[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Proposal: Speaking slots

[Meryem Marzouki]

Dear Sally, YJ, and all,

I would like to strongly approve Sally's answer : there is no consensus 
among CS organizations to be considered as "equal partners" with 
governments.

Observers doesn't have so much time to speak. In such a context, at 
that step of the whole process after two prepcoms, and given this 
absence of consensus the status, I think it would be a waste of time to 
use the little space that we have to express anything else than our 
priorities on content and themes.

 From Renata's message, CS will have :
- 6 slots on Tuesday (maybe 2 or 3 more)
- 4 slots on Wednesday
- 4 slots on Thursday
- 4 slots on Friday

This means 18 slots of 5 minutes maximum each. This seems to be for CS 
only, since, e.g. CS would have all in all 30 mn on Tuesday out of 2 
hours, meaning that these 2 hours should be shared between all 
observers: CS, industry, international organizations (and who is the 
4th group ???).

I hope that a reasonable amount of us will be able to meet on Monday at 
Unesco to discuss the allocation of speaking slots.
There have been 56 contributions submitted by CS single organizations 
and by caucuses. Caucuses should be prioritized in my opinion, 
specially when they mean a real coalition of more than one member :-). 
Given such a criteria, and also given the fact that some 
organizations/caucuses may arrange common presentation using only one 
time slot, I am sure we can find a satisfying repartition.

I would also find it reasonable to allow the first 5mn time slot on 
Tuesday to the C&T group, so that a short overview of the document can 
be presented.

Meryem

Le jeudi, 10 juil 2003, à 20:58 Europe/Paris, Sally Burch - ALAI a 
écrit :

> Dear YJ,
>
> We should certainly claim more adequate spaces for debate and
> expression at the WSIS, but I don't believe there's consensus
> among civil society organizations about requesting a status as
> "equal partners" with governments.
>
> As imperfect as the democratic system is, and although a number
> of governments in the world are not democratically elected,
> governments should be answerable to their peoples and assume
> responsibility for the decisions taken at summits such as this.
>
> Many consider that our role as civil society organizations is
> different (I won't go into detail on the arguments here); but above all
> would strongly oppose opening the possibility to the private sector,
> that represents particular interests, to sit as equal partners with
> governments at a UN Summit.
>
> Sally
>
>
> On 11 Jul 03, at 2:05, YJ Park wrote:
>
>> Dear Karen,
>>
>>> as we will have few opportunities for interventions, i am wondering 
>>> if we
>>> can coordinate and agree on a combined intervention, or should we go 
>>> for
>>> two slots?
>>
>> First of all, let us figure out how many opportunities for CS 
>> interventions
>> at Paris meeting and then prioritize the issues of CS.
>>
>> 1st intervention is recommended to address a request to change CS 
>> status
>> from "observer" to "equal partner" who doesn't need this kind of 
>> permission
>> for speaking slots.
>>
>> This kind of request is to be delivered to the other stakeholders 
>> especially,
>> to the governments, on the daily basis.
>>
>> 2nd, CS internal priority issue lists
>>
>> Due to lack of opportunity, some CS groups may be asked to squeeze
>> some issues. i.e. Internet Governance and Information Security, then 
>> we
>> should work together to come up with more effective messages to the
>> WSIS participants.
>>
>>> and, if so, who would be prepared to work on the intervention with 
>>> me..
>>
>> Under the condition that we may not have an independent opportunity
>> to share some messages regarding Internet Governance and Infosec,
>> I will be happy to work on this with you and others.
>>
>> I can be available from Monday at UNESCO.
>>
>> YJ
>>
>>> karen
> __________________________________________________________
> Sally Burch - Directora Ejecutiva
> Agencia Latinomericana de Informacion -
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