Hello everyone,
I'm sharing the statement of the African caucus to the issues that have
recently surfaced since John Gagain's attempt to question the validity of
the CS plenary. The response from the African caucus does give you some
background and context to all flurry of e-mails that you've seen.
I'd really like your support for us to come up with a similar joint response
if possible. So far, I've heard from Al, Sacha, Chat and Susanna. What about
others?
Warm regards,
Angela
----- Original Message -----
From: "FEMNET" <munyua@femnet.or.ke>
To: <bureau@geneva2003.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 11:22 PM
Subject: Africa Caucus response to current debate Re; Speaking slots CS and
CT
>
> The WSIS Africa Civil Society Caucus finds the suggestions for
regimentation
> in civil society input to plenary, through the CSB, quite disturbing,
> especially given the
> attention that went in to organizing the time slots during the recent
> Paris meeting. Also disturbing is the undertone of the suggestions by
> the CSB co-chair, which we interpret as an intent to restrict freedom
> of expression and an introduction of censorship that is at odds with
> core CS values. We strongly oppose the attempt to use disagreements
> in a few caucuses as a pretext for questioning the legitimacy of the
> CS plenary as a whole, and attempting to usurp the responsibility for
> content-related issues and concentrating this within the CSB.
>
> We agree that the CS plenary should clarify the guidelines for
> assigning speaker slots. There are only so many slots compared to
> many more issues to speak to. However, the Paris meeting also showed the
> ability and willingness of speakers from one caucus/family to raise
> issues of other caucuses. Furthermore, we found the practice of
> monitoring plenary debate and evaluating which of civil society's
> advocacy platform components are at risk each day is an important one
> - as well as a good practice in terms of organising our input and
> deciding on speakers.
>
> Finally, the Chair of the Intersessional meeting has been very
> complimentary in regards to the CS input in Paris, noting the
> attention to time keeping and quality of content.
>
> The CSB might best assist in resolving the issue of speaker slots by
> negotiating more time for CS speakers.
>
> In light of the above, the Africa Caucus within the CS of WSIS would
> like to express its support for 5 points outlined by Sean in his
> proposed submission to the CSB. And the recommendations made by the Lac
> Caucuses on the needs to translate important decision making pieces into
> English, French and Spanish.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Alice Munyua
> Programme Officer, Communication
> African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
> RñÔeau de Dñ×eloppement et de Communications des Femmes Africaines
> P O Box 54562, Nairobi, Kenya.
> Tel: +254 20 3741301/20
> Fax: +254 20 3742927
> E-mail: munyua@femnet.or.ke
> admin@femnet.or.ke
> Website: http://www.femnet.or.ke
>
> FEMNET aims to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGO's
> focussing on women's development equality and other human rights, through
> communications, networking, training and advocacy.
>
> FEMNET vise à renforcer le rÍe et la contribution des ONG des femmes
> Africaines en mettant l'accent sur le dñ×eloppemnt, l'ñÈalité et d'autres
> droits humains de femmes par le moyen des communications, travail de
rñÔeau,
> formation et plaidoyer.
>
>
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