[Pwd] RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: [WSIS-CT] almost final version 4.3 of WSIS CS statement

[zara]

Dear all,

I have been *trying* to follow this discussion as best I can as I feel I do not necessarily have all the necessary information, this discussion seeming to have been thrown onto this list (pwd) and missing a little context (for me anyway).  However, reading all these posts, it becomes clear to me that we are not necessarily getting anywhere, that this discussion is turning in circles.

I feel that health does include aspects that are not normally or always taken into consideration but I also feel that it is important to define these aspects as best we can.  I do not understand why there seems to be such resistance in recognizing these different aspects of health and from what I understand, one person's objections is to me not sufficient to override the collective positions of the Disability Caucus, who have valuable expertise and a global approach to this issue.  

Furthermore, I do not understand why the CS statement could not include a preambule or opening sentence to help clarify to what is being referred to when speaking about health, thus making it clear what is defined as health in this section.  Finally, I do not believe that including this definition may penalize any one or group and am at a loss to understand why it would hence not be included.

I therefore submit the following sentence (please see sentence between asterisk following my name) to be included in the beginning of the section on health.  I admit that this sentence could probably be phrased better, English not being my first language, but can we at least agree on the idea ?  Is there any reason we could not ?  So far, I have not been convinced there is.

Best regards,


Catherine
--


Health Information

*The term "health" has many dimensions, including the biological, emotional, social, spiritual and vocational aspects of well-being.*

Access to health information and knowledge is essential to collective and individual human development and has been identified as a critical factor in the public health care crises around the world. The WSIS process has neglected to recognize that health is a cross-cutting issue and that health systems must include a holistic approach which is integral to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of illness for all people and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

It is important to recognize that health expertise and scientific knowledge is essential to aid disease stricken, as well as traumatized populations affected by war, terrorism, disaster and other events, and further that the implementation of ICT systems for physical and mental health information and services must be a two-way path recognizing cultural and community norms and values.

It is essential that health care specialists, practitioners, and consumers participate in the development of public policy addressing privacy and related issues regarding health information affecting information and delivery systems.




--
Catherine Roy, consultante

www.catherine-roy.net 
514.525.9490



> -----Original Message-----
> From: pwd-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:pwd-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf Of
> Sylvia Caras
> Sent: December 18, 2005 1:01 PM
> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org; WSIS-CT; WSIS CT-Drafting
> Cc: Sylvia Caras; Pwd at wsis-cs.org; Elizabeth K. Carll Ph.D.
> Subject: [Pwd] RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: [WSIS-CT] almost final version
> 4.3 of WSIS CS statement
> 
> Elizabeth Carll, PhD wrote on 07:58 AM 12/18/05:
> >Therefore,  it is requested that if the language for physical and mental
> >health is removed from the CS Statement, to be equitable the same be done
> >with all language references to disability.
> 
> Where are the references to disability in the health statement?
> 
> Sylvia
> 
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