[WSIS CS-Plenary] report on plenary meeting with Charles Geiger on Accreditation Issues

[Rik Panganiban]

Quick Report on CS Plenary Meeting with Charles Geiger, WSIS Executive 
Secretariat
22 February 2005, Geneva
By Rik Panganiban


Charles Geiger, head of the WSIS Executive Secretariat, demonstrated 
his openness to civil society by appearing at our morning plenary 
session to explain the accreditation procedure for civil society 
organizations for the Tunis Phase.  This came after some requests from 
the CS Bureau for clarity on the allegations of some NGOs that they had 
been denied accreditation.

Geiger clarified that several applications for accreditation were not 
accepted by the secretariat because they were incomplete (not including 
financing information or their charter or other documentation). All 
organizations accredited to the conference would be allowed to get 
visas to travel to Tunisia from their countries. Several NGO reps in 
the plenary meeting were very seized on this issue, pertaining to their 
own organizations which were not accredited or other groups that could 
not participate because they were not legally recognized in their own 
countries.

Geiger informed us that all accredited participants will have 
immunities and privileges that are in the host country agreement with 
Tunisia.  The same language was adopted from the host country agreement 
for the Sustainable Development conference in Johannesburg and 
Financing for Development conference in Monterrey.  While government 
delegations have specific privileges and immunities that are part of 
international law, for civil society and the private sector ad hoc 
“functional immunity” will apply.

The issue of privileges and immunities is important to know, 
particularly for groups that wish to hold demonstrations or other 
protest, there are different laws and restrictions that would apply 
depending on if it takes place on the UN conference facilities or in 
Tunis proper.  Geiger admitted that there is some ambiguity as to what 
is considered UN territory.

Geiger explained that in some cases the Swiss mission in some African 
countries denied visas because the organizations could not show 
financial capability to come to Geneva. The Secretariat does inform 
organizations that they have been denied accreditation and why.

Renata Bloem asked that it would be helpful if the host country 
agreement could be made available on the Tunisian and the ITU websites. 
  Geiger noted that this was a sensitive matter, since the host country 
agreement contained financial arrangements.

A “Side Event Caucus” has been created, chaired by Saidi from Tunisian 
civil society, which seeks to address some of the concerns and 
proposals from civil society on the organization of side events at the 
Tunis Conference.  Nnenna of African Civil Society for the Information 
Society expressed concerns that the cost for civil society groups to 
organization and exhibition were set at the same rates for 
intergovernmental organizations.  She would prefer that it be free.  
Others noted that the April 1 date for informing the Tunisian host 
country of their intention to organize a side event as too soon.


Notes from Official Plenary, 22 February, AM Session

Governments resumed negotiation on Chapter Two of the Operational part 
of the draft texts pertaining to financing mechanisms.  The chairperson 
has submitted a new proposed text incorporating various views of 
different delegations.

There was a request from the African group to do a “second” reading on 
para 27 related to the Digital Solidarity Fund:

“27. We welcome and support the creation of the Digital Solidary Fund 
as an innovative financial mechanism of a voluntary nature with the 
objective of transforming the digital divide into digital opportunities 
for the developing world by focusing mainly on specific and urgent 
needs at the local level and seeking new sources of “solidarity” 
finance. The DSF will complement existing mechanisms for funding the 
Information Society, which should continue to be fully utilized to fund 
the growth of new ICT infrastructure and services.

New 27 B.  We recommend to all stakeholders to support the work of the 
DSF.”

The chair chose to go to the beginning of the new draft text instead.

The secretariat projected onto a large screen the latest language, 
although there was no incorporation of new text as it was introduced by 
governments.


Report by Rik Panganiban, CONGO
===============================================
RIK PANGANIBAN       Communications Coordinator
Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations 
(CONGO)
web: http://www.ngocongo.org
email: rik.panganiban at ngocongo.org
mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524 
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