactly the case).
Meryem
Reminder: anyone can subscribe to the "CS plenary list" where this 
report was posted:
https://ssl.cpsr.org/mailman/listinfo/wsis-prep1


Début du message réexpédié :

> De : peter@sn.apc.org
> Date : Lun 02 déc 2002  05:46:33 PM Europe/Paris
> À : wsis-prep1@lists.cpsr.org
> Objet : [wsis-prep1] UNESCO online discussion for PrepCom 2
>
> Dear all,
>
> This is the report on the UNESCO meeting for online WSIS discussion, 
> 27-28
> November.  UNESCO will be hosting an online discussion to plan input to
> the WSIS process.
>
> The online discussion will now run from 9 December – 15 January 
> 2003.
> There will be 8 themes:
> 0: General discussion – ethics & principles
> 1: Access – affordability, public institutions etc
> 2: Development & empowerment
> 3: Content issues – language, cultural diversity, intellectual 
> property
> 4: Education, training and research
> 5: Rights
> 6: Future developments of Information Technologies
> 7: Civil society in WSIS & beyond
>
> Initially the idea was to only include the recognised NGOs in this
> consultation, though after discussion it was agreed to open this up and
> anyone could self-register online.  (This facility will be set up this
> week).  The discussion will be run online (still being set up), though 
> the
> system has facility for email support.
>
> The outputs will be collated into a short (e.g. 5 page document) by 20
> January to submit to the WSIS secretariat for consideration by PrepCom 
> 2.
> Alan Clerc from the WSIS secretariat was at the meeting.  While the main
> document for PrepCom 2 will be drafted in mid December, he undertook 
> that
> the result of this online consultation will be tabled and incorporated 
> for
> PrepCom 2.
>
> See below for the statement and the attendance list.
>
> Best wishes,
> Peter Benjamin
>
> REPORT IN MORE DETAIL
>
> Wednesday, Nov 27. Morning (I was late with air traffic problems).
> Honorific speeches, introducing everyone, aim of meeting to work out
> process of UNESCO online process.
> Adama Samessekou (president of WSIS) welcomed this process
>
> Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning were discussion leading to the
> list of themes for the online discussion.
>
> Theme 0: General discussion
> Ethics, principles and values of the information society, generally 
> agreed
> values, human rights application to the IS, Implementing Article 19.
> Moderator: Rosa Delgado?, Jean-Paul Marthoz?, Divina Frau-Meigs
>
> Theme 1: Access
> Infrastructure, financing and investment, access to data, equal access 
> to
> tools and data, information and internet, affordability, etc.  public
> services and institutions, public documentation centres.
> Moderator: Susanne Seidlin (IFLA Librarians), Evelyne Wareham 
> (Archivists)
>
> Theme 2: Development & empowerment
> Human resources, social & economic impact, overcoming disparities,
> national policies, disadvantaged communities and their promotion,
> sustainable development and info society, gender, youth, people with
> disabilities, indigenous groups, public utilities for essential 
> services,
> research transfer.
> Moderator: Nagwa El Shinwai (Arab IT Union), (Susanna George)
>
> Theme 3: Content issues
> Production, linguistic issues, local contents, cultural diversity,
> indigenous knowledge, intellectual property, presentation and structure 
> of
> contents, open source, disinformation, broadcasting and traditional 
> ICTs,
> public domain information & services, content and applications
> Moderator: Sally Burch ?(ALAI), Danielle Mincio (IFLA Librarians)
>
> Theme 4: Education, training and research
> Education in and for knowledge societies, capacity building, distance
> learning, life-long learning, education and training in the IS, the new
> learning environment, information and media literacy, research.
> Moderator: Claudine Langlois (Int’l Assoc of University), 
> Int’l council
> distance Educ
>
> Theme 5: Rights
> Rules of the game for Internet, Rights and responsibilities, right to
> communicate, Freedom of expression in the Internet, freedom of access to
> information, enhancing democratic participation, political
> Moderator: Aidan White (IFJ, Int’l Fed of Journalists?), Mogens 
> Schmidt
>
> Theme 6: Future developments of Information Technologies
> Technical changes and terminology, broadbanding issues and technical
> convergences, linking traditional media and the new ICTs, IPv6, etc.
> Moderator: Jonathan Robin  (Internet)
>
> Theme 7: Civil society in WSIS & beyond
> Balance of representation in the process, general preparation in the
> process, follow-up mechanisms, outreach and information dissemination,
> stimulating public debate.
> Moderator: Peter Benjamin, Marie Thorndahl
>
>
> Moderator to structure discussion (using sub-themes or not).
> Focal point: for running discussion Jean-Gabriel Mastrangelo.
> Monique Fouilhoux will preside – if there are any complaints, 
> controversy.
>
> PROCESS
>
> Aim: To develop concrete proposals for the WSIS plan of action and
> declaration.
>
> Have process as simple as possible.
> Moderator to encourage, stimulate and summarise debate.
>
> 4 steps to involve participants:
> 1. Invitation to NGOs with relationship with UNESCO & WSIS process
> 2. Our organisations contacts others and our networks
> 3. Moderators can invite contributions from others
> 4. Website page allow access for anyone to join in.
>
> Short text on acceptable participation. (short, spam, flaming, advert,
> porn etc)
>
> Alain Clerc:
> 7 Dec deadline for main input to WSIS document.
> 15 Jan - Then we will include an addendum that will be translated and
> produced.
> 15 Jan: Each rapporteur submits (e.g. 3-4 pages).  Concrete proposals.
> Longer versions also to be available on the site.
> Jonathan Robin, Ronald Koven & Divina  Frau-Meigs to put together.
>
> Language – translate English-French. (Jonathen Robin – help 
> with short
> French translations).
