[CS Bureau] CS Bureau reform

[Dr. Francis MUGUET]

Dear Al et al.

> Hi Robert and all
> 
> Speaking in a personal capacity, I consider the CS Bureau of WSIS to have
> dissolved when WSIS was concluded.
There are two perspectives,
1/ the WSIS as a show, in my own opinion a
rather superficial one ( the show is over, lets pack our stuff ),
2/ the WSIS is a process,  this perspective is more responsible
in the sense that one fully knows that to get recommandations
adopted is one thing, to get them implemented is anoher
yet more difficult task.

Another point is that the WSIS is an unfinished business
on issues of substance :
1/ the governance is still a matter of hot debate, the only thing
that has been agreed is that we must talk about it further.!!!
2/ no internationnal governmental financial mechanism to bridge the 
digital divide has been proposed, there are a few alternative
financial mechanism that have been proposed that needs to
be either reinforced or discussed.

Concerning implementation, the fight to get the WSIS
recommendations to be even quoted and implemented as such
( and not as a vague reminder ) is going to very tough,
as I had the experience with UNESCO during its last
33rd conference.

Therefore it quite clear that the
  WSIS process is not concluded, the hard part is only beginning.

The WSIS has determined
several implementation and follow-up mechanims that still needs to
be organized. There are a lot of procedural issues that are
going to be negotiated between the Civil Society and
the executive secretariats of the various of the various
follow-up bodies.

If there is no more Civil Society Interlocutor to interact with,
then the interest of the Civil Society will be not adequately
and inclusively defended.  If we do not stay, we are
abandonning our post, betraying our mission.


  (I don't know if this parallels the
> Intergovernmental Bureau). This is simply due to the fact that WSIS is
> concluded, and the basis for organizing ourselves has moved on to a new phase...
> Am not sure now 
  If you are not so sure of anything and not so well informed, then
  it would be more prudent to adopt a softer language than "I consider".
  The last meeting in Geneva BRIEFING FOR NGOS ON THE OUTCOME OF THE WSIS
7 December 2005 15:00-18:00  was well attended.
  Utsumi and Karklins were present, and there were enlightenning 
discussions. While,  I am sorry that logistics prevented many people
to attend, it clearly demonstrated that the WSIS process was alive.
In fact, we recorded on video all this event, along with special
interviews of Utsumi and Kanrlins towards the goal


> what the CS Plenary has formally decided in this regard, but I
> suspect that the opportunity to formalize any decision on this has passed.
I believe that the general mood was the Civil Society must continue 
within its current structure its advocacy towards an efficient 
implementation and follow-up.

So far I know no other than your family has decided to dissolve
( or put in stand by mode ). There is no consensus on dissolving.

> We are in a new context, and Civil Society was I recall in the midst of
> rethinking all its structures and mechanisms.
> Even the Internet Governance Caucus, which has the most reason to continue its
> work in the context of the IGF discussions, is also rethinking its role, nature,
> and function.
There has been many diverse opinions in this Internet Governance Caucus
In fact, a new Internet Governance group
has been recently created :
  Multi-stakeholder Modalities Working Group  ( created 14 Dec 2005 ).
So people are continuing to be involved.

> It would have been ideal to have had a concluding Final Assessment of the Bureau
> (and of other structures), but logistical realities may prevent it.
Aizu has represented many times the Asia region at the CSB, and
he is present to many internet related meeting.
May be, it would be fine if you could find
some arrangement with him so that
he could become the focal point of the Asia region if logistical
realities prevent you to personnally attend.
ITU has been somewhat generous to pay travel expenses to
CSB members. May be, it might continue to do so
with follow-up events. May be ECOSOC might follow the
same approach. I am aware that people from countries not being 
categorized as LDC has not been unelegible from travel grants by ITU.
I would stress that the CSB as a whole carry a much more signicant
clout to raise money from governments, and it was quite effective.
Considering foundations, this ressource has been left unexplored
for various reasons that has been alrready discussed in
the Cape Town meeting ( another example of CSB financing by the
way, thanks to ICV, by Francophonie & ITU ).
Thanks to various efforts, two major
foundations have become accredited in the last
stage of the Tunis phase.
They might be of assistance in the continuing WSIS process.

> 
> I urge those organizations which continue to have the political access and the
> economic resources, as well as the institutional interest to do so (e.g.,
> CONGO?) to help organize platforms for discussion and consensus-building among
> all civil society organizations in the most inclusive manner possible.
> 
CONGO has played the role of the executive secretariat of the CSB in a 
very effective manner interacting with the WSIS executive secretariat.
To dissolve the CSB would severely diminish the impact of CONGO
with governements, and besides CONGO would have no longer a clear
mandate to do so.

> As for the Asia Pacific Caucus, we will continue to maintain our mailing list,
> and until such time that a similar strategic assessment and planning process can
> be held, it will function now mainly as a space for information and
> communication exchange. Whether this will evolve into something else (or be
> replaced by new coalitions to respond to the changed context), we will still
> have to see.
Yes, it would be advisable that you keep your advocacy network ready
for the future struggles that may come, and there will be many.

Do not give up the ship !

Best regards

Francis

> 
> Thanks
> 
> Al Alegre
> previous focal point of the previous Asia Pacific Caucus in the previous WSIS
> :-)
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert Guerra <rguerra at lists.privaterra.org>
> To: CS Plenary <plenary at wsis-cs.org>
> Cc: bureau wsis <bureau at wsis-cs.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:51 AM
> Subject: [CS Bureau] CS Bureau reform
> 
> 
> 
>>I'd like to repeat my earlier call for a re-evaluation of the
>>structure and make-up of the WSIS Civil Society Bureau.
>>
>>The roles, responsibilities and expectations of the members of the
>>CSB members has not been sufficiently defined (anywhere), and as such
>>needs to be  re-examined before it engages in any new processes or
>>consultations.
>>
>>
>>regards,
>>
>>Robert
>>
>>--
>>Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
>>Managing Director, Privaterra
>>Tel +1 416 893 0377 Fax +1 416 893 0374
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>Bureau at wsis-cs.org
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>>
>>
>>
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> 
> 
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> 


-- 

------------------------------------------------------
Francis F. MUGUET  Ph.D
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muguet at wtis.org

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