[governance] CSTD-11 outcome documents

Mon Jun 2 14:15:06 EDT 2008

Dear all, 

Find attached the four unedited outcome documents of the 11th session of the
Commission on Science and Technology for Development, including the
substantive Resolution and two decisions in relation with the participation
of civil society in the CSTD.

-          Resolution 1 - Entitled "Assessment of WSIS-implementation 2008",
contains two main chapters: A. Evolving challenges and opportunities
(digital divide, broadband divide, cost of access, mobile, security,
gender); and B. Successes  and shortcomings in the implementation of WSIS
outcomes so far (in relation to the post WSIS architecture, IGF, ALF,
enhanced cooperation).

-          Resolution 2 - Entitled "Participation of Academic entities in
the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development",
allows academic entities, both accredited or non-accredited to WSIS, to
participate in the CSTD. The model used to allow invitation of academic
entities is based on the status of private sector and business observers. It
also calls governments and other to provide voluntary contributions
supporting the participation of civil society from developing countries.

-          Decision 1 - states that "the Commission will report on its work
on science and technology themes for the current biennium in its twelfth
session".

-          Decision 2 - Entitled "Participation of non-governmental
organizations and civil society entities in the twelfth and thirteenth
sessions of the CSTD" extends the interim modalities for the involvement of
the WSIS accredited CS entities in the work of the Commission for two more
years. This leaves a bit more time for the Committee on NGOs to consider
application of NGOs accredited to WSIS.

Resolution 2 and Decision 1 are quite important in taking on board the
heritage of the WSIS stakeholders' list. It strengthens the
multi-stakeholder approach within the CSTD and hopefully will be accompanied
in the upcoming years by further improvements.

There were a bit more than 15 NGO representatives participating in most of
the CSTD session (plus some others from the NGO crowd in Geneva) so that
I'll leave them comment on the substantive content of the session.

Parminder was invited to speak in the opening ceremony of the CSTD on Monday
and also made a presentation to introduce the priority theme related to WSIS
follow up "Development-oriented policies for a socio-economic inclusive
information society, including access, infrastructure and enabling
environment". Anriette was panellist in the multi-stakeholder broadband
panel. 

Civil society representatives could ask for the floor during almost each of
the 3-hour meetings of the CSTD by raising their hands from the floor. The
overall format of the session was far from the interaction we experience at
the IGF, but there were some noticeable improvements in comparison with last
years' session in terms of flexibility and regularity of the opportunities
to take the floor (the work schedule of the session was more articulated
around 3-hour debates, during each of which NGOs could ask for the floor).
Precedents from last year were also maintained (CS speaker in the opening,
one Bureau meeting with CS and the private sector, CS and PS invited to seat
in the informal negotiations and invited to make inputs at the early stages
of negotiations, possibility to make written inputs).

The challenges ahead for civil society will be:

-          making the annual CTSD session more substantive, more result
oriented and more interactive, meaning strengthening a transparent and more
inclusive preparatory process;

-          consolidating and increase the civil society inputs in the
proceedings and the outcome of the session;

-          improving the format of the Action Line meetings and their
articulation with the CSTD work.

Unfortunately the session was not webcasted. I would encourage CS
participants to add their inputs to this very basic and preliminary report.

Best, 

Philippe

Philippe Dam
CONGO - Information Society &
Human Rights Coordinator
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mail:  <mailto:wphilippe.dam at ngocongo.org> philippe.dam at ngocongo.org
Website:  <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org> www.ngocongo.org 

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