[governance] Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] ECOSOC reviewing WSIS follow up and implementation: CSTD, UNGIS, ALF, IGF, GAID

Mon Jul 23 02:23:09 EDT 2007

Hi All,

We have been taking comments for a IGC statement on non-inclusion in and
non-transparency of the enhanced cooperation process to be read at the
ongoing ECOSOC session which will take up the secretary general's report
which alludes to this issue. (I am enclosing the original email by Philippe
to clarify matter for those who may have not followed the debate).

I am proposing the following text pulling together various comments/ text
proposals that came up, for a consensus call. This may be need to be used by
CONGO any time now depending when does the discussion come up (Philippe,
Renate, can you give us some information on this). But I think we may still
have around 48 hours we normally use for consensus seeking for statements on
the behalf of IGF. I am sorry for some delay in posting this. I had planned
to so it over the weekend, but was busy, and it slipped my mind.) 

(starts)

This is in reference to the relevant part in the Secretary General's report
to the ECOSOC which mentions that "consultations are under way to start a
process towards enhanced cooperation among all relevant stakeholders with
regard to Internet governance, as requested by the Summit". In this respect
it is pertinent to note that Para 71 of the Tunis Agenda also clearly states
that: "the process towards enhanced cooperation, ...will involve all
stakeholders".

The Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus notes with concern that the
letter and spirit of the WSIS multi-stakeholder principles do not appear to
have been applied in relation to the processes around 'enhanced cooperation'
for Internet Governance. In spite of directly requesting information of the
SG's office regarding the process, through our leeter dated 29th January,
2007, addressed to SG's Special Advisor on WSIS, civil society groups have
neither received information about, nor been invited to or involved in
consultations, in any way to date.

The caucus, along with other civil society groups, has consistently
demonstrated it's commitment to contribute constructively to the WSIS
follow-up process, a commitment which extends to all elements of the
process, including that of enhanced cooperation.

We request that the United Nations, ECOSOC, and all other parties ensure
that the enhanced cooperation process is conducted in a manner that is fully
consistent with the principles of transparency and multistakeholder
participation set forth in the Tunis Agenda. All information about
consultation processes for enhanced cooperation should be provided in a
timely and transparent manner to all stakeholders, as well as modalities
ensured for their participation in all processes, including of initial
consultations and developing the initial agenda and format for enhanced
cooperation.

In order to ensure participation of an appropriately wide range of civil
society in this process, it would be useful to include formal consultations
on enhanced cooperation during, or around, the annual CSTD May sessions (the
Information Society week events) as well as encourage informal meetings
during events such as the Internet Governance Forum.

(ends)

As per usual we will not take any in any amendment comments at this point.
Only support or otherwise.

