[WSIS CS-Plenary] OVERVIEW: Civil Society elements, ways of working and preparation

[karen banks]

dear all,

In light of the current discussions with respect:

- the Civil Society Bureau
- the Civil Society plenary, Content and themes group, caucuses
- new ways of working

background to CS organising during Phase I
------------------------------------------
I thought i'd share an *informational* document i wrote some time ago which 
outlines, briefly, the various elements of Civil Society and how it worked 
during _Phase I of WSIS_.

It does not reflect any of my personal or organisational views on issues 
such as the evolution of the Civil Society Bureau (of which i have several 
and they are well known to some ;)), nor recommendations for how our ways 
of working might evolve.

It is intended as a brief overview for those who aren't as familiar with 
the various CS elements and how we worked in an operational sense during 
Phase I. (i shared it with some government delegates for example, who were 
confused about how Civil society operated, when dealing with some of the 
challenges during hammamet).

I offer it as such, not as a document to guide any future developments, as 
that work is being led by the newly formed 'working methods' group, the CSB 
etc.

I apologise that the document is only available in english.

the CSB proposals
-----------------
in addition, the CSB has been working similarily to evaluate, assess and 
make proposals for re-organising

the proposal renate has posted for me, is a positive step forward. yes, 
there were/are many concerns about the origins and evolution of the CSB but 
our options are to either continue airing those concerns, or, to once and 
for all come to some resolution as to the role and functiong of the CSB - 
and how it fits with the other CS elements.

We must identify clearly and once and for all, what the role of the CSB is.

If there is no role, the solution should be simple, but i don't think that 
is the case.

If there is a role, let's define it clearly - everything should follow from 
there including how to re-constitute the group, and how it should conduct 
it's work.

I apologise in advance to those on the CSB who may have already done this 
work - but i haven't yet seen a clear definition of the role of the CSB in 
a way that is accessible to all. By that, i mean an objective, and a list 
of tasks and activities it undertakes we all agree is necessary.

** what does the CSB do that cannot be accomplished by the plenary, the 
content and themes group or the caucuses and working groups **

The *existing* CSB will meet on Monday Feb 14th from 0900-1200. It is 
really important that these issues are discussed and clarified as soon as 
possible for presentation in a clear and concise manner for the Civil 
Society Orientation session later that same day at 1400. If not, these 
issues will hamper our work throughout the prepcom.

Civil Society Plenary and Content and themes group
--------------------------------------------------

working methods group
---------------------
it seems some people are confused as to what that group is.

Quite simply (and i am only a transient member of the group, which is open 
to all) - it is a group that was formed to help evaluate, assess and make 
proposals for any reorganising/adjusting etc - of the ways we worked during 
Phase I - as outlined broadly in the document attached. It was a direct 
response to the challenges CS experienced during phase I with respect 
representation issues and concensus building (amongst others).

Sean O'Siochro made a proposal for reconstituting the Existing COntent and 
Themes group - to the Content and themes workspace. But the proposal has 
come largely from the discussions in the working methods space.

that proposal has tacit support from those who have responded in the 
Content and themes space - but again, we need to table this proposal more 
formally and work out some of the issues that still remain vague - such as 
milton's comments:

"If caucuses are to be represented on CSB, how does one form a caucus, or 
are the current ones set in stone forever? And how does one abolish a 
caucus that is no longer populated or functional?"

A good time to address this would be - initially - during the CS Caucuses 
meeting time of 1600-1900 on feb 14th.

proposals and decisions
-----------------------
* Renate has posted an Agenda for the CSB meeting, and some general 
recommendations for re-constituting the CSB. i would add my request for a 
clear definition or the objectives, role, tasks and activities of the CSB - 
before discussing representation etc.

* Sean has posted a proposal for clarifying the ways in which caucuses are 
consituted, role, drafting of documents, speaker identification etc.

* The working methods group has also made some proposals on the 
mandate/objective of it's work.

It would be incredibly useful if *one* document could be put together 
including all of the above - (maybe even attaching the document i have 
written by way of background if useful) and that it be

- posted as soon as possible to plenary
- translated into french and spanish
- printed for delegates for the meeting next week

If the above can't be done before the 14th (which is probably unlikely now) 
as soon thereafter as possible.

And i would then propose that decisions not be taken on the proposals until 
later in the week when people have had access to the documentation.

apoligies, this has become a longer message than i intended!

karen
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: CS_ways_of working_Phase_I.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 37888 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/pipermail/plenary/attachments/20050212/9e822f49/CS_ways_ofworking_Phase_I.doc
-------------- next part --------------