[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] [APCNews] APCNews - March 2005 - No. 51

Karen Higgs khiggs at apc.org
Fri Apr 1 22:57:50 SAST 2005 

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                     SPECIAL EDITION
     WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY PREPCOM 2
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            *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
       Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                 - March 2005 No. 51 -
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--THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE & FINANCING ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT--
--PREPCOM 2 FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES--
--HUMAN RIGHTS & WSIS--
--MULTISTAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS--
--THE PEOPLE AT THE PREPCOM --
--RECOMMENDED READING—-
--WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? WSIS-RELATED WEBSITES--
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-- WSIS UPDATE II: World Summit on the Information Society – PrepCom 2 --

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations 
conference with the objective of developing a global framework to deal 
with challenges posed by new information and communication technologies 
(ICTs). The WSIS is a two phase process: the first one took place in 
Geneva in December 2003 and the second will take place in Tunisia in 
November 2005.

 From 17 to 25 February 2005, the WSIS second preparatory committee for 
the second phase, known as PrepCom 2, took place in Geneva. Last month, 
APCNews brought you resources and information on the issues to be 
covered in the PrepCom, now we bring you news, reports and interviews 
from the PrepCom attendees. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/

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--THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE & FINANCING ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT--

During the first phase of the summit in Geneva, governments were unable 
to agree on the language included in the official documents on two 
issues – internet governance (who controls) – and financing mechanisms 
(who pays), including the creation of a Digital Solidarity Fund for 
Africa. Since then two working groups have been mandated to discuss 
various options and bring recommendations back to stakeholders for 
further deliberation. PrepCom 2 was dominated by the presentation of the 
report of the financing working group and the consequent debate.  The 
internet governance working group will present its final report at 
PrepCom 3 in September.


--FINANCING ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT--

APC REPORT: Finance of information and communication technologies for 
development (ICTD) at Prepcom 2

“Internet Governance is Important…it would have been more so, if people 
HAD the Internet…LET’S TALK FINANCING FIRST!” proclaimed a t-shirt worn 
at PrepCom 2. Who will finance info technology for development is an 
intensely ideological issue. WSIS 1 established a Task Force on 
Financial Mechanisms to break the deadlock amongst governments and to 
make recommendations for WSIS 2 to adopt. Those recommendations were 
presented and debated at PrepCom 2. This report from APC looks at the 
issues on (and off) the table.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31483


OPINION: The Digital Solidarity Fund and The Economist

APC’s policy manager, Willie Currie, responds to an editorial on the 
digital divide from The Economist magazine in which it derided the 
Digital Solidarity Fund which had been welcomed by governments at the 
WSIS Prepcom 2.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31481

--INTERNET GOVERNANCE--

APC REPORT: The internet governance debate is one where civil society 
advocates can make a real difference

Internet governance brings together two largely impenetrable realms for 
the average WSIS delegate: the nuts and bolts of the internet - what it 
is, how it works- and who manages those nuts and bolts. It is too early 
to predict what the final impact of the Working Group on Internet 
Governance (WGIG) will be. But there is no doubt that it has created a 
much-needed space. “At a time of global malaise, indifference and lack 
of faith and legitimacy in many of our global and national governance 
institutions, the internet governance debate is one where civil society 
advocates can make a real difference,” concludes APC in this new report 
which covers the main developments in the internet governance debate.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31485 (without footnotes)
http://rights.apc.org/documents/internet_gov_0305_EN.pdf (with footnotes)


INTERVIEW: Markus Kummer, coordinator of the internet governance working 
group – Diplomacy at the cutting edge

As executive coordinator of the Secretariat of the Working Group on 
Internet Governance (WGIG), Markus Kummer prepares sessions, facilitates 
their work and writes up their reports after meetings. But, as he 
explains to Maud Hand in a quiet moment prior to PrepCom 2, Phase 2, 
unlike the classical secretariat tasks of any international working 
group, the multi-stakeholder make up of WGIG makes for a very different 
job.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31487


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--PREPCOM 2 FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES--

WSIS PrepCom 2: A South Asian perspective

A divergent discourse between what governments say in Switzerland and 
what they say at home, the almost complete lack of interaction between 
government and civil society representatives and an absence of civil 
society voices from the non-technical sector, characterised the South 
Asian presence in Geneva conclude Bangalore activists, IT for Change.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31489


WSIS PrepCom 2: A Latin American civil society perspective

Olinca Marino from LaNeta, APC member in Mexico, has been following the 
WSIS process since its beginning. In this report she comments on the 
united front shown by Latin American governments at PrepCom 2 but notes 
that the front begins to fall apart significantly in two areas that 
civil society activists care passionately about – free software and 
community radio.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31491


