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<TITLE>Re: [CS Bureau] NGO participation in the CSTD</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Le 12/02/07 16:33, « CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam » <wsis@ngocongo.org> a écrit :<BR>
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Thank you Philippe for this summary. It seems to cover most of the basis, and gives me the strange feeling that we have regressd since WSIS.<BR>
Best<BR>
Divina<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>Dear all, <BR>
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Dear all,<BR>
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Based on comments that we received from some of you and in preparation for tomorrow’s meeting with the CSTD Secretariat, we put together some bullet points regarding arrangements for NGO participation in the UN CSTD. This is so far just a list of modalities for Plenary and informal CSTD meetings. Modalities for NGO participation will still have to be further considered in light with the other working methods of the CSTD. Find document attached and plain text below.<BR>
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Fell free to send us additional remarks and comments in this regard (wsis@ngocongo.org).<BR>
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Note again that tomorrow’s <B>meeting with the CSTD Secretariat</B> will take place between <B>13:30</B> and <B>15:00</B> in <B>Room XXIV</B> (Palais des Nations, Geneva).<BR>
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All the best, <BR>
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Philippe<BR>
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<FONT COLOR="#000080"><B>Philippe Dam<BR>
CONGO - WSIS CS Secretariat <BR>
11, Avenue de la Paix<BR>
CH-1202 Geneva<BR>
Tel: +41 22 301 1000<BR>
Fax: +41 22 301 2000<BR>
E-mail: wsis@ngocongo.org</B></FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <a href="mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org"><mailto:wsis@ngocongo.org></a> <BR>
</SPAN></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000080"><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'><B>Website: www.ngocongo.org <blocked::<a href="http://www.ngocongo.org>">http://www.ngocongo.org></a> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000080"><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, membership association that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United Nations agencies on issues of global concern. For more information see our website at www.ngocongo.org <blocked::<a href="http://www.ngocongo.org/>">http://www.ngocongo.org/></a> <BR>
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<FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'><B>NGO participation in the Commission on Science and Technology for Development
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ECOSOC Resolution 2006/46 provides ground for the development of a multi-stakeholder approach in the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development. The reading of paragraphs 11 to 16 of Resolution 2006/46 offers strong guidance on the way how NGOs and civil society entities should interact with the Commission, in particular in relation to its role into the WSIS follow-up.<BR>
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We understand that the participation of NGOs and authorised civil society entities will be framed by the provisions of ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31, which includes that “organizations in general consultative status may propose items for the provisional agenda of commissions”, that written statements may be submitted to the Commission and that NGOs may provide oral presentations during meetings. <BR>
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To that end, we would like to stress the following points:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>The modalities for participation of NGOs and civil society entities should guarantee the most effective <B>interaction and partnership</B> between all stakeholders involved in the work of the CSTD. This implies that the multi-stakeholder approach should be applied in all segments of the CSTD processes and under each agenda item, so that the best dialogue and exchange of views, information, suggestions and inputs leading to the fulfilment of the CSTD mandate and to the CSTD outcomes. The intergovernmental nature of the CSTD will of course be preserved since the decision taking will remain in hands of Member States of the Commission.</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>In particular, building upon the working experiences within the WSIS, we support the adoption of a <B>stop and go practice</B> within the Plenary meetings of the annual session of the CSTD. NGOs and other observers should be reserved a minimum specific amount of time to address the CSTD Plenary at each of its meetings. The amount of time for each category of observers should guarantee that a diversity of views and expertise be expressed before the CSTD Plenary. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>At least one civil society speaker should be included in the <B>high level opening ceremony</B> of the CSTD annual session.</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>Any subsidiary body of the CSTD, including <B>committees, drafting groups or working groups</B>, should accommodate a significant presence and participation of civil society entities. The participation of civil society representatives in such structures should be made fully interactive with the other stakeholders.</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>Even though the decision taking procedure will remain intergovernmental, NGOs and civil society representatives should be fully <B>included in the process of decision shaping</B>. Informal consultations should be open to NGO, and oral contributions should be allowed. All information regarding draft decisions should be transparently circulated and accessible to NGOs. In addition, following the practice experiences in WSIS, NGOs should be allowed to make comments and suggestions the draft texts under discussion. The intergovernmental nature of the CSTD will be preserved by the fact that the final decision taking will be open to Member States of the Commission only. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>The <B>CSTD Bureau should organise a consultation with NGOs</B> in the course of the CSTD annual session, with the view to foster dialogue and strengthen the spirit of mutual partnership and understanding among stakeholders in the Commission.</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>The <B>inter-sessional Panel of the CSTD</B> should continue to provide a space for informal interaction among all categories of stakeholders. We appreciated the modalities applied at the last CSTD Panel (November 2006, Paris). <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>NGOs should be able to organise <B>side events</B> during the annual session of the CSTD. This would foster dialogue and a common reflection among stakeholders, as well as make the CTSD more attractive to a wide range of stakeholders. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><UL><LI><FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13.0px'>We support the <B>trust fund</B> that has been established for the participation of under-represented categories civil society entities, including but not only grassroots NGOs and civil society from the LDCs.</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
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Participation of all stakeholders should be streamlined within all processes of the CSTD. The friendly and innovative use of electronic media and platforms would also allow NGOs to better contribute to the CSTD process in between the sessions. This includes contributions in the intersession reporting activities and identification of themes to be addressed by the Commission. <BR>
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To conclude, we believe that one of the conditions for the success of the CSTD will be based on the degree of involvement of all stakeholders, including entities accredited to WSIS and beyond. Beyond the actual practical modalities for interaction, the whole working methods and outcomes of the CSTD should be effective and attractive to build upon the WSIS momentum and represent a major annual event for all categories of stakeholders. <BR>
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