Civil Society doc 2 - Priority principles

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

Here is the second draft document. Please again send your comments ASAP 
(i.e. today). Meryem

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World Summit on the Information Society
PrepCom-2
Geneva, February 2003
25 February 2003  16:00
WSIS- Civil Society Working Group on Content and Themes -- Drafting 
Committee
“ Seven Musts”: Priority Principles Proposed by Civil Society

The following seven principles reflect the issue areas that the Civil 
Society working group on contents and themes, created by the civil 
society plenary, feels should be prioritized:

1. Sustainable Development
An equitable Information Society needs to be based on sustainable 
economic and social development and gender justice. It cannot be 
achieved solely through market forces.

2. Democratic Governance
ICTs should facilitate democratic governance and foster participation by 
citizens. Transparent and accountable government structures at local, 
national and international levels should be established.

3. Literacy, Education, and Research
Only an informed and educated citizenry with access to the means and 
outputs of pluralistic research can participate in and contribute to 
Knowledge Societies.  Access to tools and facilities that enable 
lifelong learning need to be created, extended and secured.

4. Human Rights
The existing human rights framework should be applied and integrated 
into the Information Society. ICTs should be used to promote awareness 
of, respect for and enforcement of universal human rights standards.

5. Global Knowledge Commons
Global knowledge commons and the public domain constitute resources that 
are cornerstones of a global public interest.  They should be protected, 
expanded and promoted.

6. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Recognizing cultural development as a living and evolving process, 
linguistic diversity, cultural identity and local content need to be not 
only preserved but also actively fostered.

7. “ Information Security ”
“Information security” concerns should not infringe in any way on 
people’s privacy and right to communicate freely, using information and 
communications technologies.

This document comes out of a broad process of consultation and is a work 
in progress, as defined in the Civil Society document “Contribution on 
Common Vision and Key Principles for the Declaration.”

Compiled by the Drafting Committee of the NGO Subcommittee on Content 
and Themes.