Re: [atlarge-discuss] Supporting Organization

[DannyYounger@cs.com]

Eric, you want me to name just one?  OK.

CECUA is a non-profit user association registered in Brussels (at Rue de 
Trèves 74 1040 Brussels Belgium) with a website at cecua.org

Info from their site:

CECUA is a Confederation of 12 European Computer User Associations covering 
12 countries in the European Union, the European Economic Area and European 
Free Trade Association representing well over half a million users at the 
association, enterprise and individual level.

CECUA was founded in 1982 and has since been actively promoting issues of 
importance to computer users in Europe. CECUA has worked closely with the 
European Commission, particularly with DGXIII and DG III. Through its effort 
CECUA has made major contribution toward the development of the Information 
Society with the user in focus

Currently CECUA Chairs the DG XIII ICT Partnership Working Group 2 "The 
Citizens' need for Trans-European Services" CECUA is also an active member of 
the DG XIII "Information Society Forum"

CECUA recognised the need for a partnership of major players in the 
information Society that addresses societal as well as technical issues, and 
formed a partnership of leading European organisations to stage the highly 
acclaimed Conference, "The Citizen and the Global Information Society", held 
in Brussels April 1998.

CECUA is the one and only totally independent European Umbrella Association 
of 12 national EU and EAA Computer User Organisations. CECUA has access to a 
large user and citizens base, including professionals and academicians. CECUA 
has good contacts to and co-operation with the Commission, the European 
Parliament and the Committee of the Regions to voice User/Citizens needs and 
demands on European and Global Information Society issues.

CECUA gives guidance and support to Computer Users through the 12 national 
organisations since more than 20 years and voices their needs and demands 
sucessfully at Ngo's, Governments and Industry.

CECUA is taking care of the needs of Users/Citizens of IT- ware by watching 
the marketing, keeping contact to the Industry, participating in global 
standardizing and introducing aid and assistance by developing guidelines 
like a „Model Contract" for purchasing IT - ware as a standard help for 
users/citizens and used in several countries in Europe and also on demand 
from other countries on other continents.

CECUA is the Spearhead for the Basic Rights for CITIZENS of the European and 
Global Information Society. In close co-operation with the Commission and the 
offices concerned an international well received Conference on the „Citizens 
in the Global Information Society" raised expectations, concerns and 
opportunities for Citizens of this Information Society. CECUA focusing on the 
results of the conference introduces a Draft „Bill of Rights" (BoR) for the 
Citizens of the Information Society and put it up for comments and discussion 
on the CECUA webportal: www.cecua.org.

The "Bill of Rights" for Citizens of the Information Society is a draft 
contract between the Citizens and the State outlining elementary rights for 
citizens which the state has to accept and enforce. The BoR also acts as a 
guideline for the industry and defines the relationship between 
users/citizens.

CECUA has received generous recognition for the BoR both from Industry 
Commission, Committee of the Regions, European Parliament and the public and 
also for opening up the CECUA webportal www.cecua.org for participation by 
anybody who wishes to make comments or offer suggestions. To enrich the user 
experience CECUA also regularily publishes NewsFlashes on hot user/citizens 
issues putting the BoR into practical perspective. In the mean time the BoR 
is used as a Standard Reference Plattform or a „Ruler" to evaluate Directives 
to what extent Citizen Rights have been taken into consideration.

· Partnerships with large number of publicly recognised organisations, e.g. 
CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies), EFJ (European 
Federation of Journalists), EIUF (European ISDN Users Forum), EPA (European 
Parents' Association), Euro Chambres, MIDEPH (Mouvement pour l'Information, 
les Droits et l'Expression de la Personne Humaine) and YES (Young 
Entrepreneurs of Europe).

· Distribution Channels Web Portal (www.cecua.org), powerful database with 
thousands of names and local member and partner organisations. Regular web 
publication of News-Flashes on Citizens issues.

· 20 years of experience representing users and user issues at Gos and NGOs.

· 20 years of experience working with the European Commission.

· Proven performance record in organising ad hoc working groups for the 
Commission on relevant subjects and issues, e.g. Open Systems and User 
Requirements.

· Proven performance record in organising international conferences, e.g. The 
Citizen and the Global Information Society in Brussels in 1998 and sponsored 
by the Commission.

· Contacts and co-operation with European Parliament and Committee of the 
Regions, all parties working on citizen/user issues, e.g. EP Internet 
Foundation, but in need of access to citizens base.

· Active participation and contribution to the work of the Information 
Society Forum through the CECUA representative.

· Participation in the European Platform for ICANN (EPOP).

Present activity includes the following:

· Collecting and evaluating relevant information on citizen/user issues 
globally.

· Liaison with European Parliament and Committee of the Regions on Citizen's 
issues.

· Advising the Commission on Citizen's issues and how to support the uptake 
of the Information Society by the Citizens and to bridge the digital divide. 
CECUA has already contacts to several developing countries.




---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: atlarge-discuss-unsubscribe@lists.fitug.de
For additional commands, e-mail: atlarge-discuss-help@lists.fitug.de