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[atlarge-discuss] Outreach (lack thereof) in WSIS communication practices
The cavalier attitude towards civil society is not in itself newsworthy since it's the usual tactic these days to prevent participation on grounds of administrative efficiency. Personally, I think that somewhere in our plans should be a mission to support the inclusion of NGOs and individuals in meaningful ways in all international bodies, not just ICANN.
I also think we (especially the Outreach WG) should bear in mind that organizations already exist at the international level whose interest in our efforts here will be proportional to the degree to which we are able to face real-life issues of democracy, transparency and open communication as well as the technical aspects of administering the Internet.
Few CRIS people would commit to a focus on TLD conventions and ICANN in-fighting ... which may well be one of the reasons a "blueprint" to exclude them is being pushed despite recommendations to the contrary from ICANN's own committees studying their modus operandi.
Regards,
Judyth
<< start of forwarded material >>
From: "Bruce Girard" <bgirard@comunica.org>
To: crisinfo@comunica.org
Subject: [CRIS Info] letter to WSIS re communication practices
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Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 14:26:49 +0200
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This letter regarding the WSIS communication practices and the upcoming informal meeting on content and themes was sent from CRIS to the WSIS yesterday September 2.
A message distributed by the Civil Society Division (CSD) of the WSIS Secretariat today (September 3) offers an explanation for why NGOs were not previously informed of the meeting. While the invitation was issued August 9, the programme, including such issues as how many would speak, was only decided September 2. According to the message: "In order not to raise expectations that would not be fulfilled, it was seen more appropriate to send out the invitation after the role and time dedicated to civil society was clearly established."
The CSD message details the proposed procedures for the first day of the meeting. For civil society this will be a maximum of 4 presentations, each one up to 10 minutes with up to 10 additional minutes for questions. The afternoon will be a discussion. The second and third day of the meeting are open only to government delegates.
bg
---------------
Pierre Gagné, Executive Director
WSIS Secretariat
c/o ITU
Place des Nations
1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
CC: Adama Samassekou, Chair, WSIS Preparatory Process
Alain Clerc, Director, Civil Society Division, WSIS Secretariat
Members of CRIS and the civil society plenary
2 September 2002
I am writing you on behalf of the steering committee of Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS). CRIS works to ensure that communication rights are central to the World Summit on the Information Society. Further information about CRIS can be obtained from www.crisinfo.org. I was also the co-chair of the civil society plenary formed by some 150 representatives of civil society organisations at the Geneva PrepCom in July.
We were surprised when one of our members consulted the WSIS website last week and discovered the invitation to the Informal Meeting on Content and Themes to be held in Geneva September 16-18. While the invitation is addressed to civil society organisations, to the best of our knowledge no civil society organisations, not even those accredited to PrepCom 1, were informed that they had been invited. Civil society organisations will
only be aware of this invitation if they happen to visit the WSIS website. (Ironically, NGOs are more likely to learn about the upcoming meeting from UNESCO, which mentioned it in the August 28 edition of WebWorld, an electronic newsletter delivered by email.)
One request we have made repeatedly in meetings with the secretariat is that the WSIS adopt appropriate communication practices that avoid an over-reliance on the WWW. We pointed out that it is not effective simply to put information on the WSIS website. Few people visit websites to see if a meeting has been scheduled, let alone to see if they have been invited to it. This is especially true for people in less-industrialised countries with
limited access to the Internet.
We sought, and received, assurances from WSIS Secretariat staff that your communication practices would address our concerns. However, if the case of the invitation to the meeting on content and themes is an example of current practices, they are most definitely not addressing our concerns. Merely posting an invitation to an important meeting on a website is not acceptable and does not inspire confidence in the WSIS as an open and transparent process that truly seeks broad participation from all sectors. You have lists with names, emails, fax numbers and postal addresses of the civil society organisations accredited to the PrepCom. Why were they not directly informed of the meeting? Were others directly informed of the meeting? If they were, what is the justification for the differential treatment?
We are convinced that if the WSIS is to be a success it must have open and transparent communication practices. We urge you to immediately review your communication practices and to implement a policy that will facilitate broad involvement in the WSIS. As a starting point, this policy must ensure that interested civil society organisations are treated with the same concern and respect as governments, international agencies, ITU sector members and private sector entities. Other elements of this policy could include increasing the publication frequency of the WSIS newsletter (as well as reviewing its editorial policy), instituting opt-in lists for people who would like to be informed of changes to your website, and supporting NGOs in the production and dissemination of materials relevant to the information society and the WSIS.
Among our membership we have organisations and individuals with a vast experience – spanning government, civil society and the private sector – in the design and implementation of communication approaches. If you want to design and implement appropriate communication practices, we will be willing to work with you.
