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----- Original Message -----
From: WSIS Executive Secretariat <wsis-flash.owner@wsis.org>
To: WSIS eFlash Subscribers <wsis-eflash-h-en@wsis.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 9:15 PM
Subject: [PHNETSpam 2.938] WSIS E-Flash no 21, 22 March 2005
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*** WSIS E-FLASH N°21, 22 March 2005 ***
--- High interest in the preparatory process of the Tunis phase of
IS ---
The second Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom-2) of the Tunis phase of
the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held from 17 to 25
February 2005 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meeting was attended
by 1'718 participants, which included 926 delegates representing 149
governments and the European Community. 150 participants represented 53
international organizations while 565 participants came from 208 civil
society entities and 61 participants from 30 business entities. In addition
to the formal meetings of PrepCom-2, eleven parallel events
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/parallel/index.html) were
organized by international organizations, civil society and the private
sector highlighting their WSIS-related activities.
--- Financial mechanisms outlined to meet the challenges of the Digital
Divide ---
The work of PrepCom-2 focused mainly on the issue of financial mechanisms to
bridge the digital divide and meet the development challenges for ICT.
PrepCom-2 had before it the Report of the Task Force on Financial Mechanisms
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1372|1376|1425|1
377) presented by UNDP and the draft text prepared by the Group of Friends
of the Chair (http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/off3.html). Following
intense negotiations, PrepCom-2 succeeded in reaching consensus on most
sections of the text on financial mechanisms, including:
· Identification of areas where more attention to funding is needed;
· Prerequisites for equitable and universal accessibility to and better
utilization of financial mechanisms;
· Providing affordable access to ICTs by reducing international Internet
costs charged by backbone providers and broadening network access by
supporting the creation and development of regional ICT backbones and
Internet Exchange Points;
· Establishment of a voluntary Digital Solidarity Fund.
Some parts of chapter two on financial mechanisms of the Tunis document
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1520|0), which
did not find consensus, have remained in brackets and will be considered
during PrepCom-3 in September.
--- PrepCom-2 welcomes the creation of a voluntary Digital Solidarity
Fund ---
PrepCom-2 recognized that financing ICT development is a huge undertaking
that requires multiple mutually supportive solutions. It is in this context
that Governments welcomed the voluntary Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF).
Governments considered that the DSF represents an innovative financial
mechanism of a voluntary nature open to interested stakeholders. It aims to
transform the digital divide into digital opportunities by addressing
specific and urgent needs at the local level and by seeking new voluntary
sources of "solidarity" finance. The DSF will complement existing mechanisms
for funding the Information Society, which should continue to be fully
utilized to fund the growth of ICT infrastructure and services.
The DSF was proposed by President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal at the Geneva
phase of WSIS and will be inaugurated in Geneva on 14 March 2005 by
President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in his capacity as Chairman of the
African Union. The Fund, managed by a foundation (http://www.dsf-fsn.org /)
with headquarters in Geneva, will decide on the criteria for contributions
and on the use of the funds.
--- Working Group on Internet Governance ---
PrepCom-2 considered the interim report tabled by the Working Group on
Internet Governance
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1460|0 ) at the
plenary meeting on 24 February 2005. The working group had been set up by UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the request of the Geneva Summit to
investigate and make proposals for appropriate action. The delegates
recognized that the issue of Internet Governance involved a host of issues
that went beyond assigning IP addresses and domain names and consensus
emerged on the need to improve current international coordination
arrangements for the Internet. At the same time, they agreed that the
process should not undermine the stability and reliability of the Internet.
The final report of WGIG will be made available on 18 July 2005, following
which Governments and other stakeholders will be invited to send their
written comments by mid-August to the WSIS Executive Secretariat. These
comments and drafting proposals will then be compiled in a document that
will be presented to PrepCom-3 together with the final report of the WGIG.
