FYI
> CRIS and the World Summit on the Information Society Phase II/Prepcom 1:
>
> The CRIS campaign has closely followed the developments around WSIS
> phase II. CRIS has not yet adopted an 'official' position because the
> WSIS process itself has been slow in developing any kind of clear lines
> of work since the Summit in Geneva in December last year. Yet,
> discussions are underway amongst CRIS members.
>
> CRIS was launched around and in relation to the World Summit on the
> Information Society, with the aim to broaden the narrow technological
> discourse and remit of the organising agency, the ITU, and infuse the
> agenda with issues related to media governance and communication rights.
>
> The campaign stated its position on a number of occasions towards the
> official process before, during and after the World Forum on
> Communication Rights, highlighting that many issues central to a
> people-centred "Information Society" had simply been ignored and that
> the process of a multi-stakeholder approach had been, at best, flawed.
>
> Yet it has always been clear to CRIS that the WSIS was a golden
> opportunity for Civil Society to mobilise at global level and to start
> consolidating its discourse around these issues. CRIS did contribute to
> forging a Civil Society consensus that was reflected in the elaboration
> of a Civil Society Declaration. The CRIS campaign has openly and
> publicly supported the document as well as the initiative of Civil
> Society to work together.
>
> In this spirit, CRIS will remain committed to the second phase of the
> WSIS, prioritising its engagement with Civil Society over inter-action
> with the intergovernmental process. Our aim is to reinforce the
> international and inter-thematic networking that took place during the
> first phase of the Summit, and to continue to build on its role as a
> gatherer and distributor of information.
>
> As a follow up to the World Forum on Communication Rights
> (www.communicationrights.org) , CRIS will continue to focus on issues
> systematically ignored by the WSIS, while emphasizing the need for civil
> society to engage with the real poles of power in global governance of
> communications: the 'free trade' regime of WTO, FTAA, and other regional
> and bilateral trade agreements, as well as venues like WIPO and ICANN,
> where communication rights face growing threats, and UNESCO where the
> Cultural Diversity Convention demands our urgent support and
> reinforcement.
>
> It is urgent for Civil Society to address the impact of these
> institutions at national, regional and global level and to end the
> de-facto "ghettoisation" of Civil Society outside the sphere of real
> decision-making.
>
> Whilst the official WSIS process is in danger of stalling, we believe
> that Civil Society does have a pivotal role to play in the second phase
> of the Summit. WSIS gives all of us the opportunity to come together
> again to explore and discuss these issues and bring them to the WSIS, to
> the relevant international institutions and to our governments and
> national constituencies.
>
> The CRIS Campaign, 22 June 2004.
>
> Contact:
> Myriam Horngren
> CRIS Network and Campaign Coordinator
> c/o WACC
> 357 Kennington Lane
> London SE11 5QY
> United Kingdom
> Tel: 44 (0) 207 582 9139
> Fax: 44 (0) 207 735 0340
> web: www.crisinfo.org
> email: mh@wacc.org.uk
>
>