Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 10:48:59 +0900 From: "PatchA" <patcha@patcha.jinbo.net> Subject: [communication 1017] URGENT: CS Essential Benchmarks V2 To: <communication@wsisasia.org> Message-Id: <JOEFJEKMEJDFNEFEKAKNGEJEDIAA.patcha@patcha.jinbo.net> X-Mail-Count: 01017Dear all, Below is nearly final draft of CS essential benchmarks (former we called it "non-negotiable" but in the CS plenary we decided to replace it with "essential bechmarks" If you have any comments, please contact Karen (karenb@apcwomen.org) directly. Thanks, PatchA -----Original Message----- From: ct-admin@wsis-cs.org [mailto:ct-admin@wsis-cs.org]On Behalf Of karen banks Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 9:28 AM To: ct@wsis-cs.org Subject: [WSIS-CT] URGENT: CS Essential Benchmarks V2 Dear all Our non-negotiables document is now in version two and renamed as Civil Society Essential Benchmarks. I have tried to incorporate all of the comments and feedback i've received up until tonight. If you have submitted text and do not see it in the revision, it is due to either feeling that the essence of a comment is included in an existing section, or is duplicated, or - is incorporated in re-structuring of the document. I would like to point out a couple of such examples. (1) I have restructured the document so that it now includes a new section titled 'Social Justice', which follows Human rights and Sustainable development. ** nilo - i would like to include a specific paragraph on indigenous peoples, rather than include a phrase in the human rights paragraph - can you send me something urgently ** (2) after discussion with a few people, we felt it important to include a paragraph on access and infrastructure, which has been included in various Civil society priority documents in the past. (3) we would like to re-title the section on ' open access to scientific information' to include access to information in the public domain.. but i am too tired to write it ;).. could someone take a look and make a suggestion.. i think they are the major changes, apart from line edits etc I have a tracked version of the document for those who would like to see changes from the first version more clearly, and will ask ralf to put that online. Below, is the text version ====== ** I will work on a 3rd version in the early hours of tomorrow. If you have URGENT modifications to the EXISTING text - NOT new whole sections - please send them to me by 0900 GMT tomorrow morning. That will have to be the final deadline ** *** please send comments to karenb@apcwomen.org - but only quote the text you are proposing essential changes to *** thanks karen and drafting crew @ the CICG @ Very late! ===== Civil Society Essential Benchmarks for WSIS 1. Introduction The approach to the "Information Society" on which the WSIS has been based reflects, to a large extent, a narrow understanding in which ICTs means telecommunications and the Internet. This approach has marginalised key issues relating to the development potential inherent in the combination of knowledge and technology and thus conflicts with the broader development mandate given in UNGA Resolution 56/183. Civil society is committed to a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented approach based on respect for human rights principles and development priorities. We believe these principles and priorities should be embedded throughout the WSIS Declaration of Principles and Action Plan. This paper sets out the benchmarks against which civil society will assess the outcomes of the WSIS process and the commitment of all stakeholders to achieving its mandate. 2. Human rights The WSIS Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action, should take as their foundations the international human rights framework. This implies the full integration, concrete application and enforcement of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including labour rights, the right to development, as well as the principle of non-discrimination. The universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness and interdependence of all human rights should be clearly recognized, together with their centrality to democracy and the rule of law. All Principles of the Declaration and all activities in the Action Plan, should be in full compliance with international human rights standards, which should prevail over national legislative frameworks. The "information society" must not result in any discrimination or deprivation of human rights resulting from the acts or omissions of governments or of non-state actors under their jurisdictions. Any restriction on the use of ICTs must pursue a legitimate aim under international law, be prescribed by law, be strictly proportionate to such an aim, and be necessary in a democratic society. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is of fundamental and specific importance to the information society, requiring that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. 