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<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Hello
Sally,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The
Africa Caucus is still working on the text for inputs to the CS declaration, in
the meanwhile we are sending the following text..</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Additions to new text in bold..</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Regards.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Njenga
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=197040014-06122003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>--------------------------<FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000>
</FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><STRONG>1. A VISIONARY
SOCIETY</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><EM>paragraph 1.</EM>
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3>At the heart of our vision of
information and communications societies</FONT></SPAN><A title=""
style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1"
href="outbind://26-00000000DA523B8EE77AE0409F3008B211CE9956247A5000/#_ftn1"
name=_ftnref1><SPAN class=MsoFootnoteReference><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=ES
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-special-character: footnote">[1]</SPAN></SPAN></B></SPAN></A><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3> is the human being.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dignity and rights of <STRONG>people
</STRONG>and each person must be <STRONG>promoted, </STRONG>respected,
protected<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and affirmed.
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3>Redressing the
inexcusable gulf between levels of development and between opulence and extreme
poverty must therefore be our prime concern.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><EM>paragraph
2.</EM></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT size=3><BR></FONT></P><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3> <SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">We
are committed to building information and communication societies<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that are people-centred, inclusive
and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>equitable.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Societies in which everyone can freely
create, access, utilize, share and disseminate<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>information and knowledge, so that
individuals,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>communities and
peoples are empowered to improve their quality of life and to achieve their full
potential. Societies founded on the principles of social, political,<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and economic justice, and<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>peoples' full participation and
empowerment <STRONG>and thus societies that truly address the key development
challenges facing the world today.</STRONG> Societies that pursue the<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>objectives of sustainable development,
democracy , and gender<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>equality,
for the attainment of a more peaceful, just,<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>egalitarian and thus sustainable world,
premised on the principles enshrined in the<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Charter of the United Nations and in the
Universal Declaration<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>of Human
Rights.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><EM>paragraph
3.</EM> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">We
aspire to build information and communication societies where development is
framed by fundamental human rights and oriented to achieving a <STRONG>more
democratic, equitable and guaranteed access to resources, opportunities and
services,</STRONG> leading to the elimination of poverty and other gross
inequalitiesm in a way that is non-exploitative and environmentally sustainable.
To this end.....</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><EM>paragraph
5. </EM></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Building
such<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>societies implies involving
individuals in<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>their capacity as
citizens, their organizations and communities,<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>as participants and decision makers in
shaping frameworks,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>policies and
governing mechanisms.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This means
creating an<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>enabling environment
for the engagement and commitment of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>all generations, both women and men, and ensuring the<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>involvement of diverse social and
linguistic groups,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>cultures and
peoples, <STRONG>rural and urban populations</STRONG> without exclusion.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition, governmental accountability
to citizens should be a pillar of public policy, in order to ensure that models
of information and communication societies are open to continuing correction and
improvement.</SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><EM>Paragrpah
7.</EM> </SPAN></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=IT>We are conscious that
information, knowledge and the means of communication are available on a
magnitude that humankind has never dreamt of in the past; but we are also aware
that exclusion from access to the means of communication, from information and
from the skills that are needed to participate in the public sphere, is still a
major constraint, <STRONG>especially in developing countries</STRONG>. At the
same time information and knowledge are increasingly being transformed into<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>private resources which can be
controlled, sold and bought, as if they were simple commodities and not the
founding elements of social organization and development. Thus, as one of the
main challenges of information and communication societies, we recognize the
urgency of seeking solutions to these contradictions.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=IT><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P><SPAN lang=IT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">3.3 Sustainable democratic development and
enabling environment<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="COLOR: red; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">editing still in
progress<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">3.3.1 Sustainable democratic
development<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><EM><FONT
face=Tahoma></FONT></EM></SPAN></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><EM><FONT face=Tahoma>new text suggested:
- africa caucus - drafting still in progress...</FONT></EM></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><SPAN lang=ES>Promoting development
should include a global struggle against challenges that are mainly illiteracy,
health (for instance HIV-AIDS), water, power, food, environmental degrading,
peace, security and poverty-induced issues. The Summit should try to
find means and ways through which ICTs should contribute to facing these
