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Dear all,<br>
<br>
As Lea has mentioned below, the letter asking for ITU transparency
was sent to the Secretariat and remains open for signatures at the
Best Bits platform: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://bestbits.net/busan-transparency">http://bestbits.net/busan-transparency</a>.
Therefore, signatures keep coming in (thanks for those who have
already signed). But a statement is not enough, its just the first
step.<br>
<br>
As we have no public voice to raise these points at the plenary of
the ITU Plenipotentiary - PP, besides reaching the Secretary General
(who ultimately also cannot change the rules), <u><b>we need to
influence country delegations to support and improve the texts
from draft resolutions</b> that already exist and are asking for
transparency.</u><u><br>
</u><br>
While countries who have proposed theses draft resolutions (which
most of us cannot see because its information under ITU password
protection!) are already allies in the matter and could incorporate
some of our demands. On the other hand, people from countries which
doesnt have a position on this could also be strategic. Therefore,
being from any country and even if you are not going or dont intend
to be deeply engaged in the PP, just sending the statement to your
country delegation is already a huge help for the cause of openness.<br>
<br>
Remember that, due to the dynamics of the Plenipot, most of the CSO
people participating at the PP has to be subscribed within country
delegations, therefore might have some diplomatic constraints for
doing outreach of CSO positions to other countries, being able to
bring these positions only to their own delegation. Thats why any
extra help on outreach to Member States is truly welcomed = we need
you!<b><br>
</b><b><br>
So, t</b><b>his is the a call:</b> <b><br>
</b><b><br>
</b><b>a) Reach your country delegate: </b>ping ur delegation at
the ITU-PP on this (list of delegations is available under ITU
account, would be good if anyone could point to a link where its
public so people would find it easier to send emails to the right
person - I couldnt find it yet). To make your engagement easier, a
draft sample of an email to deliver it to your representative is
available here: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://pad.riseup.net/p/letter2delegation">https://pad.riseup.net/p/letter2delegation</a> (if you
improve it or translate it to other languages, please, also post in
the pad so you help the work of others from the same region as you).<br>
<br>
<b>b) Tweet under the hashtag #openITU:</b> if you have delivered
the letter, and feel comfortable to, please, tweet about it under
the hashtag #OpenITU, so we can also create a little buzz in social
media. Example of a tweet: ITU transparency statement was shared
with "your_country" delegates #openITU
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<b style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial,
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background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://tinyurl.com/oxamjjs">http://tinyurl.com/oxamjjs</a></b><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial,
Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;
font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal;
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text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto;
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> or even tweet it straight
to your delegates.</span>
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padding: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: monospace;
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</span></div>
Lets take advantage that the issue on transparency is so important
to raise substantial consensus among many of us to have a little
win. In return, those who are going can - and lets be sure we do it
- give a follow up to all the lists we have engaged for signatures
or requests like this... so people dont get frustrated on signing
papers with the impressions it lead nowhere :) <br>
<br>
Currently, as far as I know, the main argument against opening
access to documents is $$$. As some have been arguing that
organizations apply for member$hip to have access to this documents.
Rationale questionable <i>per se</i> and not strong enough to
justify blocking access to policy processes. Times have changed,
openness should be a rule.<br>
<br>
Hope it sounds like a (good/possible) plan.<br>
<br>
all the best<br>
<br>
joana<br>
-- <br>
@joana_varon<br>
PGP 0x016B8E73<br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid:23FA87C8-E76B-4E17-AAB5-358F97B976DB@varonferraz.com"
type="cite">
<div class="gmail_quote">On 9 October 2014 11:26:33 GMT-03:00, Lea
Kaspar <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lea@gp-digital.org"><lea@gp-digital.org></a> wrote:
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt
0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);
padding-left: 1ex;">
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<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Dear all, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Find below
the email sent to the ITU Secretary General with our
letter attached. I have added a footnote in the letter
next to the list of signatories pointing to the fact
that the letter remains a living document open for
endorsements. Thank you to all who have participated in
this effort.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Please feel
free to share this with your contacts and encourage
further organisational and individual sign-ons.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I will let
you know as soon as we hear back!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Best,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Lea </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF
1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US"> Lea Kaspar [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:lea@gp-digital.org">mailto:lea@gp-digital.org</a>]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 09 October 2014 15:17<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sgo@itu.int">sgo@itu.int</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:preetam.maloor@itu.int">preetam.maloor@itu.int</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Open civil society letter re
transparency at ITU Plenipotentiary</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Secretary-General Touré, </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am writing to share with you an open
letter developed by a group of civil society organisations
from around the world regarding the upcoming International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference
in Busan. Please find the letter attached. Over the last
two days, the letter has already received 31
organisational and individual endorsements from 18
countries, and it will remain open for endorsements until
the Conference.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The endorsing groups and individuals
call for the ITU to build on its previous commitments to
openness and transparency in an effort to work towards an
ever more inclusive, transparent and accountable Union.
More specifically, the letter lists a number of concrete
asks relating to the upcoming Plenipotentiary in Busan.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We look forward to your response and
continuing dialogue in the run up to and at the
Conference.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We remain at your disposal for any
questions or comments. </p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With Kind Regards,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:11.05pt"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#0a2850;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">--</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:11.05pt"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#0a2850;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">Lea Kaspar</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#222222;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#0a2850;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL</span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#888888;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#535353;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">Development House, 56–64 Leonard Street,
London EC2A 4LT</span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#888888;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#535353;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">T: </span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#103cc0;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">+44 (0)20 7549 0337</span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#535353;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US"> | M: </span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#103cc0;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US">+44 (0)7583 929216</span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#535353;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US"> | Skype: l.kaspar</span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#888888;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#888888;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""
lang="EN-US"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://gp-digital.org/" target="_blank"><span
style="color:#103CC0">gp-digital.org</span></a></span><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"
verdana","sans-serif";color:#888888;mso-fareast-language:en-gb"=""></span></p>
<p> </p>
</div>
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