3. Sustainable development An equitable Information Society must be shaped by the needs of people and communities and based on sustainable economic, social development and democratic principles, including the Millennium Development Goals. Only development that embraces the principles of social justice and gender equality can be said to centrally address fundamental social, cultural and economic divides. Market-based development solutions often fail to address more deep-rooted and persistent inequalities in and between countries of the North and South. Democratic and sustainable development of in the information society can therefore not be left solely to market forces and the propagation of technology. In order to balance commercial objectives with legitimate social interests, recognition should be given to the need for responsibility of the public sector, appropriate regulation and development of public services, and the principle of equitable and affordable access to services and affordable cost should be reaffirmed. People and communities must be empowered to develop their own solutions within the information society, in particular to fight poverty and to participate in development through fully democratic processes that allow community access to and participation in decision making. 4. Social Justice 4.1 Gender An equitable and inclusive Information Society must be based on gender justice and be particularly guided by the interpretation of principles of gender equality, non-discrimination and women's empowerment as contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the CEDAW Convention. The Action Plan must demonstrate a strong commitment to an intersectional approach to redressing discrimination resulting from unequal power relations at all levels of society. To empower girls and women throughout their life cycle, as shapers and leaders of society, gender responsive educational programs and appropriate learning environments need to be promoted. Gender analysis and the development of both quantitative and qualitative indicators in measuring gender equality through an extensive and integrated national system of monitoring and evaluation are "musts". 4.2 Disability Specific needs and requirements of all stakeholders, including those with disabilities, must be considered in ICT development. Accessibility and inclusiveness of ICTs is best done at an early stage of design, development and production, so that the Information Society is to become the society for all, at minimum cost. 4.3 Labour rights Essential human rights, such as privacy, freedom of expression, and the right of trade unions to communicate with employees, should be respected in the workplace. ICTs are progressively changing our way of working and the creation of a secure, safe and healthy working environment , appropriate to the utilisation of ICTs, respecting core labour standards, is fundamental. ICTs should be used to promote awareness of, respect for and enforcement of universal human rights standards and core labor standards. 4.4 Indigenous Peoples *** Need a paragraph **** 5. Access and Infrastructure Global universal access to communication and information should be a target of the WSIS action plan and the expansion of the global information infrastructure should be based on principles of equality and partnership and guided by rules of fair competition and regulation at both national and international levels. The integration of access, infrastructure and training of the citizenry and the generation of local content, in a framework of social networks and clear public or private policies, is a key basis for the development of egalitarian and inclusive information societies. The evolution of policy should be coordinated internationally but enable a diversity of appropriate solutions based on national and regional input and international sharing of information and resources. This should be people-centered and process-orientated, rather than technologically determined and expert dominated. 6. Governance and enabling environment 6.1 Democratic governance Good governance in a democratic society implies openness, transparency, accountability, and compliance with the rule of law. Respect for these principles is needed to enforce the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs. Public access to information produced or maintained by governments should be enforced, ensuring that the information is timely, complete and accessible in a format and language the public can understand. This also applies to access to information produced or maintained by corporations where this relates to activities affecting the public interest. 6.2 Media While allowing for government information services to communicate their message, state-controlled media at the national level should be transformed into editorially independent public service media organisations and/or privatised. Efforts which encourage pluralism and diversity of media ownership must be encouraged to avoid excessive media concentration 6.3 Community media Community media, that is media which are independent, community-driven and civil-society based, have a specific and crucial role to play in enabling access and participation for all to the information society, especially the poorest and most marginalised communities. Community media should be supported and promoted. Governments should assure that legal frameworks for community media are non-discriminatory and provide for equitable allocation of frequencies through transparent and accountable mechanisms. 