<P>Dear Lisa</P>
<P>I had the same feeling as you when I read Riks comments and the reasons he invoked to Meryem's exclusion from the list. In effect. Meryem was involved and always active in WSIS since its very beginning ! And this is well known by all CS activists. </P>
<P>These kind of explanations are not honouring our "facilitators" nor do they give them our trust.</P>
<P>Jean-Louis Fullsack</P>
<P>CSDPTT<BR><BR><BR><BR></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #ff0000 2px solid">> Message du 14/10/05 17:03<BR>> De : mclauglm@po.muohio.edu<BR>> A : plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> Copie à : <BR>> Objet : Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] On the selection committee process<BR>> <BR>> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for specific people]<BR>> <BR>> Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to access automatic translation of this message!<BR>> _______________________________________<BR>> <BR>> I'm not a member of the HR Caucus, for the <BR>> record; however, I find this explanation for why <BR>> Ms. Faidutti was chosen over Meryem Marzouki to <BR>> be rather questionable and groundless. Meryem is <BR>> quite capable of making her own case, but just to <BR>> offer a comment, I don't know how anyone could <BR>> dismiss her as not having a long involvement with <BR>> the WSIS process (unless I conjured up her <BR>> presence at prepcoms and on listservs during <BR>> phase 1) and a very broad expertise on human <BR>> rights. Given that WFUNA stands for World <BR>> Federation of United Nations Agencies, one would <BR>> assume that this organization has a long <BR>> involvement with the UN; judging from their web <BR>> site it is an involvement that prescribes support <BR>> for the UN and its processes regardless of the <BR>> lack of transparency and accountability that we <BR>> have all witnessed and should be addressed. I do <BR>> not know Ms. Faidutti, have never met her, and do <BR>> not intend this to be a criticism of her <BR>> specifically, and I hold no ill will toward her. <BR>> But, if you're going to offer an explanation as <BR>> to why she was chosen over Meryem, it seems as <BR>> though you're going to have to offer more by way <BR>> of explanation. Perhaps Ms. Faidutti represented <BR>> the "safer choice"?<BR>> <BR>> Regards,<BR>> <BR>> Lisa<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> >[Please note that by using 'REPLY', your <BR>> >response goes to the entire list. Kindly use <BR>> >individual addresses for responses intended for <BR>> >specific people]<BR>> ><BR>> >Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to <BR>> >access automatic translation of this message!<BR>> >_______________________________________<BR>> ><BR>> >Hi Meryem,<BR>> ><BR>> >You're name was considered in the Committee's <BR>> >first meeting, alongside the HR Caucus's other <BR>> >nomination of Ms. Bruna Faidutti of WFUNA. It <BR>> >was decided to put forward the name of Ms. <BR>> >Faidutti, given WFUNA's long involvement in the <BR>> >WSIS process and the United Nations and her <BR>> >expertise on general human rights issues.<BR>> ><BR>> >Rik Panganiban<BR>> ><BR>> >On Oct 14, 2005, at 10:20 AM, Meryem Marzouki wrote:<BR>> ><BR>> >>[Please note that by using 'REPLY', your <BR>> >>response goes to the entire list. Kindly use <BR>> >>individual addresses for responses intended for <BR>> >>specific people]<BR>> >><BR>> >>Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to <BR>> >>access automatic translation of this message!<BR>> >>_______________________________________<BR>> >><BR>> >>Dear Rik, dear selection committee, dear all,<BR>> >><BR>> >>The Human Rights Caucus is still waiting for <BR>> >>the reasons why my own name, as HR caucus <BR>> >>co-chair, has not been retained. It has been <BR>> >>transmitted to you by Rikke, HR caucus <BR>> >>co-chair, on behalf of our caucus. This <BR>> >>proposal from the caucus has been reiterated on <BR>> >>its list, with the clear request to two members <BR>> >>of the selection committee to forward this <BR>> >>proposal to the committee.<BR>> >>I know that I'm not very fashionable (although <BR>> >>I don't know if my hair are longer that Richard <BR>> >>Stallman's).<BR>> >>Is there any other sound reason that the <BR>> >>selection committee could share with the <BR>> >>plenary, or at least with the caucus?<BR>> >><BR>> >>This lack of transparency and accountability <BR>> >>from the selection committee is really <BR>> >>problematic. In addition to the fact that two <BR>> >>nominated Tunisian Senators are members of this <BR>> >>selection committee (2 out of 6 members, if I'm <BR>> >>not wrong).