[WSIS Edu] Report ON CSTD meeting/rapport sur rencontre CSTD/informe sobre reunion CSTD

[Meigs]

Dear members of the list
Please find attached and below the report of the meeting held yesterday in
Geneva to discuss the monitoring of follow-up by CSTD. Apart from US
hostility, there seems to be willingness to enlarge the mandate and the
participation of civil society.
Best
Divina

Chers membres de la liste,
Ci-dessous, et en anglais seulement, le rapport de la réunion d'hier à
Genève. Elle avait pour but de discuter le mécanisme de suivi par le CSTD.
Mise à part l'hostilité des Etats-Unis, il semble que les autres pays soient
prêts à élargir le mandat du CSTD et l'ouvrir à la participation  de la
société civile. 
Cordialement
Divina 

Estimados miembros de la lista
Les pongo abajo y en documento el informa sobre la reunion de ayer en
Ginebra. Se trataba de discutir de los mecanismos de implementacion de la
cumbre mundial por el CSTD. A parte de la hostilidad de los Estados
Unidos,se parece que los otros paises se apreparen a ampliar el mandato del
CSTD et a abrirlo a la participacion de la sociedad civil.
Attentamente.
divina

Report on CSTD meeting, Geneva, 16 may 2006, done by Divina Frau-Meigs
 
Meeting with president of ECOSOC, Mr Ali Hachani
Open, informal meeting.
All permanent representatives in Geneva, representatives of CS and private
sector.
 
Input to inter-governmental deliberations for ECOSOC in July.
Background note prepared  by ECOSOC
No decisions are to be taken. Idea and approaches to help council make
decision in july.
An informal summary of discussion will be provided later.
 
Opening session :
*UNCTAD secretary general (Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi) is first speaker. He
stresses a need for  a mechanism for review process ; a means for providing
policy-guidance.
 
*ITU secretary general (Yoshio Utsumi) is second speaker.  He lays emphasis
on infrastructure and affordable access ; Wide range of e-applications ;
Implementation as a multistakeholder project ; concrete actions. He thinks
the role of CSTD should be :  no duplication of action-lines work ;
Adaptable to be able to take in new issues ; Format should allow
cross-cutting issues ; Wsis procedures should be kept (including civil
society) ; Tunis output recognized follow-up should be part of integrated
approach to all UN summits. Linkages between wsis and other summits.
 