challenges.</SPAN></B><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Framing the Issue<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">WSIS should include a program, incorporating
specific public policies, to promote fair bilateral network interconnections and
multilateral peering agreements, better balanced <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">and lower cost international routing of
traffic, and the rapid deployment of distributed Internet backbones in the
developing world. [<I>placement suggested by editing
group]<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Information and communication technologies must
be designed and manufactured according to sustainable principles. This means
that technologies must not consume for their production an intolerable amount of
energy and natural resources, </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">nor
should their utilization consume an inordinate amount.</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> Technological solutions must also be
sustainable in the sense that communities are able to support their use and
evolution. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB">Recycling technology for ICT equipment must
meet the same high standards as those applied today for their production. In
addition, sustainability is not only an objective for the preservation of
natural resources but is also a challenge for knowledge and communication
societies in securing the availability of knowledge by keeping the access
channels open, in order to provide people today and in the future with a secure
basis for action. Sustainable societies therefore require unhindered and
inclusive use of knowledge and information. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P></SPAN></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ES; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<DIV style="mso-element: footnote-list"><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT
face=Arial></FONT><BR clear=all><FONT size=3>
<HR align=left width="33%" SIZE=1>
</FONT>
<DIV id=ftn1 style="mso-element: footnote">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><A title=""
style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1"
href="outbind://26-00000000DA523B8EE77AE0409F3008B211CE9956247A5000/#_ftnref1"
name=_ftn1><SPAN class=MsoFootnoteReference><SPAN lang=ES
style="FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><SPAN
style="mso-special-character: footnote"><FONT
size=3>[1]</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=ES
style="FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
size=3> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">There
is no single information, communication or knowledge society: there are, at the
local, national and global levels, possible future societies; moreover,
considering communication is a critical aspect of any information society, we
use in this document the phrase “information and communication societies.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For consistency with previous WSIS
language, we retain the use of the phrase “Information Society” when directly
referencing WSIS.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB"><FONT
size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT><FONT
face=Arial></FONT><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></P></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org
[mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Sally
Burch<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, December 06, 2003 10:57 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
ct-drafting@wsis-cs.org; ct@wsis-cs.org;
plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [WSIS CS-Plenary] URGENT: Please send
COMMENTS on CS declaration<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>All, <BR><BR><BR>1) The CT
group will meet at 4pm (Geneva time) to discuss the more or less final draft
of the CS Declaration. If you can, please send us any comments by 2pm. I know
these deadlines are impossible, but then so is the compilation and editing
work we are doing!! Post your comments to ct-drafting@wsis-cs.org and cc. to:
<BR>mciver@albany.edu and sburch@alainet.org <BR><BR>2) The version posted by
Bill McIver in the early hours of this morning still has some omissions (due
to editing errors, collective jet-lag and the late hour!) that we'll be
correcting today. <BR>In particular these are: <BR><BR>a) The first parapragh
of the "visionary society" section now includes a sentence on development as
the first priority, as requested by Africa. It now reads: <BR><BR><?color><?param 0000,0000,0000>"At the heart of our vision of
information and communications societies is the human being. The dignity and
rights of each person must be respected, protected and affirmed. Redressing
the inexcusable gulf between levels of development and between opulence and
extreme poverty must therefore be our prime concern." <BR><BR><?color><?param 0100,0100,0100><?fontfamily><?param Times New Roman><?bigger>b)<?color><?param 0000,0000,0000><?fontfamily><?param ARIAL><?smaller>
The title and introduction to the Principes, goals and challenges section
(right after section 1) is missing. The text is as follows:
<BR><BR>"PRINCIPLES, GOALS AND CHALLENGES <BR><BR>In accordance with this
vision, it is essential that the development of information and communication
societies be grounded in core principles that reflect a full awareness of the
challenges to be met and the responsibility of different stakeholders. Ok This
includes the full recognition of the need to address gender concerns and to
make a fundamental commitment to gender equality, non- discrimination and
women's empowerment, and recognize these as non-negotiable and essential
prerequisites to an equitable and people-centred development within
information and communication societies. Such a commitment means consciously
redressing the effects of the intersection of unequal power relations in the
social, economic and political spheres, which manifests in differential
access, choice, opportunity, participation, status and control over resources
between women and men as well as communities in terms of class, ethnicity,
religion, race, geographical location and development status. We therefore
recognise and uphold the following principles:" <BR><BR>- The language
proposed on health is still missing. This is the language proposed, we will
see how to incorporate it: <BR><BR>"The delivery of life-critical mental and
physical health information can be facilitated and improved through ICT-based
solutions. Lack of access to information and communication has been identified
as a critical factor in the public mental and physical health crises around
the world. Experts have suggested that providing citizens of underdeveloped
countries with community level points of access to mental and physical health
information would be a critical starting point for addressing the mental and
physical health care crises. However, such access points should support more
than one-way flows of information (for example, from expert to community or
patient). Communities must be allowed to participate in the selection and
creation of communication flows that they find useful and necessary to address
the prevention, treatment, and promotion of mental and physical health care
for all people". <BR><BR><BR><?color><?param 0100,0100,0100>c) The section on
cultural diversity is still missing. This is the provisional version: <BR><BR><?color><?param 0000,0000,0000>"PROMOTING CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC
DIVERSITY <BR><BR><?color><?param 0100,0100,0100>Cultural and linguistic
diversity is an essential dimension of a people-centered information society.
