17 July 2006

Presented by the Facilitator

Draft resolution of ECOSOC

on follow-up to WSIS and review of CSTD

The Economic and Social Council,

PP1. Welcoming the outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society¹, (agreed)

PP2. Recalling the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action, adopted in Geneva in 2003, and the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, adopted in Tunis in 2005 by the World Summit on the Information Society and endorsed by the General Assembly², (agreed)

PP3. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit outcome³, (agreed)

Pp4. [Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on modalities of the inter-agency coordination of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, including recommendations on the follow-up process⁴, ] (US)

PP

5. Taking note also of the on-going United Nations reform process, (agreed)

PP.6 Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/252⁵, which requests the Council to oversee the system-wide follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis outcomes of the Summit, and to that end, requests the Council, at its substantive session of 2006, to review the mandate, agenda and composition of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, including considering strengthening the Commission, taking into account the multi-stakeholder approach, (agreed)

PP7. Recalling General Assembly resolution 57/270B on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, (agreed)

PP6.bis Bearing in mind Economic and Social Council decision 1992/218 of 30 April 1992, and resolution 1992/62 of 31 July 1992, by which the Council established the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and defined its terms of reference, as well as the Council’s Decision 2005/308 on methods of work of the Commission, (agreed)

PP6.ter Recognizing the need to strengthen the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in order to enable it to adequately discharge its mandate as expanded by recent summits, (US del; AUL spt - depends on PP5; EU spt, suggest full stop after “Development”; Canada: if retained – in line with para 105 of TAIS (multi-stakeholder approach); Switzerland – spt Canada)

PP8. Recognizing that the implementation and follow-up of the WSIS should be an integral part of the integrated follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields and should contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and should not require the creation of any new operational bodies⁶, (agreed)

PP9. Acknowledging the urgent need to bridge the digital divide and to assist developing countries including [least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states, and countries with economy in transition] [those countries with special needs as they are stated in the WSIS outcome documents] to benefit fully from the potential of information and communication technologies⁷,

PP10. Stressing the importance of the WSIS outcomes to the building of a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society so as to enhance digital opportunities for all people in order to help to bridge the digital divide⁸, (agreed)

PP11. Bearing in mind Economic and Social Council resolutions 1992/218 of 30 April 1992, and 1992/62 of 31 July 1992, by which the Council established the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and defined its terms of reference, as well as the Council’s Decision 2005/308 on methods of work of the Commission, (moved to paragraph 6.bis)

PP11.

Reaffirming the need for ensuring an effective partnership and cooperation between Governments and the relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, the academic and scientific community, and the private sector, in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the WSIS, (agreed)

PP12. [Takes note of the action taken by the Secretary-General to convene the Internet Governance Forum and notes further that the development perspective has been agreed to be the overarching theme,] (EU: stop after “Forum”; US –brackets; Canada, AUL support US)

PP13.

Taking note of the establishment, within the UN system Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB), of the UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS), consisting of the relevant UN bodies and organizations with the mandate to facilitate the implementation of WSIS outcomes, and notes the importance of the Council to be kept informed of the progress in its work (EU – if OP11bis is deleted) and requests to be kept informed of progress in its work in the context of the reporting by the Secretary-General,

PP14.

Acknowledging with appreciation the role played by UNCTAD in providing secretariat support to the Commission, (agreed)

Follow-up to WSIS

OP1. Welcomes the strong developmental orientation of the outcomes of both the Geneva and the Tunis phases of the Summit, and urges their full implementation, (agreed)

OP1.bis Expresses concern that enhanced cooperation as mentioned in paragraph 71 of the Tunis Agenda has not been established. This process to be started by the Secretary-General will involve all relevant organizations and all stakeholders in their respective roles.