Discussion :
*chairman of CSTD
New mechanisms. To be inspired by best practices in other commissions and
the wsis. 
*statement by representative of DESA
Full commitment to follow-up. Inter-agency perspective. Intensification of
cooperation among all concerned UN entities. CSTD should deepen this, for
greater impact of wsis.
Global alliance is intended for non-gov to participate. Provide autonomous
advice to secretariat general. Full help to ECOSOC and other inputs adapted
to the requirements of those bodies. Inclusive manner ; avoiding
duplication. 
*statements by member states and their groupings and members of CSTD.
Pakistan for G77 and China. Outcome : CSTD should function to mainstream the
development dimension in all its dimensions ; review progress at intl and
regional and local level ; make recommendations to ECOSOC on follow up ;
promote dialogue and develop partnership with participation with ECOSOC
practices. Also increase number of countries to 47. CSTD should adopt same
participation of Civil society : non CSTD members participating as
observers, UN funds and programs, other ECOSOC accredited NGOs and private
sector. 
Review and follow up : annual meeting up to 10 working days, including 4
days for follow up of wsis and 2 for policy input and multistakeholder
input, with development orientation of the CSTD. 2 action-oriented sessions
: a review session ; a policy session, to review wsis issues.
*other statements :
-Chili for GRULAC (Latin American and Caribbean) :  ECOSOC should play major
role. Multistakeholder approach. Need for reform of CSTD. Reference to
Sustainable Development Commission as follow up on Rio summit. Avoid
duplication and overlap of work. Scarce resources. CSTD must make
recommendations to ECOSOC. A place for dialogue for all multi-stakeholders.
Definition of a program of work next year and 2015 for global review.
Open-ended working group to meet in Geneva with representatives from all
sectors, to be convened in Geneva to help reform.
-Egypt emphasizes the statement of G77 (136 states spirit). Egypt is present
on the commission and wants to strengthen it. Inclusion of civil society.
Give priority to developing countries. Stress interaction with civil society
and developing parties. Key role to play. So keep initial mandate of CSTD
(on science and technology) ; and add paragraph 105 of Tunis agenda on scope
of application of the wsis. Expand the commission, with equitable
geographical distribution. Strengthen human and financial resources.
Attention to technology transfer, and pay attention to wsis paragraphs on
the matter. 
-USA. No new bodies created but taking into account multi-stakeholder
approach. To be done within UN reform agenda of efficiency and transparency.
Proposals should come form member states. Limited role of CSTD: facilitation
of reporting to ECOSOC , not operational and not additional dialogue;
attempts to expand CSTD would be duplicative and costly and not in-keeping
with wsis. No expansion of CSTD, no radically different mandate or else it
means creation of a new body. No implementation but only follow-up. US
WITHDRAWS FROM THE MEETING AND DOESN¹T ATTEND ANY MORE.
-Austria for CSTD (as vice-chairperson).  Working style of CSTD, as a think
tank of ECOSOC, working in a different way from other functional
commissions. Invitation of eminent experts (mostly nobel laureates). See
Knowledge Societies book published by OUP, as standard of CSTD proposals;
see also Guidelines for Networking and database for development as practical
instruments. Other practical instrument to measure internet connectivity
available on a compact disk. Practical emphasis on risks and advantages of
information societies.  So good-will given to ECOSOC and multi-stakeholder
approach. 
-China, in-line with G77. CSTD should be strengthened. Other areas need to
be discussed in science and technology. Need to study the document further,
with Chinese government.
-Brazil supports GRULAC and G77 statement and reacts to some  prior
comments. Support of strengthening. Against US proposal. Worried about the
differences in positions and opinions. Need of open-ended, informal working
group. 
-Lesotho. keep an open mind
-Tunisia. time for action. ECOSOC and system-wide follow-up of WSIS, with
multi-stakeholder approach.  Cooperation with all actors and facilitators of
action-lines.  
-Latvia. industry and private sectors are not allowed in with ECOSOC
accreditation process. UN Secretary general created Global Alliance for
business entry, fast. Interaction with Global Alliance and CSTD is
recommended. 
-India supports G77 statement.  Strengthen CSTD.
-Sudan. More involvement of civil society and private sector.
-Indonesia. Keep CSTD in Geneva, home of wsis process (ITU and UNCTAD are
also based there). Review process should be in interaction with other
action-lines, common criteria, stock-taking databaseŠ also need of policy
sessions. 
-Thailand. Agenda of CSTD should contain issues related to development.
Increase the number of countries.
-Sierra Leone. Increased resources in time and personal.
-Malaysia, in support of G77 and GRULAC. Not in agreement with US. Global
alliance not to be neglected. Increase of composition.
-Morocco. Increase the commission, envolve more experts, strengthen
financial resources.
-EU via Austria (+ Bulgaria and Romania).  Implementation: need for
multi-stakeholder approach + list of facilitators of action-lines. Need to
include new entities, including academic community. Global Alliance as an
assisting body. No duplication
-UK. Broad work: monitoring. What practical actions from year to year for
CSTD? CSD is a good model: one review year, one policy year. Not sure about
increased membership. But greater participation of NGOs and the private
sector. Supports the small working group within ECOSOC before major
decisions. 
-Belarus. Supports expansion of role and EU extension of partners.
-Switzerland. Avoid duplication and overlap, including with Global Alliance.
More multi-stakeholder. Support informal working group, multi-stakeholder.
-Jamaica (vice-chairman of CSTD). 2 major aspects to monitoring: connection
and access to ICT+ content (wealth of knowledge). This aspect of CSTD has to
be remembered. Provide relevance for knowledge in development.
-Greece. Technology has to be supportive of development.
-Pakistan. Support G77. Support of working-group to prepare mandate. Take
into account other initiatives like Global Alliance but be mindful of no
duplication. 
*CONGO (Renate Bloem):
            a people-inclusive approach to CSTD.
            Role within UN system: strengthen to better help ECOSOC.
Multi-disciplinary approach. CSTD  to feed into discussion of MDG goals.
Civil society in favor a commission creation of ECOSOC rule 1996 (30-1).
Full implication and precedents (Rio and Johannesburg). Roster procedures.
            Mandate: review session, to evaluate action lines, and proposal
for policy meeting. Set a theme for each session (with consultation of CS on
it). Working group should take into consideration the role of private sector
and CS. 
*ICC for Business. 
            For effective participation.
*UNESCO. Provide substantial input.
            New and inter-agency coordination; Multi-stakeholder approach;
Strengthen university-private sector partnerships; Open-source
networks;World academy of young researchers. Ready to share secretarial
functions for the commission, to reinforce capitalization.
*other UN entity ESCUA (?).
            commission should focus competitiveness of Un agencies.
            Emphasis on private-public partnerships, with mobilization of
capital. 
            Diverse geographical regions and cultural diversity with
region-specific efforts. Reinforce technology centers.
*Gender Advisory Board.
            It is an Advisory group to CSTD. Gender dimensions of science,
and information society. Gender dimensions. Women and equal access and
training. Ensure use of ICTs for education, entrepreneurship and training.
Critical themes identified at wsis should be kept.
 
*francis muguet, for scientists in civil society
            -a think tank
            -a solidarity fund for free and open source software.
            -an event to adopt those proposals: at the end of IGF in Athens
to have a world forum for digital solidarities, to be managed by CSTD. IGF
and CSTD should be on equal footing of empowerment.
 
Summary by president of ECOSOC
            CSTD to keep its original mandate  and have additional ones.
            Beginning of process only. More ideas are expected. Summary to
be sent to UN
            Suggestion of open-consultation group is kept.
             

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