<BR>> >><BR>> >>Finally, the process of collecting supports, <BR>> >>undertaken by the HR caucus, does not need any <BR>> >>support from the selection committee, since the <BR>> >>nomination proposal is addressed directly to <BR>> >>WSIS Secretary-General and to WSIS Preparatory <BR>> >>Process President.<BR>> >><BR>> >>Best regards,<BR>> >>Meryem Marzouki<BR>> >>HR caucus co-chair<BR>> >><BR>> >>Le vendredi, 14 oct 2005, à 15:36 Europe/Paris, Rik Panganiban a écrit :<BR>> >><BR>> >>>Bertrand, et al,<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Of course any civil society group or caucus <BR>> >>>can communicate directly to the WSIS Executive <BR>> >>>Secretariat their recommendation for speakers <BR>> >>>for the WSIS. And the human rights caucus has <BR>> >>>done so.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>However we have still created a process <BR>> >>>through a selection committee composed of <BR>> >>>representatives chosen by the different <BR>> >>>regional groupings, the CS Bureau and Content <BR>> >>>and Themes. The committee is still <BR>> >>>deliberating on whether or not it can support <BR>> >>>the nomination.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>I would ask us to first go through our <BR>> >>>already-agreed process to try and get as much <BR>> >>>general support as possible. If this is not <BR>> >>>possible, than your other option and others <BR>> >>>should be considered.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Respectfully,<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Rik Panganiban<BR>> >>>chair of the selection committee<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>On Oct 14, 2005, at 6:13 AM, Bertrand de La Chapelle wrote:<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Having Ms. Shirin Ebadi as opening speaker for <BR>> >>>Civil Society in Tunis would present obvious <BR>> >>>advantages and her nomination could be <BR>> >>>forwarded to the Secretariat after a simple <BR>> >>>endorsement process described below.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Main advantages<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>1) It would of course put human rights and <BR>> >>>gender balance at the forefront of the <BR>> >>>building of inclusive information societies, <BR>> >>>uderlining that the WSIS process is not only <BR>> >>>about technology, and that appropriate <BR>> >>>"enabling environments" also mean freedom of <BR>> >>>expression and access to information, and <BR>> >>>"capacity building" also means equal <BR>> >>>opportunities for men and women, including <BR>> >>>access to education.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>2) She comes from a country that is very vocal <BR>> >>>during the WSIS process and the last PrepCom <BR>> >>>in Internet Governance and Follow-up <BR>> >>>discussions : in the first domain, the iranian <BR>> >>>national representative strongly advocates <BR>> >>>that Internet Governance should be <BR>> >>>"transparent and democratic, with full <BR>> >>>linvolvement of all stakeholders"; and in the <BR>> >>>second one, that follow-up at all levels <BR>> >>>should be done with the participation of all <BR>> >>>stakeholders.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>If properly briefed on the status of <BR>> >>>discussions on the draft Tunis Declaration and <BR>> >>>the written commitments that governments plan <BR>> >>>to make in WSIS II, she would be in an ideal <BR>> >>>position to take governments at their own <BR>> >>>words and describe in plain language how far <BR>> >>>from these commitments actual practice in some <BR>> >>>countries really is. This is the opportunity <BR>> >>>to point the often too large gap between what <BR>> >>>governments say in international arenas and <BR>> >>>what they indeed practice at home.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>The WSIS has introduced something new in the <BR>> >>>international negociation process : witnesses. <BR>> >>>Civil Society's participation was not what it <BR>> >>>should have been; but enough organizations <BR>> >>>were nonetheless present during the process to <BR>> >>>hear government representatives make <BR>> >>>commitments they now can be held accountable <BR>> >>>for.