[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[atlarge-discuss] [CRIS Info] Report from UNESCO re online WSIS discussion
<< start of forwarded material >>
To: Crisinfo@comunica.org
Cc: sean@nexus.ie
From: peter@sn.apc.org
List-Help: <mailto:Crisinfo-request@comunica.org?subject=help>
List-Post: <mailto:Crisinfo@comunica.org>
List-Subscribe: <http://comunica.org/mailman/listinfo/crisinfo_comunica.org>,
<mailto:Crisinfo-request@comunica.org?subject=subscribe>
List-Id: Communication Rights in the Information Society <crisinfo_comunica.org.comunica.org>
List-Archive: <http://comunica.org/pipermail/crisinfo_comunica.org/>
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 16:13:58 GMT
CRIS Info is a public list for information and questions about the campaign for Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS) http://crisinfo.org
CRIS also has a Latin American regional list at: http://comunica.org/mailman/listinfo/crisal_comunica.org
<
________________________________________
Dear CRIS,
This is the report on the UNESCO meeting for online WSIS discussion, 27-28
November.
The online discussion will run from 9 December – 15 January, and will
produce an input to the WSIS process from UNESCO’s consultation with civil
society.
The meeting was held at the UNESCO offices in Paris, and there were around
30 people there (18 men, 13 women, see attendance list at end). Many were
from ‘official bodies’ (library & archivists associations, newspaper
associations etc), and many were closely involved with WSIS (had been to
PrepCom 1). The chairperson was Monique Fouilhoux of Education
International. The meeting was because UNESCO had decided to have an
online discussion to submit to the WSIS secretariat, and wanted assistance
in putting this together.
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
Interestingly, there was some resistance when I proposed including ‘right
to communicate’ under theme 5 especially from Ronald Koven (World Press
Freedom Committee), though it was supported by others there and passed.
Also, 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 an email.
Sally Burch was suggested to facilitate theme 3 on content (in her
absence). I will be facilitating theme 7 (civil society involvement in
WSIS and beyond).
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.
I would suggest that CRIS people get involved in this.
See below for the statement and the attendance list.
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 QuČau, 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
_______________________________________________
Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS)
For more information see http://www.crisinfo.org/
act@crisinfo.org
Crisinfo mailing list
Send contributions to Crisinfo@comunica.org
CRIS Info archives are at:
http://comunica.org/mailman/listinfo/crisinfo_comunica.org
This list is provided courtesy of Comunica - http://comunica.org
<< end of forwarded material >>
##########################################################
Judyth Mermelstein "cogito ergo lego ergo cogito..."
Montreal, QC <espresso@e-scape.net>
##########################################################
"A word to the wise is sufficient. For others, use more."
##########################################################
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: atlarge-discuss-unsubscribe@lists.fitug.de
For additional commands, e-mail: atlarge-discuss-help@lists.fitug.de