>
> A group of African and Asian NGOs worked on proposals to support 
> broadcast
> on WSIS and set up national ‘focal points’, which I (Peter 
> B) presented on
> Thursday.  There was some support, though others expressed skepticism 
> for
> supporting ‘advocates’ for specific positions.  There was 
> general support
> for widening participation, but some shared concern not to be 
> propaganda.
> UNESCO interested in working towards official delegation.  All agree use
> all media to raise awareness and issues, especially in countries with
> little ICT access.
>
>
> FINAL RESOLUTION
> Resolution
>
> The representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil 
> societyat
> their meeting for organizing an online discussion in preparation of the
> World Summit in the Information Society (WSIS), at UNESCO Headquarters,
> Paris, France, 27-28 November 2002,
>
> Considering Resolution 56/183 of 21 December 2001 of the 56th session of
> the General Assembly of the United Nations and Draft Resolution
> A/C.2/57/L.42 of the Second Committee of the 57th session of the General
> Assembly of the United Nations encouraging non- governmental 
> organizations
> and civil society to contribute further to and actively participate in 
> the
> intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit;
> Recalling the principles and actions for their participation in the 
> Summit
> preparation process adopted by non-governmental organizations and civil
> society at their meeting in Paris, France on 23 April 2002;
> Decide to
> Establish an online discussion forum aimed at formulating proposals for
> the Draft Action Plan of the Summit to be discussed at the second 
> meeting
> of the Summit Preparatory Committee (PrepCom II, Geneva, Switzerland, 
> 17-
> 28 February 2003);
> Include the following themes on the agenda of the online discussion 
> forum:
> General Discussion, Access, Development and Empowerment, Content Issues,
> Education, Training and Research, Rights, Future Developments of
> Information Technologies, Civil Society in WSIS and Beyond;
> Hold the discussion forum from 9 December 2002 to 15 January 2003;
> Widely grow awareness of the online discussion forum within their
> constituencies;
> Submit a document containing elements for the Draft Plan of Action
> resulting from the online discussion forum to the Summit Executive
> Secretariat;
> Accept UNESCO's offer to host the online discussion forum on its web
> server;
> Invite individual members of non-governmental organizations and civil
> society to participate in the online discussion forum;
> Request all Member States of the United Nations system to ensure 
> effective
> participation of non-governmental organizations and civil society in the
> intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit.
> Request the Bureau of the Preparatory committee to ensure the 
> development
> of wider plans for building understanding and involvement in the process
> of WSIS, by: supporting the production of local input to broadcast and
> print media particularly in the countries of the South; encouraging
> national debate; and receiving input from these countries to be fed
> electronically into the WSIS process.
> Request the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee to establish a mechanism
> so that non-governmental organizations and civil society can contribute
> further to and actively participate in the intergovernmental process of
> the Summit and in the Summit itself; and that they can participate on
> equal footing in the operational follow-up of the Summit;
> Request the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee to admit representatives
> of non-governmental organizations and civil society to its sessions;
> Request the President of the Preparatory Committee to consider the
> participation of a representatives of non-governmental organizations and
> civil society in the participation in the work of the Expert Group for
> preparing a contribution for the draft Declaration of Principles and the
> Plan of Action to be held in Glion/Montreux, Switzerland, from 13 to 16
> December 2002;
> Acknowledge the ongoing effort of the Director-General of UNESCO to
> involve non-governmental organizations and civil society in the Summit
> preparatory process requesting him to pursue these efforts.
>
>
>
> ATTENDANCE
>
> APC, Peter Benjamin, peter@sn.apc.org
> Association I3 C, Olivier Blondeau, Representative, oblondeau@wanadoo.fr
> Education International, Monique Fouilhoux, Monique.fouilhoux@ei-ie.org
> European Chapter ISOC, Jonathan Robin, jonathanrobin@messagerie.net
> International Association of Universities, Eva Egron-Polak, 
> iau@unesco.org
> International Council for Science, Carthage Smith, carthage@icsu.org
> International Council on Archives, Evelyn Wareham, wareham@ica.org
> Federation for Information Processing: Plamen Nedkov, nedkov@ifip.or.at
> IICD, Katherine Morrow, Representative, Kmorrow@iicd.org
> International Federation of Library Associations, Susanne Seidelin,
> sus@db.dk
> Danielle Mincio, Danielle.Mincio@bcu.unil.ch
> Daisy McAdam, Daisy.McAdam@ses.unige.ch
> International Network for Cultural Diversity, Yvon Thiec,
> eurocinema@eurocinema.be
> ISIS International, Susanna George, susanna@isiswomen.org
> Media Institute of Southern Africa, Luckson Chipare, 
> director@misa.org.na
> Radio and Television Organizations of Africa, Andrew Onalenna Sesinyi,
> urtnadkr@sentoo.sn
> World Association of Newspapers, Mogens Schmidt, mschmidt@wan.asso.fr
> World Association of teachers, Herman Brinkoff
>
>> From WSIS secretariate:
> Adama Samassekou, President, WSIS Preparatory Committee
> adama.samassekou@ties.itu.int
> Alain Clerc, Director, Civil Society Division
> Alain.clerc@ties.itu.int
>
>> From UNESCO:
> Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Director-General, Communication and
> Information Sector
> Aw.khan@unesco.org
> Philippe QuÈau, Director, Information Society Division
> P.queau@unesco.org
> Neda Ferrier, Chief, Section for Non-Governmental Organizations
> n.ferrier@unesco.org
> Axel Plathe, Programme specialist, Information Society Division
> a.plathe@unesco.org
> Jean-Gabriel Mastrangelo, Associate expert, Information Society Division
> Jg.mastrangelo@unesco.org
>
>
>
>
>
> _____________________________
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