[WSIS CS-Plenary] FW: [Fwd: Outline of the WSIS Follow-up Report 2008 - CS inputswelcome]

[Parminder]

Dear Charles

 

Thanks for sharing the outlines of the 'WSIS Follow-up Report 2008', and
soliciting inputs. 

 

I know the time is short, and so will only offer brief comments for your,
and the drafting team's, consideration. Please feel free to seek any
clarification, and we are also ready to forward stuff under the recommended
sections and sub-sections if so required. 

 

In the 'Introduction' part, there are at present two sections - 'Purpose and
limitations of paper' and 'Role of ICT for economic growth and benefits for
poverty reduction'. Before the part on 'ICTs for eco growth' it will be good
to insert a section on 'role of ICTs for social development'. Here we can
have a quick introduction to progress over issues like access to knowledge,
governance and democracy, empowerment, education, health, and livelihood
support. All of these are centrally implicated in WSIS documents. 

 

Somewhere close to the parts on 'wireless revolution' and 'cutting the cost
of local access' in the section on 'infrastructure', we may introduce a
subsection with deals with important policy option in the area of
infrastructure (1) open access polices from local to backbone levels,
including the issue of network neutrality, (2) low cost/ free public and
community-owned connectivity infrastructures.

 

(There is some very important work done by UNDP on community owned networks,
and muni-wifis are commonplace today. We can develop stuff on these areas to
help the drafters if necessary.)

 

These are the main inputs. A few minor ones:

In the section on 'Content, Applications and Services'   we can have
independent sub-sections on health, and on livelihood support (agriculture
etc). 

The subsection on e-Government should include ICTs for articulating voice of
the disadvantaged sections, ICTs for advocacy, and ICTs for democracy. 

The subsection on 'Open access to information and software' should have
explicit reference to all the work done in the area of 'creative commons',
and contain reference to WIPO's adopted development agenda calling for
strengthening and deepening the public domain, and briefly explore its
implications for the digital space. 

The sub-section on education should include the work being done on open
education platforms (for instance MIT's open courseware, and many others). 

Thanks, and best regards

Parminder

Parminder Jeet Singh

IT for Change (www.ITforChange.net <http://www.itforchange.net/> ) 

 

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 

> *From:* gov-bounces at wsis-gov.org [mailto:gov-bounces at wsis-gov.org] *On

> Behalf Of *CONGO WSIS - Philippe Dam

> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 11, 2008 2:49 AM

> *To:* 'Virtual WSIS CS Plenary Group Space'; governance at lists.cpsr.org;

> gov at wsis-gov.org

> *Cc:* congo at ngocongo.org

> *Subject:* [Gov 464] Outline of the WSIS Follow-up Report 2008 - CS

> inputswelcome

> *Importance:* High

> 

> Dear all,

> 

> Find attached the outline of the *WSIS Follow-up Report 2008*, to be

> prepared by the CSTD Secretariat as the second background document for

> the 2008 CSTD session. The publication of this report was mentioned

> during the 26 February briefing with the CSTD Secretariat. In addition

> to the *UN Secretary General's report*, which will collect information

> and reports coming from the International Organisations serving as

> Action Line facilitators, the *WSIS Follow-up Report* will consist in a

> more analytical description of developments and trends.

> 

> Its drafting will be done by the CTSD Secretariat with the support of

> consultants.

> 

> The CSTD Secretariat encourages *NGOs and civil society entities to

> provide inputs and contributions* which will be shared with the drafting

> team of the Report: these contributions should be sent to Charles Geiger

> by e-mail; those who would not have Mr. Geiger's contacts can contact me

> off line. The civil society contributions can either consist in comments

> on the attached outline, or in written substantive documentation / paper

> produced by your organisation on issues to be addressed in the report.

> 

> There is no specific deadline for these submissions, but note that the

> work on this report is currently on going, therefore the sooner the

> better! Of course, these contributions will be used by the drafting

> team, keeping in mind time and space constraints (the total report will

> be 50 pages).

> 

> It is planned that this analytical document should be published every

> year by the CSTD Secretariat, as background for the CSTD.

> 

> Feel free to get back to me for any further information in this regard.

> 

> Note finally that information regarding the limited number of

> fellowships for the CSTD session will be made available in the course of

> next week.

> 

> Best regards,

> 

> 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: **philippe.dam at ngocongo.org* <mailto:wphilippe.dam at ngocongo.org>*

> Website: www.ngocongo.org <blocked::http://www.ngocongo.org> *

> 

> 

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