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Summits are not traditional bilateral <BR>> >>>negociations where secret is the natural rule. <BR>> >>>Summit processes are the closest thing to a <BR>> >>>world Parliament (far from it I know, but <BR>> >>>still the closest thing), where general <BR>> >>>principles for our global community (Polity) <BR>> >>>are elaborated. The first absolute rule of <BR>> >>>representative democracy is the publicity of <BR>> >>>debates.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>The ironic situation where citizens of <BR>> >>>countries (as CS actors) are not even allowed <BR>> >>>by the rules of procedure to simply listen to <BR>> >>>what representatives of their own government <BR>> >>>are saying on their behalf is totally <BR>> >>>contradictory with the notion of democracy and <BR>> >>>the transparency principle.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>3) Finally, Shirin Ebadi was, if I understand <BR>> >>>well, the first woman judge in Iran. In most <BR>> >>>countries, the judiciary is a branch of the <BR>> >>>State and rightly so. Therefore, she is now a <BR>> >>>Civil Society actor with a past in the <BR>> >>>governmental sector, as are today many <BR>> >>>ex-ministers, presidents, parlementarians and <BR>> >>>civil servants. This brings an interesting <BR>> >>>light to the discussion that recently emerged <BR>> >>>around Adama or some "senators".<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Civil society is and should indeed be open to <BR>> >>>all individuals that, irrespective of their <BR>> >>>past functions, engage in governance processes <BR>> >>>as peers with all other actors, relinquishing <BR>> >>>whatever privilege they may still have and <BR>> >>>accepting to be evaluated on their sole <BR>> >>>"capacity to contribute", rather than the <BR>> >>>traditional intergovernmental rule of "equal <BR>> >>>right to oppose" (which is, ultimately, the <BR>> >>>basic foundation of the UN system under the <BR>> >>>expression "equal sovereignty of States").<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Choosing Shirin Ebadi is therefore also a <BR>> >>>symbol of the inclusiveness of Civil Society.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>_______________<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Endorsement process<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Key question is now : if, as it seems from <BR>> >>>initial reactions, there is a general <BR>> >>>agreement on her being the favorite CS choice <BR>> >>>for the opening ceremony, how can this be <BR>> >>>secured ?<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>1) The principle that Civil society actors <BR>> >>>accredited to the Summit process should - at <BR>> >>>least - have the right to choose who is going <BR>> >>>to speak on behalf of civil society for the <BR>> >>>opening ceremony must be strongly reaffirmed; <BR>> >>>this is a "make or break" principle.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>2) For obvious reasons, there is no way an <BR>> >>>absolute consensus can be achieved on the <BR>> >>>Plenary list and we should not waste time <BR>> >>>trying to obtain it. We are therefore in the <BR>> >>>typical situation where rough consensus (as <BR>> >>>practiced in the internet community) is the <BR>> >>>only way out. :<BR>> >>>- there is a need to take a decision (only one slot and a real deadline)<BR>> >>>- absolute consensus cannot be achieved<BR>> >>>- a large majority seems to emerge on a specific name<BR>> >>>- dissenting opinions do not seem to be able <BR>> >>>to provide an alternative that would be <BR>> >>>accepted by all<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>3) A two-fold process (taking inspiration from <BR>> >>>the notion of rough consensus) could therefore <BR>> >>>be established :<BR>> >>>- a general call on the Plenary list would ask <BR>> >>>individuals or accredited entities to express <BR>> >>>support and a formal nomination paper would be <BR>> >>>transmitted to the Secretariat and Amb. <BR>> >>>Karklins with an attachment listing accredited <BR>> >>>entities and individuals supporting the <BR>> >>>nomination<BR>> >>>- the call would simultaneously invite actors <BR>> >>>who might still have objections to the <BR>> >>>nomination (if any) to indicate so and allow <BR>> >>>them to submit a separate motion (sort of <BR>> >>>dissenting opinion) with : their name, all <BR>> >>>potential connexions with participating <BR>> >>>governments (as a matter of transparency) and <BR>> >>>- possibly - an alternative speaker they agree <BR>> >>>upon.