----- Original Message -----
From: WSIS Executive Secretariat <wsis-flash.owner@ties.itu.int>
To: WSIS eFlash Subscribers <wsis-eflash-h-en@ties.itu.int>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 9:08 PM
Subject: [FMASpam 3.629] WSIS E-Flash No 18, 5 October 2004
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*** WSIS E-FLASH N°18, 5 October 2004***
--- WSIS Stocktaking ---
As part of the preparations for the Tunis phase of WSIS, the Executive
Secretariat is working with governments and the other stakeholders in the
WSIS-process in undertaking a stocktaking exercise of WSIS-related
activities, especially regarding implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action,
adopted in Geneva on 12 December 2003. The Secretary-General of ITU will
send out a questionnaire to all stakeholders inviting them to inform the
WSIS Executive Secretariat about their implementation activities and
projects, for instance by filling out an online questionnaire. The
information collated from the WSIS Stocktaking questionnaire
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/stocktaking/index.html) will be published on the
official WSIS website. Deadline for the first round of feedback is: 15
December 2004.
--- Open-ended Consultations on Internet Governance ---
As mandated by WSIS Geneva, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Swiss
diplomat Markus Kummer as the head of a secretariat to assist him in setting
up a Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG). Open-ended consultations
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/wgig/index.html) were held in Geneva
20-21 September 2004 aimed at developing a common understanding of the
structure and functioning of the Working Group as well as discussions on the
focus on its scope and working methods and the profile and characteristics
of its members. Following the discussions, Mr. Nitin Desai, UN
Secretary-General's Special Adviser to WSIS, will submit his report to Mr.
Kofi Annan. WGIG will finalize its recommendations by July 2005. WGIG
recommandations will provide valuable inputs to the discussion of WSIS
PrepCom.
--- ITU Tutorial on Telecommunications Technologies ---
ITU organized a Tutorial on Telecommunications Technologies
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1287|1288) on 16
September 2004 at the Geneva International Conference Centre to provide a
technical background on telecommunication technologies and the Internet to
representatives of governments in Geneva participating in the consultations
on Internet Governance. The Tutorial is expected to be repeated in February
2005, back-to-back with PrepCom-2.
--- WSIS-2005 Fundraising Campaign ---
The WSIS-2005 Fundraising Campaign received a boost as several stakeholders
stepped forward to announce new financial contributions to support the core
preparatory activities of the Tunis phase. The campaign has now reached 28
per cent of its goal of raising at least CHF 5 million in financial
contributions to a special fund established by ITU. New contributions were
announced by the Sultanate of Oman (CHF 100 000), the Syrian Arab Republic
(CHF12 500), Senegal (CHF 20 000) and the Universal Postal Union (CHF 10
000). For more information see:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/news/contributions20sep2004.html
--- WSIS Book for sale ---
The WSIS Souvenir Book 'Helping the World Communicate'
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/news/22sep2004-wsis-book.html) is now
available for sale. The 152-page book with 138 colour photographs traces the
history of the World Summit on the Information Society and conveys the
atmosphere at the first phase of the Summit itself. The book, prefaced with
a message from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and a foreword by Mr. Yoshio
Utsumi, ITU Secretary-General, contains statements from the Opening Ceremony
as well as the WSIS output documents: The Declaration of Principles and Plan
of Action. A picture gallery includes heads of State and Government who
attended the Summit along with other high-level dignitaries and
participants. The book is priced at CHF 35 with a promotional price of CHF
25 available until 31 December 2004.
--- ITU-WSIS Thematic Meeting on Countering Spam ---
The ITU WSIS Thematic Meeting on Countering Spam
(http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/spam/) took place from 7 to 9 July 2004 in
Geneva, Switzerland. Participants, representing more than 60 economies, as
well as civil society and private sector, recognized that spam has become a
major concern, in particular considering recent developments such as
"phishing"
(http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/spam/presentations/BRUNSWICK_Session%202.pdf)
and other fraudulent activities, which are threatening public confidence in
e-mail and the Internet as a whole. A contribution from developing countries
(http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/spam/contributions/Developing%20countries_contri
bution.pdf) underlined that spam can result in even more dramatic
consequences in countries with limited bandwidth, as large quantities of
bulk e-mail essentially equates to a denial of service attack.
The Chairman's report
(http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/spam/chairman-report.pdf),stressing the need for
improved international cooperation in the field, underlined the role of the
International Telecommunication Union, which was called upon to continue its
activities in this field (http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/spam/), improving
exchange of best practices between developed and developing countries,
creating harmonized legal frameworks and cooperating with other
international organizations working in the field.
*** INFORMATION LINKS ***
Contact us (http://www.itu.int/wsis/contact/index.html)
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With best regards,
WSIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
http://www.itu.int/wsis