Every culture has a dignity and a value which must be respected and preserved.
Cultural and linguistic diversity is based, among other things, on the freedom
of information and expression and the right of everyone to freely participate
in the cultural life of the community, at local, national and international
levels. This participation includes activities both as users and producers of
cultural content. ICTs including traditional communications media have a
particularly important role to play in sustaining and developing the world's
cultures and languages. New ICTs offer additional means and opportunities to
protect and promote the human cultural heritage, to stimulate creativity and
to enable the wide dissemination of diverse cultural content.
<BR><BR><U>Capacity building and education <BR></U>Cultural and linguistic
diversity should not only be preserved, it needs to be fostered. Cultural and
linguistic diversity is rooted in unrestricted communication. This implies
capacity to express oneself, in one's own language, at any time, by any means,
including digital media. In order to become a contributor and a creator in the
information society, not only technical skills are needed. On line literacy
and specific abilities to write on line and through digital networks must be
given specific attention in education and training programs. Cultural and
linguistic diversity also implies equal access to the means of expression and
of dissemination of cultural goods. In reinforcing cultural and linguistic
diversity, priority should be given to community-driven initiatives.
<BR><BR><U>Public domain <BR></U>Public bodies such as libraries, scientific
research centres, universities, should be able to contribute to enrich the
common good of culture and knowledge, by putting in the public domain the
results of their activities which have been funded by public money.
<BR><BR><U>Language <BR></U>Plurality of languages is at the core of a vibrant
information society. New ICTs can be applied to bridge cultural and linguistic
divides through, for example, automated translation and voice recognition,
while at the same time assisting to protect cultural and linguistic diversity.
A priority should be given in ICT research and development to finding new ways
of overcoming barriers of language and culture. <BR><BR><U>Traditional and
indigenous knowledge <BR></U>Traditional and indigenous knowledge should be
protected from commercial exploitation including specific restrictions on the
use of patents. Indigenous people should freely decide whether their cultural
heritage should fall or not into the public domain. <BR><BR><U>International
law and regulation <BR></U>Cultural and linguistic diversity in the
information age, should be coherent with the existing international
declarations and covenants, in particular Article 19 and Article 27 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Articles 19 and 27 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Articles 13 and 15 of the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and Articles 5
and 6 of the Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity adopted by UNESCO in
2001. Culture including audio-visual content and services should not only be
considered as a commodity but should gain special consideration in
international trade agreements. Efforts towards an International Convention on
Cultural Diversity should be accelerated with a view to achieving an effective
and binding international agreement recognising the special importance of
cultural, linguistic and media diversity. Existing international copyright
regulation including TRIPS and WIPO should be reviewed to consider their
effectiveness in promoting culture and linguistic diversity and the
development of human knowledge." <BR><BR><BR><BR>d) The section on media is
still missing. This is the provisional language: <BR><BR>"<U><?color><?param 0000,0000,0000>Media <BR></U>Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the touchstone for an independent,
pluralistic and free media and should be implemented for all media regardless
of the technologies used. Security and other considerations should not be
allowed to compromise freedom of expression and media freedom and unhindered
access to information sources should be ensured. New ICTs should be used to
strengthen the role of the traditional media including broadcast and print.
Media pluralism and diversity should be guaranteed through appropriate laws to
avoid excessive media concentration. [State controlled media should be
transformed into editorially independent organisations]. The specific and
crucial role of public service broadcasting and community media should be
recognised. <BR><BR><U>Community media <BR></U>Community media, that is media
which are independent, community-driven and civil society-based, have a
particular role to play in enabling access to and participation for all in the
information society, especially the poorest and most marginalised communities.
Community media should be supported and promoted. Governments should ensure
that legal frameworks for community media are non-discriminatory and provide
for equitable allocation of frequencies through transparent and accountable
mechanisms." <BR><BR><?color><?param 0100,0100,0100>Sally Burch <BR><BR><BR><PRE>_______________________________________________
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