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>The second element, that would allow the <BR>> >>>expression of minority positions, is essential <BR>> >>>to make the process fully legitimate.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>4) On a separate basis, CS actors with <BR>> >>>particular connexions with their governments <BR>> >>>could make them aware of the ongoing process <BR>> >>>and ask them to support publicly or more <BR>> >>>privately to the Secretariat the right of <BR>> >>>civil society to choose its opening speaker, <BR>> >>>outlining the bad press the Summit would get <BR>> >>>if the name of Shirin Ebadi were to be <BR>> >>>voluntarily refused.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>I hope this will help move forward on this good idea.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Best<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Bertrand<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>-<BR>> >>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>><BR>> >>>On 10/14/05, maseger@t-online.de <MASEGER@T-ONLINE.DE>wrote:<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>[Please note that by using 'REPLY', your <BR>> >>>response goes to the entire list. Kindly use <BR>> >>>individual addresses for responses intended <BR>> >>>for specific people]<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to <BR>> >>>access automatic translation of this message!<BR>> >>>_______________________________________<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Hallo, Meryem! & Friends!<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>On behalf of my (European umbrella-)Organisation<BR>> >>>I fully support the nomination of Mrs. Shirin Ebadi<BR>> >>>(2003 peace Nobel prize winner) as a keynote speaker<BR>> >>>for CS at the WSIS II Summit, TUNIS.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>And I thank Renata for her decision to step aside.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>MARIANNE<BR>> >>>(Gender Caucus and European Caucus)<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>Marianne Seger<BR>> >>>permament European NGO observer<BR>> >>>at the U.N. New York and Geneva<BR>> >>>for<BR>> >>>EURAG European Federation of Older Persons<BR>> >>>GRAZ/AUSTRIA<BR>> >>>( www.eurag-europe.org)<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>---------------------------------------------------<BR>> >>>> On behalf of the small organization which I<BR>> >>>> represent, I wish to say that we most strongly<BR>> >>>> support the nomination of Ms. Ebadi as a keynote<BR>> >>>> speaker for CS at the Tunis Summit, especially<BR>> >>>> under the circumstances and regardless of how<BR>> >>>> much solidarity Adama Samassékou feels with CS<BR>> >>>> (sorry Tracey--but we just don't believe that<BR>> >>>> he's an appropriate CS representative).<BR>> >>>><BR>> >>>> Regards,<BR>> >>>><BR>> >>>> Lisa<BR>> >>>> Union for Democratic Communications<BR>> >>>>------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> >>><BR>> >>>> >Dear Amir,<BR>> >>>> ><BR>> >>>> >This is to confirm that Ms. Ebadi has finally managed to make herself<BR>> >>>> >available for the Tunis Summit, despite her busy agenda. We have got<BR>> >>>> >the news very late, that is the reason why I posted only yesterday the<BR>> >>>> >message and have sent yesterday also the letters to Mr Utsumi and to<BR>> >>>> >Amb. Karklins.<BR>> >>>> >The Human Rights caucus is in contact with her, through one of its<BR>> >>>> >members. Her participation is entirely confirmed.<BR>> >>>> >We would be happy to include the West-Asia Family in the list of CS<BR>> >>>> >entities proposing Ms. Ebadi as a speaker for WSIS opening.<BR>> >>>> ><BR>> >>>> >Kind regards,<BR>> >>>> >Meryem<BR>> >>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >_______________________________________________<BR>> >Plenary mailing list<BR>> >Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> >http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> --<BR>> Lisa McLaughlin, Ph.D.<BR>> Associate Professor, Mass Communication & Women's Studies<BR>> Editor, Feminist Media Studies<BR>> Director of Graduate Studies, M.A. Program in Mass Communication<BR>> Union for Democratic Communications Representative,<BR>> World Summit on the Information Society<BR>> <BR>> Mass Communication<BR>> Williams Hall<BR>> Miami University-Ohio<BR>> Oxford, OH 45056<BR>> USA<BR>> Tele: 513-529-3547<BR>> Fax: 513-529-1835<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Plenary mailing list<BR>> Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR>> <BR>> </BLOCKQUOTE>