--- Format of the Tunis Summit ---
PrepCom-2 accepted a proposal for the Format of the Tunis Summit
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/off4.doc) that combines the Geneva round
tables with additional panel discussions. The objective of the panel
discussions is to create a high profile, media-friendly platform for dynamic
debate and discussion, while respecting UN Summit protocol. Based on the
proposed format, the Summit will start with an organizational meeting,
followed by the Opening Ceremony. The General debate will begin on the
morning of Wednesday 16 November and will continue in six Plenary meetings
until Friday afternoon. The Summit will hear Reports from multistakeholder
events on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 November afternoon. Round tables will be
organized in parallel to the General Debate to provide Heads of State or
Government the opportunity to engage in an interactive discussion on the
future of the Information Society with leaders from business and civil
society organizations. The panels will feature leading experts in the ICT
field and will encourage audience participation.
--- Parallel events at the Tunis Summit: deadline for applications, 30 April
2005 ---
The Tunis Summit will provide an opportunity for accredited entities to
organize events related to WSIS themes in parallel with the core political
process. As in Geneva, the parallel events at Tunis will be a highlight of
the Summit intended to brainstorm on relevant issues and showcase best
practices. Reports from these multi-stakeholder events will be presented to
the Summit plenary. Further information and the application form can be
found in the "Guidelines for Organizers of Parallel events during the second
phase of WSIS" published on the website of the Tunisian host country at:
http://www.smsitunis2005.tn/plateforme/docs/guidelines.doc.
Please note that applications should be submitted not later than 30 April
2005.
--- Intersessional period between PrepCom-2 and PrepCom-3 ---
In its last plenary meeting, the Preparatory Committee agreed to send the
negotiated chapter on Financial Mechanisms
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1520|0) directly
to PrepCom-3 to finalize the text that remains in square brackets. The
political component of the Tunis document
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/off3.doc) will be forwarded to PrepCom-3,
along with a compilation of all written comments and proposals
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/working/dt4rev1.doc) made during
PrepCom-2. The chapters on Implementation and Follow-up mechanisms for the
WSIS Action Plan and post-Summit phase will be reviewed by the Group of
Friends of the Chair. The revised text on these issues, along with a
compilation of the written comments and proposals
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/listing.asp?lang=en&c_event=pc2|2&c_type=
td| ), will be transmitted to PrepCom-3. The Report of the Working Group on
Internet Governance (WGIG) will also be submitted to PrepCom-3, along with
the compiled comments and drafting proposals made by the stakeholders until
mid-August.
The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-3) of the Tunis
phase of the WSIS will be held in Geneva, 19-30 September 2005. Information
about PrepCom-3 will be made available on the WSIS website at
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc3/ ).
--- New contributions to the WSIS Fund ---
ITU Secretary-General, Yoshio Utsumi confirmed at PrepCom-2 that the
WSIS-2005 Fundraising Campaign has brought in more than CHF 1.3 million in
new financial contributions to support core preparatory activities of the
Tunis phase With these new contributions to the WSIS Fund, more than CHF 2.7
million has been raised, representing over half of the CHF 5 million
campaign goal. The total cost of organizing the core preparatory process and
the Summit for the Tunis Phase is estimated to be approximately CHF 15
million (CHF 5 million cash and CHF 10 million in-kind), not including costs
incurred by the host country. For details, see:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/newsroom/press_releases/wsis/2005/17feb.html.
Upcoming events related to the Tunis phase of WSIS:
--- WSIS Regional and Sub-Regional Preparatory meetings: ---
8-10 May 2005, Cairo, Egypt
The conference entitled "Towards WSIS II: An Arab Regional Dialogue"
(http://www.wsis-egypt.gov.eg/), will be held under the auspices of the
League of Arab States, in coordination with the International
Telecommunication Union and the WSIS Executive Secretariat. Organized and
hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of
Egypt, the conference is expected to produce an updated version of the Pan
Arab Regional Plan of Action.
8-10 June 2005, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Brazilian government is convening the Regional WSIS Preparatory
Ministerial Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean "On the way to
Tunis" (http://www.riocmsi.net/). Concurrently, seminars will be organized
with the participation of civil society, academia and the private sector on
topics related to building a Regional Action Plan (eLAC2007) for the
Information Society.