Thanks.
Parminder 

________________________________________________
Parminder Jeet Singh
IT for Change, Bangalore
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities 
Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890
Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055
www.ITforChange.net 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On
> Behalf Of Parminder
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 4:08 PM
> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; 'karen banks'; plenary at wsis-cs.org
> Subject: RE: [governance] Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] ECOSOC reviewing WSIS
> follow up and implementation: CSTD, UNGIS, ALF, IGF, GAID
> 
> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire list.
> Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for specific
> people]
> 
> Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to access automatic translation of
> this message!
> _______________________________________
> 
> 
> > eg.. are we asking ECOSOC to ensure that the CSTD ensures MS
> > principles are adhered to in any (and all) consultations related to
> > wsis followup? the CSTD is the entry point for consultation no?
> > ECOSOC only receives reports from CSTD no? (or maybe i've got it all
> > wrong)
> 
> I understand that ECOSOC has political supervision over CSTD, and is also
> in
> charge of all summits follow-ups, and the WSIS one would go through CSTD.
> So
> it shd be ok to request ECOSOC to ensure so and so since this is being
> read
> out at an ECOSOC substantive meeting.
> 
> 
> > but you know, i'm not sure i would include text about holding
> > consultations at the IGF specifically.. strategically, i think it's
> > not the best move.. i would prefer to have *formal* consultations
> > about enhanced cooperation as part of the wsis followup process, and
> > therefore, during may each year..  but if you link these two together
> > right now, i am sure it will be resisted.. is that what we want? As a
> > compromise, you could use the IGF as one of several opportunities for
> > consulTations..
> 
> Sure, the idea is to reach out where CS interested in IG issues
> congregates
> and not hold consultations on one odd day at New York which can only get
> little CS participation, which will be quite skewed as well. So, yes, it
> shd
> be at Info soc week and at IGF.
> 
> > and - is this statement going to be read, or written and submitted to
> > ECOSOC? i imagine a bit of both? ie, an intervention from the floor,
> > and a written statement?  and, what is the relationship between
> > ECOSOC and CSTD - i ask as i want to be clear on who has the power to
> > ask what of whom..
> 
> Philippe can answer best the issue of how the statement will be used. I
> have
> stated above my understanding of the relationship between ECOSOC and CSTD.
> 
> Parminder
> ________________________________________________
> Parminder Jeet Singh
> IT for Change, Bangalore
> Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
> Tel: (+91-80) 2665 4134, 2653 6890
> Fax: (+91-80) 4146 1055
> www.ITforChange.net
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: karen banks [mailto:karenb at gn.apc.org]
> > Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 1:45 PM
> > To: plenary at wsis-cs.org; plenary at wsis-cs.org; governance at lists.cpsr.org
> > Subject: RE: [governance] Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] ECOSOC reviewing WSIS
> > follow up and implementation: CSTD, UNGIS, ALF, IGF, GAID
> >
> > hi parminder
> >
> > >You have my full support on this. --MM
> >
> > thanks for doing this parminder..  here's some proposed revisions up
> > front - my justifications noted at the end..
> >
> > === (i'm assuming these few paras will be inserted into a collective
> > statement CONGO is coordinating? ===
> >
> > In reference to "Consultations are under way to start a process
> > towards enhanced cooperation among all relevant stakeholders with
> > regard to Internet governance, as requested by the Summit". Para 71
> > of the Tunis Agenda states: "the process towards enhanced
> > cooperation, ...will involve all stakeholders".
> >
> > The Civil Society IG Caucus notes with concern that the spirit of the
> > WSIS multi-stakeholder principles does not appear to have been
> > applied in relation to the process of enhanced cooperation. In spite
> > of directly requesting information of the SG regarding the process,
> > civil society groups have neither received information about, nor
> > been invited to or involved in consultations, in any way to date.
> >
> > The caucus, along with other civil society groups, has consistently
> > demonstrated it's committment to contribute constructively to the
> > WSIS followup process, a committment which extends to all elements of
> > the process, including that of enhanced cooperation.
> >
> > We request ECOSOC ensures that the WSIS Multi-stakeholder principles
> > are consistently applied to all elements of the WSIS followup
> > process, and that information about consultation processes are
> > provided in a timely and transparent manner to all stakeholders.
> >
> > In order to make the most of civil society participation in this
> > process, it would be useful to include formal consultations on
> > enhanced cooperation during, or around, the annual CSTD May sessions
> > (the WSIS 'weeks') as well as encourage informal meetings during
> > events such as the Internet Governance Forum."
> >
> > notes below..
> >
> > karen
> >
> > >This is in reference to the SG's report stating that, and we quote,
> > >"Consultations are under way to start a process towards enhanced
> > >cooperation among all relevant stakeholders with regard to Internet
> > >governance, as requested by the Summit". Para 71 of the Tunis Agenda
> > >clearly states that "the process towards enhanced cooperation,
> > >...will involve all stakeholders". However, the Civil Society IG
> > >Caucus notes with concern that civil society has not been involved
> > >at all in the consultations mentioned in the SG's report. We do not
> > >even have any information about this consultation, despite directly
> > >requesting the SG office regarding it.
> >
> > In reference to "Consultations are under way to start a process
> > towards enhanced cooperation among all relevant stakeholders with
> > regard to Internet governance, as requested by the Summit".
> >
> > Para 71 of the Tunis Agenda states: "the process towards enhanced
> > cooperation, ...will involve all stakeholders".
> >
> > The Civil Society IG Caucus notes with concern that, in spite of
> > directly requesting information of the SG regarding the process,
> > civil society has neither received information about, nor been
> > invited or involved in consultations in any way to date.
> >
> > (parminder, you may want to include a copy of the request for info,
> dated)
> >
> > >We request ECOSOC to ensure that the multistakeholder principle in
> > >WSIS follow-up is fully adhered to as per WSIS documents, in general
> > >spirit, and in specific mandates as in case of the process towards
> > >enhanced cooperation, where as mentioned above, the WSIS injunction
> > >for multistakeholder involvement is clearly not being complied with.
> >
> > eg.. are we asking ECOSOC to ensure that the CSTD ensures MS
> > principles are adhered to in any (and all) consultations related to
> > wsis followup? the CSTD is the entry point for consultation no?
> > ECOSOC only receives reports from CSTD no? (or maybe i've got it all
> > wrong)
> >
> > >The caucus will like to be invited to and involved in these
> > >consultations, along with other civil society groups. Since a lot of
> > >civil society groups interested in IG issues converge at IGF
> > >meeting, holding such consultations on the sidelines of the IGF
> > >meeting may be useful. We will also like to be kept updated on the
> > >consultations with other stakeholders.
> >
> > the above for example, would appear to relate to CS involvement in
> > CSTD process?
> >
> > but you know, i'm not sure i would include text about holding
> > consultations at the IGF specifically.. strategically, i think it's
> > not the best move.. i would prefer to have *formal* consultations
> > about enhanced cooperation as part of the wsis followup process, and
> > therefore, during may each year..  but if you link these two together
> > right now, i am sure it will be resisted.. is that what we want? As a
> > compromise, you could use the IGF as one of several opportunities for
> > consulTations..
> >
> > proposed text
> >
> > We request ECOSOC ensures that the WSIS Multi-stakeholder principles
> > are consistently applied to all elements of the WSIS followup
> > process, and that information about consultation processes are
> > provided in a timely and transparent manner to all stakeholders.
> >
> > In order to make the most of civil society participation in this
> > process, it would be useful to include formal consultations on
> > enhanced cooperation during, or around, the annual CSTD May sessions
> > (the WSIS 'weeks') as well as encourage informal meetings during
> > events such as the Internet Governance Forum."
> >
> > and - is this statement going to be read, or written and submitted to
> > ECOSOC? i imagine a bit of both? ie, an intervention from the floor,
> > and a written statement?  and, what is the relationship between
> > ECOSOC and CSTD - i ask as i want to be clear on who has the power to
> > ask what of whom..
> >
> >
> > ____________________________________________________________
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> 
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