(EU: move the para after PP12; text:

Taking note of the action taken by the United Nations Secretary-General with a view to start a process towards enhanced cooperation as referred on para 69-71 of the Tunis agenda;

Canada: delete; Switzerland supports EU; AUL supports Canada)

OP2. Decides to carry out its responsibilities for overseeing the system-wide follow-up to WSIS outcomes in the context of its annual consideration of the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits in the coordination segment [on the basis of a thematic approach and a multi-year programme] in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/270B, [relying] based upon the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, [and drawing upon other relevant inputs],

OP2.bis [Notes the report of the Secretary-General entitled {Implementation of and Follow-up to the outcomes of the WSIS – E/2006/85?} which reviews the actions taken since the convening of the Summit and emphasizes that the system wide follow-up addresses their full implementation in the future, ] (US: brackets; EU: delete)

OP2.ter [Encourages (EU: Takes note of the important role of) the Regional Commissions, in accordance with the WSIS outcomes, to undertake specific activities in collaboration with the appropriate entities of the UN system and relevant stakeholders,] (Canada: “based on requests by Member States and within approved budgetary resources”; EU: supports Canada; US: brackets)

Role of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development

Mandate

OP3. Decides that, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/270B, the Commission shall have the shall be the mechanism primary responsibility to effectively assist ECOSOC in the system-wide follow-up, in particular including the review and assessment of progress made in implementing the outcomes of WSIS, while at the same time maintaining its traditional mandate on science and technology for development, also taking into account which was highlighted by the provisions of paragraph 60 of the Outcome of the 2005 World Summit⁹; (EU: original;

US alt: Decides that, in accordance with the GA resolution 57/270B, regarding the system-wide follow-up, the Commission shall assist ECOSOC in the review and assessment of progress made in implementing the outcomes of WSIS)

OP3.bis [Agrees that the system-wide follow-up shall be carried out from a development perspective; ] (US: brackets)

OP4. Decides that, in the exercise of its responsibility as defined in paragraph OP2 above, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development shall monitor (Canada: delete), review and assess progress made in implementing the outcomes of WSIS and by advise the Council thereon, including the elaboration of practical recommendations to the Council aimed at furthering Summit outcomes. To that end, the Commission shall: (US: revert to the Facilitator’s draft: AUL supports)

1. monitor (Canada: delete), review and assess progress at the international and regional levels in the implementation of Action Lines, recommendations and commitments contained in the outcome documents of WSIS; (US: revert to the Facilitator’s draft; AUL supports)

2. identify and disseminate effective (US: best) practices and lessons learned, as well as identify gaps and obstacles encountered, in the implementation of WSIS outcomes [and suggest initiatives and make policy recommendations on actions required to overcome the latter] (US: delete) ; and

3. [promote dialogue and foster partnerships to contribute to the attainment of the WSIS objectives and outcomes, to use ICT for development and the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, with the participation of all stakeholders, according to their respective roles including, inter alia, governments, international organisations, private sector and civil society, including existing multi-stakeholders groups and platforms, in accordance with the established practices in the ECOSOC [and WSIS] [and in conformity with paragraph 10 below]];

US alt: promote dialogue and foster partnerships in coordination with other appropriate agencies to contribute to the attainment of WSIS objectives, inter alia, to use ICT for development and the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, with the participation of all stakeholders, including, inter alia, governments, international organisations, private sector and civil society, including existing multi-stakeholders groups and platforms, in accordance with the established practices in the ECOSOC and WSIS and in accordance with their respective roles and in conformity with paragraph 10 below);

EU: supports US version; Mexico: supports EU re listing of all groups)

Composition

OP5. [Decides that the Commission on Science and Technology for Development shall be enlarged to 47 members to strengthen its substantive capacity and enhance effective and meaningful participation of Member States in its work. The additional members shall be elected, bearing in mind the principle of balanced and equitable geographical distribution and in accordance with procedures and timetables to be established by the Council, from among the States Members of the United Nations or States Members of specialized agencies;]

Working methods

OP6. Also decides that the Commission shall meet annually for a period of [5] [7] [10] working days in Geneva;

OP7. Decides that in line with the Council’s decision 2005/308, the Commission shall continue working on the basis of biennial action cycles (US :with) (US: delete “in”) the first year focusing on review [session] (US: delete), the objective of which is to evaluate progress in implementing the Geneva Plan of Action and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, and in the second, a [policy] (US: delete) (US: add focusing on) analysis session, the objective of which is to identify [and recommend] (US: delete) actions, initiatives, solutions and [effective] (US: best) practices developed, as well as gaps and obstacles encountered in the implementation of the WSIS outcomes. In its next session, the Commission shall undertake a review of its agenda and develop a multi-year work programme, taking into account its role in the follow-up to WSIS and 2005 World Summit outcomes; (moved to para. 7.bis)

