Title: If civil society is to be a part of the multi-stakeholder process…
Author: karen
Last saved by: Meryem Marzouki
Company: gnl

Statement of the Civil Society in Response to the WSIS Draft Declaration Version 2 (DRAFT 1)

WE, the civil society representatives, present at the third Prep Com of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), express our grave concern, frustration and disappointment at the Draft Declaration that has been issued on 19^th September 2003.  We have entered this process in good faith, on the understanding that our inputs and contributions would be given serious consideration in this process.  While we acknowledge that the process of negotiations is not an easy one, this is no justification for the failure to address issues that are critical to this process and to society as a whole.

We have three overarching concerns in relation to this document. 

•	Key language and points that address core concerns that civil society has raised over the past 18 months have been removed from this document.
•	Certain concepts and issues have been formulated in the current document in a way that has fundamentally altered their meaning.  We believe that the message that the current document expresses is not one that reflects the interests of all stakeholders.
•	Although the principles of the UDHR and the Millenium Development Goals are referred to prominently at the start of the Declaration, the subsequent paragraphs do not reflect vision statements that demonstrate genuine commitment to the upholding of these principles in the realization of an Information Society.

Specifically:

1.	Community media as a concept is missing from the document.  This indicates to us a complete disregard of the value of such alternative media in promoting public participation, strengthening cultural and linguistic diversity, promoting gender equity and in bringing about a just and equitable information society that includes the voices of the poor and the marginalised.

2.	The value and benefits of Free and Open Source Software are not adequately recognized nor promoted in this document, thus undermining  their real potential.  These extend far beyond the concept of affordability  which is the only stated benefit.

3.	The section on Enabling Environments speaks mostly of a regulatory and legislative environment necessary for the advancement of a market-driven industry.  The social and political environments necessary to enable full participation and enjoyment of the benefits of an Information Society by all people are not emphasised, except in relation to regulations, standard setting and legislation.

4.	The reference to Intellectual Property Rights manipulates the notion of fair balance. If not revised to recognize the threat that it poses to innovation, the public domain, and citizens rights, it will only support the further concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the resource rich few.

5.	In relation to Internet governance, the document speaks of a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure equitable distribution of resources.  However, in subsequent paragraphs in relation to the management of the Internet, both in technical and policy issues, the role of civil society is completely negated. 

6.	Discussions in relation to Building Confidence, Trust and Security have shifted considerably from a focus on the need for Infrastructure integrity, to a highly politicized agenda characterized by language referring to the integrity of the military field and the use of information resources for criminal and terrorist purposes. Definitions of criminal and terrorist purposes in existing and emerging policies and legislation are ambiguous and prevent the use of information resources for legitimate purposes and threaten rights including the right to privacy, freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of expression.  

7.	References to women still fail to recognize them as key actors and equally important contributors, shapers and decision-makers in all aspects of building an information society.  The Declaration must avoid language that couches women as “wards” needing protection and guidance from those in positions of power and authority and rather focus on the importance of women as primary change agents in the realization of sustainable development.
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In addition, references to the role of the Information Society in ensuring the furthering of commitments made in previous UN conferences are given little, if any, mention in this document.  

The document as it currently stands, reinforces the unequal balance of powers between and within nations, instead of redressing it.  We strongly urge governments to maintain a strong development focus and pr event the growing control of international governance processes by market-led forces.  

More importantly, the document lacks from any vision. The information society described in the document is a bureaucratic, technocratic, bargaining one. This so-called society doesn’t include people and citizens: little or no mentioning of workers, the poor, indigenous peoples, the disabled, or all the diversity of people, cultures, ways of living, which are not part of this process, here in Geneva. The current document will only succeed in reaching an elite consensus: we can tell you that civil society will not endorse it and we don’t believe heads of states will either.

Prepared by:

Latin American and Caribbean Caucus
African Caucus
Asian Caucus
NGO Gender Strategies Working Group (NGO GWSG)