23rd September 2003

From:  Civil Society Contents & Themes Group

Re: Discussion of the Production of a Civil Society [Communique/Declaration]

In the CS Plenary meeting on Tuesday 23rd September a proposal was presented to produce an alternative Civil Society document. There was no time to discuss this in detail during the plenary.  At the Contents and Themes meeting later that morning there was a suggestion that the proposal be opened up further for discussion both online and at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday 24th September, 2003.  

Therefore we call on various civil society groupings to have their own discussions before this special meeting to be able to make concrete suggestions to how to move the process forward.

We are putting forward some possible discussion points which could help us formulate the agenda for the meeting.

Agenda for part of the CS Plenary
to discuss the Civil Society Communique

1. Present the proposed agenda.
2. Ask for suggestions and comments on the agenda for the Special Meeting.
3. Give examples of the ideas and issues we want to discuss in the Special Meeting. 

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Civil Society Content & Themes Group

Proposed Special Meeting Agenda*:
Discussion of the Production of a Civil Society [Communique / Declaration]

==

Meeting Date / Time:  24 September 2003 / 18:00 - 20:00
Meeting Location: ITU C2

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Introduction to the Proposed Special Meeting Agenda:

Note:
-- This agenda is meant to help frame the discussion, not to limit it.
-- Sections marked "eg" are meant only as examples of the types of 
   discussion we have in mind for each section in order to solicit responses. 
   It is expected that Civil Society participants will suggest their own ideas for
   both agenda items and for ideas within them.

==

1. Substantive Issues

1.1 What should the main goals of such a document be?

eg 
- to express our discontent about the results of the consultative process
- to provide a resource material for civil society
- to give Civil Society additional options

1.2 How would we use the document?

eg
- print it as a booklet
- online
- for press conferences
- present it at the summit

1.4 How can we make space for more debate and dialogue both now and after the PrepCom?

eg
- special mailing list
- web space
- regional coordinating groups
- face to face dialogue

1.5 What mechanisms can we put in place to help us achieve greater political coherence in the document?

eg Do we reach a document that is:  
- a spectrum of ideas that is a near or total consensus on the overall document
- a collection of independent consensus positions on individual thematic areas
- produce a mix of sections in which we have consensus, while allowing room to 
  discuss specific areas/challenges in which Civil Society was not yet able to reach consensus
  (e.g. using boxes or sidebars).

1.6 How should the document be endorsed?

eg
- Types of endorsement
+ positive endorsement of the whole document
+ positive endorsement of individual sections

- Modalities of endorsement
+ on line
+ in Plenary at WSIS in December

2. Logistical issues

2.1 Drafting process

2.2 Time scales

2.3 Volunteers for drafting
eg
-- Summarizing the discussions
-- Writing key paragraphs based on input to date

2.4 Translation issues