Hi Angela and everyone
1. ON THE CALL FOR CONTENT AND THEMES INTERVENTIONS
As far as I know, this space has not been an active one for
consensus-building on our COLLECTIVE comments on the Draft Declaration and
Action Plan. I am aware that some of us in this space have developed
comments but out of different parallel efforts:
- individual organizational ones - e.g., Glocom Japan
- country caucuses - (e.g., Korea?)
- other caucuses/families- e.g., Gender Equality, Human Rights, etc.
- international networks - e.g., APC
This was in line with our basic decision in PrepCom2 to develop content--not
necessarily via the ASIAN family--but through the involvement of various
Asian individuals in other families or group doing Content and Themes Work,
so we do not overlap functions unnecessarily.
Which is really a roundabout way of saying that as an Asian CSO Family, we
technicall DO NOT have a unified position on the WSIS Draft Declaration and
Action plan (though I imagine most of the submissions by other families and
caucuses have our informal support for their comments).
It is in this context that I would respond to the message of Sally. WE have
no common "draft" to revise/refine per se.
What we could do is use this space (and the limited time left) for those who
have submitted comments to summarize the main points of these so that Angela
could possibly summarize this in preparation for her Paris trip.
Then, she could link up with "friendly forces" in Paris (or even before
that), to start the discussion on commonalities of concerns, and logistics
(e.g.,speaking times).
I also agree that a content and themes coordinating group for Paris be set
up (virtually and in Paris), involving as many stakeholders as possible,
lest we want that the CS Bureau by default be designated to play this role.
(Which is a reality which could be managed but goes against the principle of
not treating the CSB as a content group if we remember.)
It is sad that Bill and/or Sally--who have been coordinating Content &
Themes work since PrepCom1 for CSOs--will not be there as well, as with Sean
O Siochru. Who will take the lead for this now, Angela?
2. OTHER RELATED SUGGESTIONS
At the minimum, it would be good for all Asians there to have a regular
caucus so that any discussion on the CSB or Content/Themes level, will have
a semblance of validation from our Asian reps there. (Jinbonet, Glocom, APC,
Isis--I know will be there--who else?)
Last suggestion, it would be nice if a rapporteur/s could be designated from
among you going to Paris to report out what is happening in the formal and
informal meetings that take place in the intersessionals, to this space.
Sorry for the length--these are just random thoughts/suggestions based on
good practice we had from PrepCom1 to Tokyo to PrepCom2.
Thanks
Al
----- Original Message -----
From: RunningToddler <amkt@apcwomen.org>
To: AP WSIS Caucus <communication@wsisasia.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2003 12:02 PM
Subject: [communication 711] Fw: [WSIS-CT] Urgent: caucus content for
intersessional
> Would or could we have something ready?
>
> Angela
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sally Burch - ALAI" <sburch@alainet.org>
> To: <ct@wsis-cs.org>
> Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2003 11:47 AM
> Subject: [WSIS-CT] Urgent: caucus content for intersessional
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> Renate Bloom called from Geneva today about the intersessional.
> It seems civil society will have 2 hours to speak on the first day of
> the meeting, and possibly one hour a day on the following days.
>
> The basis for the official negotiations will be the new refined
> document (just up on the ITU website), which incorporates all the
> governmental proposals (about 98 pages!). Observer's proposals
> will be included in a so-called "reference document", (which is even
> longer).
>
> These speaking slots will probably be the main space civil society
> will have for putting forward our positions and possibly the only
> opportunity to "negotiate" key issues. We have fought so hard to
> have spaces for intervention, so we need to make sure we are well
> prepared to put them to good use. To my understanding, this
> means not just repeating what is in the documents we have
> submitted but also being able to react to the new content.
>
> As there will be little time to prepare proposals in Paris, and we
> need substantive input for the first day, we need to do further work
> on content previously. A first input will be the priorities document
> that the drafting group is now working on.
>
> In addition, I suggest each caucus should do the following:
>
> - revise the documents you have submitted in relation to the new
> governmental document; identify priority issues and draw up a
> short statement (a short stament and also a longer statement
> might be a good idea). This should be ready before the Paris
> meeting. (This is also an opportunity for those caucuses that
> weren't able to prepare a statement in time for the May deadline).
> Caucuses might also want to propose one of their member
> organizations to prepare an intervention on a key issue, in case
> time allows.
>
> - make sure if you will have someone from your caucus in Paris,
> and if not, seek alliances with those who are going.
>
> Over the coming two weeks we can discuss how to organize in
> Paris and in particular how to take best advantage of the speaking
> slots (a series of short interventions might not be the best idea; we
> could maybe combine, etc.)
>
> We also need to set up a content and themes coordinating group
> for Paris, since neither Bill not I are able to go. I will try to set
> aside some time to collaborate at a distance, though, and maybe
> others could also do so.
>
> Please let us know what your caucus will be doing and if you have
> proposals for how we can operate in Paris.
>
> Sally
>
> ---------------------------------
> Sally Burch - Directora Ejecutiva
> Agencia Latinoamericana de InformaciÏ - ALAI
> Casilla 17-12-877, Quito, Ecuador
> sburch@alainet.org http://alainet.org
> Tel: (593 2) 250 5074 222 1570 Fax: (593 2) 250 5073
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> Civil Society Plenary: http://www.wsis-cs.org/
> Content & Themes Documents:
> http://bscw.fit.fraunhofer.de/pub/bscw.cgi/0/42953798
>
>
>
>