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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0in; tab-stops: list .25in"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT size=3>WSIS PrepCom-2 Side Event:
ICT4Peace Consultation<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0in; tab-stops: list .25in"><FONT
size=3>12.00 – 13.00, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">22 February 2005,
</SPAN>Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva</FONT></H1>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Information and Communication
Technologies for Peace (ICT4Peace) is a project established by the Swiss
Government to examine and promote the use of ICT in humanitarian and peace
operations in war torn societies around the world.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The project has three overarching
objectives:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3">1)<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN>Identify best practices and develop a clear understanding of the
importance and challenges of using ICT to support international conflict
prevention and management, humanitarian relief, and peace building operations;
</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><SPAN
class=776511808-08022005>2</SPAN>)<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN>Help
foster the development of a global community of expertise and practice linking
ICT specialists, humanitarian and peace workers, governments, international
organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the research
community; and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><SPAN
class=776511808-08022005>3</SPAN>)<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN>Raise
the profile of ICT4peace activities on the global policy agenda.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The United Nations’ Millenium
Declaration calls for “a fully coordinated approach to the problems of peace and
development,” and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the Declaration
of Principles agreed at December 2003 World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) states that particular attention should be paid to “countries and
territories under occupation, [and to] countries recovering from conflict.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The project seeks to advance
these objectives by promoting information sharing and dialogue.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Multistakeholder consultations were
organized in Montreux, St. Paul de Vence, and Geneva during 2004, and at least
five more are planned for 2005.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A
core network of organizational participants is developing, with key support from
individuals such as President Marti Ahtisaari of the Crisis Management
Initiative, Juan Rada of Oracle, and Maurice Strong of the United Nations.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A website has just been launched, <A
href="http://www.ict4peace.org/">www.ict4peace.org</A>, to serve as a platform
for the nascent global community of analysts, practitioners, and
supporters.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A research report will
be prepared to assess the ICT4peace landscape and present initial
recommendations for action.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And a
high-level panel is planned for the November 2005 WSIS in Tunis, at which time
the research report will be released.</P>
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<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">As
the next step in this process, a consultation will be held during the upcoming
WSIS Phase II PrepCom-2 meeting in Geneva.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The consultation will be 22 February 2005, from 12.00 – 13.00 hours, in
Room XI of the Palais des Nations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Ambassador Daniel Stauffacher, Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council, and
Dr. William J. Drake, President of Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility and the project’s research consultant, will provide an overview
of the initiative.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This will be
followed by questions and input from attendees, and a discussion of how to bring
ICT4peace concerns into the Tunis agenda.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>All interested parties are encouraged to attend.</SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN
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<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">*****************************************<BR>William
J. Drake <A
href="mailto:wdrake@ictsd.ch">wdrake@ictsd.ch</A><BR>President, Computer
Professionals for <BR> Social Responsibility <A
href="http://www.cpsr.org/">www.cpsr.org</A> <BR>Senior Associate, International
Centre for Trade<BR> and Sustainable Development <A
href="http://www.ictsd.org/">www.ictsd.org</A> <BR> Geneva,
Switzerland <BR><A
href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/IRGP-series">http://mitpress.mit.edu/IRGP-series</A><BR><A
href="http://www.cpsr.org/board/drake">http://www.cpsr.org/board/drake</A>
<BR>******************************************</P>
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