WSIS PrepCom 2: A Bulgarian civil society perspective

Milena Bokova, executive director of the BlueLink Information Network, a 
digital network supporting environmentalists and civil society in 
Bulgaria, had the opportunity to participate in PrepCom 2. She shares 
some reflections with APCNews as an East European civil society activist 
and a new participant in the WSIS process.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31493


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--HUMAN RIGHTS & WSIS--

IL FAIT BON VIVRE EN TUNISIE? The state of human rights in Tunisia, host 
of the next World Summit on the Information Society

Attendees at the recent phase of WSIS couldn’t fail to notice the 
prolific presence of Tunisian delegates. From civil society plenaries 
through gatherings over coffee to the government sessions, they had 
their say in preparation for the November summit. But can a country 
whose government censors journalists, curtails web access and imprisons 
internet users without trial, be a fit host for the UN’s World Summit on 
the Information Society? Maud Hand seeks answers to one of the hottest 
questions of Prepcom 2 for APCNews.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31495


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--MULTISTAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS—-

The WSIS is unique in UN processes because it is a ‘multi-stakeholder 
process’ - including the voices of governments, the private sector and 
civil society in the deliberations.

Multi-stakeholder participation and ICT policy processes

The complexity of the WSIS process has been discussed extensively. But 
APC executive director Anriette Esterhuysen questions whether the WSIS 
is *uniquely* complex. In this article for APCNews she explores 
multistakeholder participation in policy processes, particularly at 
national level, and examines consensus and conflict in the WSIS civil 
society space and why the issue of collaboration with the private sector 
has become so contentious.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31497


Resources on multi-stakeholder participation in UN processes

As part of our involvement in the WSIS, and our policy advocacy capacity 
building work at national and regional levels, APC has started to gather 
a list of resources on the topic. We want to thank members of the WSIS 
CS Plenary online space for their contributions.  The list is a work in 
progress; do not expect it to be comprehensive.  Please send additions 
to networking at apc.org.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31498


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--THE PEOPLE AT THE PREPCOM --

ICTs for Grassroots: Women from South Asia

Like bright flowers in a grey space, the grassroots women of India 
livened up February’s Prepcom proceedings and it wasn’t just their 
stylish saris that did the trick. Undaunted by the suits and officialdom 
of Geneva’s UN machinery, these Indian representatives vigorously 
demonstrated the value of ICTs in their working lives and made a cogent 
case for finances to build more equitable ICT infrastructures in 
developing countries like India. Over chappatis and chi, they shared 
their stories with Maud Hand for APCNews.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31500


Interview with Ayesha Hassan, leader of the business sector at WSIS

When Ayesha Hassan contributed to the Open Consultations on Internet 
Governance in the run up to WSIS, it was clear that the business 
sector’s concerns were in competent hands. This stylishly suited lawyer, 
a Senior Policy Manager on ICT for the International Chamber of 
Commerce, leads the CCBI -  the Co-ordinating Committee of Business 
Interlocutors at the conference. Maud Hand hears how this business 
interlocutor stays in command of her committee during PrepCom 2.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=31501


WSIS - Snapshots from PrepCom 2

Maud Hand talked to more than 20 representatives from civil society, 
government, the business sector to bring you this snapshot of views and 
opinions from the people on the ground in Geneva at Prepcom 2 in 
February 2005.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/prepcom2/


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--RECOMMENDED READING—-

THEMATIC REPORTS: Reports on PrepCom 2 that we particularly recommend 
include the excellent series from Sally Burch of ALAI, Ecuador and 
Nestor Busso of ALER, Argentina supported by grants from the CRIS 
Campaign and EED and collected on the CRIS website.

Sally Burch’s reports:

Civil society reorganizing around content
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/733 [English]
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/736  [Spanish]
Cultural diversity and education
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/7337  [English]
Financial mechanisms - no commitments
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/743 [English]
Internet governance - issues of democracy and human rights
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/748  [English]
ICTs: Funding, development and democracy
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/752  [English]
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/751  [Spanish]

Nestor Busso’s reports:

Comienza el esperado evento
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/729  [Spanish]
Mecanismos de financiamiento
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/730  [Spanish]
The game is open
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/740 [English]
Un lugar para los latinoamericanos
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/734  [Spanish]
Mirada desde América Latina
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/738  [Spanish]
Solidaridad digital y radios comunitarias
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/739  [Spanish]
Defensa firme del software libre
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/745  [Portuguese]
Un show aparte: De eso no se habla. Esa palabra es fea, fea
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/746 [Spanish]