6.4 Internet governance The global governance of ICT must be based on the values of open participation, inclusiveness, transparency, and democratic accountability. It should establish and support universal participation in addressing new international policy and technical issues raised by the Internet and ICT. No single body and no single stakeholder group is able to manage all of the issues alone. Many stakeholders, cooperating in strict accordance with widely supported rules and procedures, must define the global agenda. The non-government sector has played a historically critical role in Internet Governance, and this must be recognized. The strength of the Internet as an open non-Government platform should be reinforced, with an explicit and stronger role for Civil Society. The role of Governments should be no greater than that of any other stakeholder group. 7. Public Domain of Global Knowledge Global knowledge commons 7.1 Limited intellectual monopolies Human knowledge is the heritage of all humankind and the reservoir from which new knowledge is created. Human knowledgemust take into account the knowledge of all peoples and communities, including those who are remote and excluded. A rich public domain is essential to inclusive information societies. Limited intellectual monopolies, such as patents, copyrights and trademarks, should exist only with the purpose to benefit society, most notably to encourage creativity and innovation. The benchmark should be how well they fulfil this purpose against which they should be reviewed regularly and adjusted where necessary. 7.2 Free software Software is the cultural technique of the digital age and access to it determines who may participate in the digital environment. Free software is an essential building block for an equal and inclusive information society including the freedoms of use for any purpose, studying, modification and redistribution. No software model should be forbidden or negatively regulated, but free software should be promoted for its unique social, educational, scientific, political and economic benefits and opportunities. 7.3 Open access to scientific information Would like something on access to information in the public domain- relevant to all information that has been produced with full or partical support of the public sector of philanthropic organizations (in addition to scientific information) Free scientific information is a requirement for sustainable development. Science is the source of the technological development that empowers the Information Society, including the World Wide Web. In the best tradition of science, scientific authors donate their work to humankind and therefore, it must be equally available to all, on the Web, in online Open Access journals and online Open Archives. 8. Education and culture 8.1 Literacy, Education and Research Literacy and free universal access to education is a key principle [and need new efforts to be really for all]. Knowledge societies require an informed and educated citizenry. Capacity building needs to include skills to use ICTs, media and information literacy, and the skills needed for active citizenship including the ability to find, appraise, use and create information and technology. Approaches that are local, horizontal, gender-responsive and socially-driven and mediated should be prioritised. A combination of traditional and new media as well as open access to knowledge and information should be encouraged. 8.2 Cultural and linguistic diversity Communications media and information technologies have a particularly important role to play in sustaining and developing the world's cultures and languages. The implementation of this principle requires support for a plurality of means of information and communication and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. 9. Environment Increasing ecological efficiency over the long term is needed to reconcile the Information Society with sustainable development. Governments and the private sector should act to control and reduce the quantity of e-waste through more environmentally benign reuse, recycling and disposal, and programmes and projects for the environmentally sustainable production of hardware and energy. Electricity consumption and unnecessary standby losses should also be reduced. 10. Security and privacy 10.1 Integrity and security Definitions of criminal and terrorist purposes in existing and emerging policies and legislation are ambiguous and prevent the use of information resources for legitimate purposes. The legitimate need for infrastructure integrity must avoid shift to the highly politicized agenda characterized by language referring to the integrity of the military field and the use of information resources for criminal and terrorist purposes. 10.2 Right to privacy The right to privacy should be affirmed in the context of the information society. The right to privacy is a human right which It must be defended in public spaces, online, offline, at home and in the workplace. Every person must have the right to decide freely whether and in what manner he or she wants to receive information and communicate with others. The possibility of communicating anonymously must be ensured for everyone. The collection, retention, use and disclosure of personal data, no matter by whom, should remain under the control of the individual concerned. The power of the private sector and governments over personal data, including monitoring and surveillance, increases the risk of abuse, and must be kept to a minimum under clearly specified, legal conditions. _______________________________________________ Ct mailing list Ct@wsis-cs.org http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ct Civil Society Plenary: http://www.wsis-cs.org/ Content & Themes Documents: http://bscw.fit.fraunhofer.de/pub/bscw.cgi/0/429537981017_2.txt (attatchment)(tag is disabled)