[CS Bureau] Re: 10th session of the CSTD and WSIS follow-up

[Dr. Francis MUGUET]

FWD  Civil Society Bureau List
c/c UNCTAD

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The tenth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for 
Development (CSTD) is to be held in Geneva from 21 to 25 May 2007. The 
Commission will address the substantive theme "Promoting the building of 
a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information 
society", with a view to enhancing digital opportunities for all people. 
The session will focus on the review of progress made in implementing 
the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) at 
the regional and international levels. It also aims to identify 
achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as future actions needed to 
further implementation.  Participants will include Ministers and 
representatives of Governments, civil society, the business community 
and international organizations.

The session will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 21 May, in Room XIX at the 
Palais des Nations. The first day will consist of a high-level 
ministerial segment, with the participation of a number of Ministers, 
CEOs and possibly one or two Prime Ministers/Heads of State. The second 
day will be a joint meeting of the Commission and the Global Alliance 
for ICT and Development (GAID), with high-level representation from the 
business community and civil society.  The joint meeting will seek to 
promote the building of a multi-stakeholder partnership to bridge the 
"digital divide".

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) approved on 26 April 2007, two 
decisions (copies attached below) on the participation of 
non-governmental entities in the work of the Commission on Science and 
Technology for Development (CSTD).

Business sector entities that had been accredited to the World Summit on 
the Information Society (WSIS) could participate in the Commission on an 
exceptional basis, without prejudice to the established rules of 
procedure. Non-governmental organizations and civil society entities, 
not in consultative status with the Council but accredited to the WSIS, 
could also on an exceptional basis participate in the next two meetings 
of the Commission, on the understanding that they will apply for 
consultative status with the Council.

Therefore, Non-governmental organizations and civil society entities and 
Business sector entities that had been accredited to WSIS are encouraged 
to participate in this session. For more information and registration 
please visit the website: 
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=4066&lang=1

Best Regards

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It is a good opportunity to congratulate CONGO, that as the executive 
secretariat of the CSB,
has been entitled to deploy extraordinary and persistent  efforts to 
ensure an incluse participation
of the whole Civil Society.

It is also an  opportunity to warmly thank  Mongi Hamdi and Charles 
Geiger at UNCTAD who have been
most instrumental in helping Civil Society to overcome many procedural 
obstacles.

Many procedural obstacles are remaining however, at ECOSOC, ITU,  UNESCO 
and elsewhere,
before a fully multi-stakeholder participation can be ensured.
not to mention, a serious practical obstacle which is financial.

All the best

Francis


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Francis F. MUGUET  Ph.D
World Tour of the Information Society (WTIS)
muguet at wtis.org

UNMSP project : http://www.unmsp.org

World Summit On the Information Society (WSIS)
Civil Society Working Groups
Scientific Information :  http://www.wsis-si.org  chair
Patents & Copyrights   :  http://www.wsis-pct.org co-chair
Financing Mechanismns  :  http://www.wsis-finance.org web

Director
Scientific Information Developement Laboratory :
Knowledge Networks and Information Society
ENSTA
32 Blvd Victor 75739 PARIS cedex FRANCE
Phone: (33)1 45 52 60 19  Fax: (33)1 45 52 52 82
muguet at ensta.fr   http://www.ensta.fr/~muguet

MDPI Foundation Open Access Journals
Associate Publisher
http://www.mdpi.org   http://www.mdpi.net
muguet at mdpi.org       muguet at mdpi.net

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