--- WSIS Thematic Meetings: ---
14 - 18 March 2005, Ottawa, Canada
In order to prepare a thematic meeting on "Indigenous Peoples in the
Information Society: Delivering on the Plan of Action" at the Tunis phase of
WSIS, the Aboriginal Canada Portal (www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca) has sent out
a call letter
(http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/doc_multi.asp?lang=en&id=1343|0). Plans
are being developed between the Government of Canada and Canadian National
Aboriginal Organizations (through the Aboriginal Canada Portal Working
Group - ACPWG), other States and Indigenous organizations and the
Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to begin planning
for the Tunis phase of WSIS. The meeting will focus on reviewing
implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action and on planning the Indigenous
theme at the Tunis Summit. For more information, go to:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/news/WSIS/newsottawaevent.htm
6-7 May 2005, Bamako, Mali
UNESCO, in partnership with the 'AcadñÎie Africaine des Langues' (ACALAN),
the 'Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie' (AIF) and the
Government of Mali and other international institutions, is organizing a
thematic meeting on "Multilingualism for Cultural Diversity and
Participation of All in Cyberspace" in Bamako, Mali, on 6 and 7 May 2005.
The meeting will build on the WSIS recognition of the importance of cultural
and linguistic diversity in the digital world and highlight the fundamental
importance of removing barriers to access and participation of all on the
Internet. The discussions will focus on multilingualism from two
perspectives: Policies and standards needed to ensure inclusive knowledge
societies; and global experiences in building a multilingual cyberspace.
More information at:
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17688&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTI
ON=201.html
11-13 May 2005, Paris, France
In preparation for the Tunis phase of WSIS, UNESCO and the Club of Rome are
organizing a World Conference on "ICT for Capacity Building: Critical
Success Factors"
(http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17638&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECT
ION=201.html) at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The purpose of the Conference
is to discuss the use of ICT, including satellites, for capacity building,
and its key strategic role for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals
and building knowledge societies. It gives particular attention to the
special needs of marginalized groups in areas that are out of the reach of
traditional education systems but could be given access to new forms of
education delivery through satellite technologies.
16-17 May 2005, Tokyo, Japan
The Japanese government, in conjunction with the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations University, will
organize a WSIS thematic meeting entitled "Tokyo Ubiquitous Network
Conference" (http://www.wsis-japan.jp/). It aims to facilitate the
implementation of the common vision of "the ubiquitous network society" to:
· bridge the digital divide
· develop information and communication infrastructure
· enable sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access to ICTs
· provide universal access to information and knowledge.
28 June -1 July 2005, Geneva, Switzerland
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will organize from 28 June
to 1 July 2005 a "WSIS Thematic Meeting on Cybersecurity" at ITU
headquarters in Geneva. This conference will examine the recommendations in
the WSIS Plan of Action that relate to building confidence and security in
the use of ICTs and the promotion of a global culture of cybersecurity. The
meeting will specifically consider six broad themes in promoting
international cooperation among governments, the private sector and other
stakeholders:
· Information sharing of national approaches
· Good practices and guidelines
· Responding to the misuse of ICTs
· Harmonizing national legal approaches and international legal coordination
· Technical standards
· Privacy, data and consumer protection
· Providing assistance to developing economies.
The first day of the meeting will focus on countering Spam as a follow-up to
the ITU WSIS Thematic Meeting on Countering Spam held in July 2004. More
information at: http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/cybersecurity
--- WSIS Regional Thematic Meetings: ---
9-11 May 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), the Arab
States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and the Southern African Broadcasting
Association (SABA) will organize the second "Asia Media Summit - AMS2005",
with the objective of engaging broadcasters from around the world in a
dialogue to foster understanding, tolerance and cooperation. The Media
Summit will also provide an opportunity for broadcasters to share their
thoughts on the Information Society with a view to submitting their
recommendations to WSIS in Tunis. For more information, go to:
http://www.aibd.org.my/conferences/2005/summit/
--- Outcomes of past WSIS thematic meetings on the WSIS website ---
Outcome documents of past WSIS thematic meetings (if available in electronic
form) are published at:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/listing.asp?lang=en&c_event=s|2&c_type=co|
ret
*** INFORMATION LINKS ***
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WSIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
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