OP7bis. Decides also that, and in the next session in its follow-up to WSIS the Commission shall [enhance] (EU, US: undertake a review of) its agenda and develop a multi-year work programme, taking into account its role in the follow-up to WSIS and 2005 World Summit outcomes;

OP8. Decides that its future sessions will increasingly be conducted as interactive dialogue; and with broad-based participation of governmental delegations and of civil society, academic and scientific community, private sector, organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations; (AUL: original)

OP9. Decides that, in addition to its traditional working practices, the Commission will continue to explore development-friendly and innovative use of electronic media, drawing upon existing online databases on best practices, partnership projects and initiatives, as well as other collaborative electronic platforms, which would allow all stakeholders to contribute to follow-up efforts, share information, learning from the experience of others and explore opportunities for partnerships. (agreed ad ref)

Multi-stakeholder approach

OP10

Decides that

1. Pursuant to ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, non-governmental organizations and civil society entities without consultative status to ECOSOC, but which have received accreditation to WSIS, may participate, on an exceptional basis and without prejudice to the established rules of the United Nations, as observers in the next two meetings of the Commission. This provision is based on the understanding that in the meantime, said organizations and entities apply for consultative status to ECOSOC in accordance with existing rules and procedures, and that in accordance with paragraph 53 of Council resolution 1996/31, the Committee on NGO is invited to consider such applications as expeditiously as possible.

2. Following recent practice of ECOSOC and its functional commissions and without prejudice to existing rules of procedure, business sector entities may be invited by the Chairperson of the Commission to participate as observers in its work in accordance with the rules of procedure of ECOSOC. A list of business entities having applied for invitation shall be circulated to states members of the Commission 45 days prior its annual meeting. As a rule, business entities accredited to WSIS, including ITU sector members, are invited. The invitation of a business sector entity may be suspended or cancelled by the Chairperson of the Commission on request of a member state not later than 7 days before the meeting. ]

OP10bis. While using the multi-stakeholder approach effectively, the intergovernmental nature of the Commission should be preserved, and every effort should be made to mobilize and ensure meaningful and effective participation of all stakeholders from developing countries, including non-governmental organizations, small- and medium-size enterprises, industry associations and development actors

Alt OP10 (G-77 and China)

Alt10a Decides that while using the multi-stakeholder approach effectively, the intergovernmental nature of the Commission should be preserved

Alt10b Decides also that:

1. The CSTD shall invite relevant intergovernmental organizations within and outside the UN system, including multilateral financial institutions, to appoint special representatives to the CSTD.

2. Pursuant to ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, non-governmental organizations and civil society entities without consultative status to ECOSOC, but which have received accreditation to WSIS, may participate, upon approval by ECOSOC, on an exceptional basis and without prejudice to the established rules of the United Nations, as observers in the next two meetings of the Commission. This provision is based on the understanding that in the meantime, said organizations and entities apply for consultative status to ECOSOC in accordance with existing rules and procedures, and that in accordance with Council resolution 1996/31, the Committee on NGO is invited to consider such applications, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the United Nations and to do so as expeditiously as possible.

3. On an exceptional basis, without prejudice to existing rules of procedure, business sector entities may be invited upon approval by ECOSOC to participate as observers in the work of the Commission in accordance with the rules of procedure of ECOSOC.

Alt 10c. Decides that every effort should be made to mobilize and ensure meaningful and effective participation, including through providing assistance, of all stakeholders from developing countries, including non-governmental organizations, small- and medium-size enterprises, industry associations and development actors

Secretariat support

OP11. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure effective [and upgraded] (US) substantive [and technical] (US) secretariat (US: restore) support [by UNCTAD] (US) to the Commission, currently successfully provided by UNCTAD, to enable it to perform [its expanded role] (US: effectively) while ensuring, in this regard, close collaboration with other relevant United Nations organizations and specialized agencies;

{end of consideration on 17 July}

Reporting

OP11.bis Requests the Secretary-General to inform the Commission through an annual report on the implementation of WSIS outcomes, including on the work of UNGIS;

OP12. Requests the Commission to submit to the Council, within its annual report, information on the progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to WSIS outcomes at the regional and international level;

OP13.

Decides to keep the General Assembly advised, through its annual report of progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to WSIS outcomes, taking into account the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.