OVERVIEW: An overview of PrepCom 2 from Marc Raboy of McGill University, 
Canada

The second preparatory meeting of the second phase of the World Summit 
on the Information Society closed on Friday night with a few cautious 
steps forward on intergovernmental projects, a great deal of on-site 
work by civil society, and above all a foretaste of what should be an 
important and heated debate on Internet governance.
http://www.globalcn.org/en/article.ntd?id=2257&sort=1 [English]
http://www.globalcn.org/en/article.ntd?id=2239&sort=1 [French]


WEBSITE: Worldsummit2005.org

Worldsummit2003.org offers background information and latest news on the 
WSIS process and on the issues and debates around the summit. It was set 
up by the Heinrich Boell Foundation in February 2003 and is part of the 
efforts of the Foundation to spread knowledge and information about the 
summit, both in Germany and internationally. The site editors are 
members of the German WSIS Civil Society Coordinating Group and are also 
active in the international civil society activities on WSIS. All 
articles by Ralf Bendrath unless otherwise noted.

Vision lost or Back to Reality? PrepCom2 ends with long "to do" list
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/732.htm

PrepCom debate on Internet Governance and WGIG preliminary report
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/730.htm

Quo Vadis: Where do we go from Geneva?, by 'Gbenga Sesan
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/731.htm

Finance negotiations slow down, but agreement on Digital Solidarity Fund
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/728.htm

Conference on Freedom of Expression and the Information Society
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/729.htm

Follow-Up to the UN ICT Task Force discussed
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/726.htm

PrepCom debate on finance: Night session in Geneva
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/725.htm

Civil Society event on Financing the Information Society
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/723.htm

Prepcom 2: Week I Wrap Up, by Rik Panganiban
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/722.htm

PrepCom2: Debate on financial mechanisms. Strong criticism by Southern 
governments
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/719.htm

Financing Debate Heats Up. Task Force Report critizised, but consensus 
emerging?
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/719.htm

What's next after Tunis phase?, by Johannes Schunter
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/717.htm

WGIG is finalizing stakeholder input for the upcoming closed debate
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/716.htm

Post-WSIS follow up process?, by Rik Panganiban
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/715.htm

What is "Internet Governance? Open consultations dominated by definition 
controversy
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/714.htm

Pre-Prepcom Ramblings and Rumblings, by Rik Panganiban
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/712.htm


BLOGS: News from WSIS Bloggers

Aggregated WSIS Blog: http://www.edwebproject.org/wsisblogs/

Individual WSIS blogs:

Rik Panganiban  (English)
http://rikomatic.objectis.net/news

Robert Guerra (with mp3s from several civil society meetings)
http://www.privaterra.org/activities/wsis/blog/

Vittorio Bertola (week one – special focus on the Working Group on 
Internet Governance)
http://hackun.bertola.eu.org/

Markus Beckedahl (week one)
http://www.netzpolitik.org/ [German]

Bruno Oudet
http://reso.blogs.com/smsi/ [French]

Andy Carvin (week two, also podcasting)
http://www.andycarvin.com/

Terri Willard (only known female blogger)
http://taikod.tigblog.org/
WSIS feature at http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2005/commentary_general_2.pdf


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--WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? WSIS-RELATED WEBSITES--

The ITU WSIS website has an extensive section on WSIS related websites 
(government, civil society, private sector and other) here 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/sites/index.html (summary) and here 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/sites/other.html (full list).

Sites of particular note in terms of civil society analysis, perspective 
and diversity of languages include:

- Choike - Portal on Southern Civil Societies – http://www.choike.org
- Heinrich Boell’s Worldsummit2003 and worldsummit2005 - 
http://www.worldsummit2005.org/
- Platform for Community Networks: various WSIS-related websites – 
http://www.globalcn.org
- World Forum on Communication Rights: initiated by the Communication 
Rights in the Information Society campaign (CRIS) – http://www.crisinfo.org
- WSIS in Latin America and the Caribbean from APC’s LAC ICT Policy 
Monitor http://lac.derechos.apc.org/wsis
- WSIS and Africa from APC’s Africa ICT Policy Monitor: 
http://africa.rights.apc.org/?apc=he_1&w=s&t=29740

Websites which provide useful practical information on WSIS (including 
but not prioritizing analysis) include:

- Civil society Meeting point http://www.wsis-cs.org
- NGLS - UN Non-governmental Liaison Service: Special WSIS page – 
http://www.un-ngls.org/wsis.htm
- wsis-online: consultation process allowing all stakeholders to 
identify issues of common concern or interest -  http://www.wsis-online.net/


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APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are distributed 
monthly by APC – a worldwide network supporting the use of internet and 
ICTs for social justice and sustainable development since 1990.
APCNews Archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/

Some rights reserved: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Licence 
2.0 2005 Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

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