Yours sincerely,
Bruce Girard
CRIS Steering Committee
_______________________________________________
Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
For more information see http://www.crisinfo.org/
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---And here's what the letter is about:
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "WSIS Geneva 2003" <wsis.csd@ties.itu.int>
To: "Info Geneva2003" <info@geneva2003.org>
Subject: WSIS - Informal meeting on content and themes - Geneva,
16 Sept 2002
Date sent: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 13:42:57 +0200
Version francaise plus bas
ENGLISH Version ---------------------
World Summit on the Information Society - Informal meeting on content
and themes - Geneva, 16 September 2002
The meeting has been convened by the President of Sub-Committee II of
the Preparatory Committee. The meeting is informal. It aims at
continuing the discussion on content and themes started at Prepcom I.
The principle of inviting civil society & NGO representatives is
spelled out in the invitation letter
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html). However, the
program of the day, the decisions regarding how many persons would
speak and other arrangements for civil society participation in the
meeting were decided September 2nd only. In order not to raise
expectations that would not be fulfilled, it was seen more appropriate
to send out the invitation after the role and time dedicated to civil
society was clearly established.
The ground rules for this meeting are the following:
Those who where provisionally accredited to Prepcom I may register for
the meeting. All attendees need to register
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/im_sep2002/reg_form_ngos_private.doc).
Completed Registration form should be faxed to the following number:
++41 22 730 58 81. No notification will be sent to registered
participants.
Thus far, registration of governmental delegates indicates that
attendees are primarily from Geneva missions. No funding is available
for this meeting.
--Provisionary Program
The program will include
- 3hrs-4hrs presentations by invited presenters
- 2hrs open discussion with attendees
Presentations will be given from different perspectives: civil
society; business; regional & international organizations. Presenters
will be invited by the President of Sub-Committee II to speak at the
meeting. A total number of 12 presentations is envisaged, 4 of which
could be from civil society.
Presenters are asked to take the Report from Committee II of Prepcom
I- Documents on Themes - as basis for their presentation.
http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html
They should provide comments on themes and ways they could be
elaborated in order to assist the Prepcom II in developing themes for
the Summit. Each presenter will be given 10 minutes to make their
comments followed by 10 minutes Questions & Answers from those
attending. Presenters are asked to prepare a written statement of
their comments.
Open discussion is planned in the afternoon session. Attendees should
register on the speaker list in the morning. Attendees will be able to
take the floor at the invitation of the Chair.
--Working languages
All 6 UN working languages.
Version FRANCAISE ---------------------
Sommet Mondial sur la Société de l'Information - Réunion informelle
sur le contenu et les thèmes - Genève, 16 septembre 2002
Le Président du Sous-Comité II du processus préparatoire est
l'initiateur de cette réunion informelle. Elle a pour objectif
d'approfondir les discussions entamées lors du PrepCom I qui s'est
tenu en juillet à Genève.
Le principe d'inviter des représentants de la société civile pour la
journée du 16 septembre figure dans la lettre d'invitation
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html). Toutefois, le
programme de cette journée ainsi que les modalités de participation de
la société civile, notamment les temps de prise de parole, ont été
fixées le 2 septembre seulement. Afin de ne pas créer des attentes qui
auraient pu être déçues, il paraissait opportun d'envoyer les
invitations seulement après que les modalités de participation de la
société civile aient été arrêtées.
Les règles de cette réunion sont les suivantes :
Les organisations qui ont bénéficié d'une accréditation provisoire
pour la PrepCom I peuvent s'inscrire à cette réunion informelle. Tous
les participants doivent s'inscrire
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/im_sep2002/reg_form_ngos_private.doc).
Le formulaire d'inscription doit être renvoyé par fax au ++41 22-730
58 81. Aucune confirmation ne sera renvoyée aux inscrits.
Au 3 septembre, la plupart des délégations gouvernementales inscrites
sont composées de représentants de missions diplomatiques basées à
Genève. Aucun financement n'est prévu pour cette réunion.
--Programme provisoire
Le programme inclus :
- 3-4 heures de présentations de personnes invitées
- 2 heures de débats avec les participants
La session sera composée de présentations provenant de différentes
perspectives : société civile, entreprises privées, organisations
régionales et internationales. Le Président du sous-comité II invitera
les orateurs à prendre la parole. Douze présentations sont envisagées,
dont quatre pourraient provenir de représentants de la société civile.
Les orateurs sont invités à utiliser le Rapport du Comité II de la
PrepCom I comme base de leur présentation.
http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/im_sep2002.html
Ils devront commenter les thèmes et faire des propositions quant à
leur élaboration, afin d'assister le PrepCom II à développer ces
thèmes. Chaque présentation sera limitée à 10 minutes, suivie de 10
minutes de questions et de commentaires provenant de la salle. Les
orateurs sont invités à fournir une version écrite de leur
intervention. La session de l'après-midi sera ouverte à la discussion,
le Président de séance donnera la parole aux participants de la salle.
Les personnes désirant prendre la parole devront s'inscrire sur une
liste le matin.
--Langues :
Les 6 langues de travail de l'ONU.
-----------------------------------
World Summit on the Information Society
Executive Secretariat - Civil Society Division
ITU - Place des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 20 - Swizerland
www.geneva2003.org
info@geneva2003.org
<< end of forwarded material >>
##########################################################
Judyth Mermelstein "cogito ergo lego ergo cogito..."
Montreal, QC <espresso@e-scape.net>
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