[WSIS CS-Plenary] RE: [Pwd] Disability Caucus speaking slot on 25th Friday

[zara]

Hi,

I would add to this discussion that Rehabilitation International and ICTA
Global have also recommended in their position paper[1] of May 2003 on the
draft declaration and action plan of phase 1 of WSIS that it is important
for governments to support the work being done by organisations in the field
of standards.

<quote>
Finally, we believe that governments may play an important role in the
development and generalised acceptance of standards of accessibility. In one
sense, they can lead by example through commitments concerning the adoption
of standards that take accessibility for persons with disabilities into
account. From another perspective, their role is important in supporting the
work of organisations such as the Web Accessibility Initiative in the
development of standards of accessibility.

Several years can elapse between the appearance of a new technology and the
adoption of comprehensive, consensus-based standards, and standardisation
organisations must have the necessary means to stay at the forefront of
development. This is particularly important in the area of accessibility for
persons with disabilities, because the developments in the new technologies
sector take place at a rapid pace, and it is important to intervene rapidly
to avoid new disabling situations.[2]
</quote>

Standards have been identified by WSIS as a key factor in the development of
the Information Society and, despite the amazing contribution of various
stakeholders (many on a voluntary basis), the reality is that developing and
promoting the adoption of standards costs money and there needs to be a
clear commitment to support the work in this area, as much "locally" as
globally.

For the moment, it would certainly be worth mentioning the importance of
pursuing and renewing commitments to support the development and
dissemination of one of the building blocks of the Information Society and
particularly in the field of accessibility as it contributes directly to a
core objective of WSIS, i.e. bridging the digital divide.

With requests comes a certain responsibility of trying to propose strategies
to attain these objectives.  I imagine that Hiroshi, being presently in the
trenches, so to speak, is best placed to tell us what prepcom2 will lead to
at this point and how we might contribute to ensure that adequate strategies
are supported by governments and other contributing stakeholders in this
area.


I hope this helps.  Best regards,


Catherine
--


[1] http://www.starlingweb.com/ictana/wsis-e.asp 
[2] http://www.starlingweb.com/ictana/wsis-e.asp#acc


--
Catherine Roy
www.w3qc.org
www.communautique.qc.ca
http://perso.b2b2c.ca/zara

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pwd-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:pwd-admin at wsis-cs.org] On Behalf Of
> Monthian Buntan
> Sent: February 24, 2005 8:31 PM
> To: hkawa at rehab.go.jp; pwd at wsis-cs.org; plenary at wsis-cs.org
> Cc: adinafulgaradi at yahoo.com
> Subject: Re: [Pwd] Disability Caucus speaking slot on 25th Friday
> 
> Dear Hiroshi:
> 
> Well, if we have to deal with financial mechanism, then I would go as
> follows:
> 
> 1. Any criteria for funding support for ICT development, ICT training and
> ICT services must take disability-inclusiveness into account.
> 2. ICT development, following the principle of universal design, and
> assistive tech development must receive preferencial treatment over
> unfriendly/inaccessible ICT.
> 3. Universally designed ICTs and assistive technologies should receive
> duty-free status.
> 
> I hope our points will be well taken.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Thian
> 
> 
> 
> At 01:14 AM 2/25/2005, Hiroshi Kawamura wrote:
> > From Civil Society Contents & Themes meeting at Plais de Nations, Geneva
> >
> >To our surprise, all CS speaking slots on 25th at the Plenary including
> >the one allocated to the
> >Disability Caucus on "WSIS modality and implementation phase" was
> >cancelled by the PrepCom
> >Secretariat, and instead, Disability Caucus is going to have a speaking
> >slot on "financing
> >mechanisms", para 12-25 of the Chapter 2 of the "Operational part of the
> >final document" of "Report of
> >the Work of the Group of Friends of the Chair", for 5 minutes.
> >I am going to draft the intervention within several hours to submit to
> the
> >secretariat for
> >simultaneous interpretation.
> >
> >The original text the report is found at the following url:
> >
> >http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html
> >
> >Please come up with suggestions on the points I must include in the 5
> >minutes intervention.
> >Please note that the topic need to be focused on the subject of the
> >session, i.e. "Financial
> >mechanisms [for meeting the challenge of ICT for development]"
> >
> >Looking forward to your contributions.
> >
> >Best
> >
> >Hiorshi in Geneva
> >------------------------
> >Hiroshi Kawamura
> >Disability Focal Point
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Pwd mailing list
> >Pwd at wsis-cs.org
> >http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/pwd
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Pwd mailing list
> Pwd at wsis-cs.org
> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/pwd