June 13 2005, Informal Meeting, Geneva

“Food for thought” for the informal consultations on WSIS implementation and follow-up

Prepared by WSIS PrepCom Chair, H.E. Ambassador Janis Karklins (Latvia)

Proposed mandate for Group of Friends of the Chair (GFC)

1.	At its meeting on 13 May, the WSIS Bureau decided to continue the work of the Group of Friends of the Chair (GFC) during the inter-sessional period between PrepCom-2 and 3, on a similar basis to that which was carried out between PrepCom 1 and 2, when the GFC held four meetings.

2.	In line with the Decision of PrepCom-2 (WSIS-II/PC-2/DOC/13 rev. 1), the GFC should continue to draft proposals on implementation mechanisms (para 10-11 of chapter one of the operational part) and on the way ahead (chapter four, para 26-29).

3.	These new proposals will be in addition to the written comments and proposals presented during the first reading of the operational part on 21 February, contained in the compilation documents on chapter one (DT-2 Rev. 2) and chapter four (DT-5) respectively. The compilation document of new proposals received by 31 May 2005 will be issued as a reference document prior to the PrepCom-3, and these proposals will be examined by the GFC. They will also be posted on the WSIS website.

Tentative workplan for the GFC

The following suggestions are made on the timetable for the work of the GFC.

Monday 13 June (just ahead of WGIG)

Day-long informal consultations in room XXVI of Palais des Nations, open to all stakeholders, which should provide an opportunity for an informal exchange of views on implementation and follow-up.

Monday 27 June (just ahead of the WSIS Thematic Meeting on Cybersecurity)

The GFC could hold its fifth session, to consider new proposals on implementation and follow-up.

Monday 4 July

The GFC could hold its sixth session, to consider new proposals on implementation and follow-up.

Monday 11 July (just ahead of ITU Council)

The GFC could hold its seventh session, to consider new proposals on implementation and follow-up.

Tuesday 19th July (if required, just after presentation of WGIG report. Alternatively, on 18 July, following presentation of WGIG report, if time permits).

A second round of informal consultations, open to all stakeholders, could be held to review the proposals on implementation and follow-up.

Possible principles to guide WSIS implementation and follow-up

The following principles are offered for discussion:

The implementation and follow-up should be based on multi-stakeholder partnership. It should be a decentralized, transparent, inclusive and open process.

“Implementation” is the series of concerted actions taken by all stakeholders to implement the provisions of the Plan of Action, at national, regional and international levels. Information on implementation should be reported periodically to ECOSOC/UN General Assembly.

“Follow-up” entails a political debate on WSIS-related issues, involving the UN family and other stakeholders, leading to appropriate policy recommendations.

Implementation and follow-up of Internet Governance would be separate from that for other WSIS-related issues.

Implementation would be structured according to the action lines set out in the Plan of Action.

At the national level, implementation requires a structured dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders, including public/private partnerships, in devising e-strategies for the Information Society and for the exchange of best practices;

At the international level, multi-stakeholder teams could be established to moderate implementation for each of the action lines;

Participation in the multi-stakeholder teams should be voluntary, inclusive and based on partnership among governments and all stakeholders;

Each of the multi-stakeholder teams, at the international level, would be moderated by one or more UN agencies, in line with their competencies and mandates;

The responsibilities of the moderators would include establishing a forum for information exchange, both online and through physical meetings, and making periodic reports;

In order to avoid duplication of efforts and redundancy, a coordination of activities all multi-stakeholder implementing teams is needed. An overall coordinator role for the national dialogues and multi-stakeholder teams may be taken, on a co-chair or rotating basis, by the main relevant UN agencies (e.g., ITU, UNESCO, UNDP). This should be a light-touch function, intended primarily for the purposes of information gathering and exchange, avoidance of duplication, as well as consolidated reporting;

The overall moderator/coordinator would be responsible for transmitting periodic reports to the UN Secretary-General’s Office for submission to ECOSOC/UN General Assembly. This information reporting function would encompass the periodic reports on the stocktaking of WSIS-related activities.

Follow-up (policy debate)

In line with UN Resolution 59/220, the Secretary-General of ITU would transmit to the UN General Assembly the report of the WSIS, as soon as it is available;

Thereafter, the UN Secretary-General would make periodic reports on WSIS implementation to the UN General Assembly;

In line with UN Resolution 57/270, follow-up within the UN family would be in line with the existing practices for integrated coordination and follow-up of the outcomes of major UN conferences and summits;

The overarching principle should be to continue the multi-stakeholder approach that has characterized all work carried out to date in the WSIS process. Continuous involvement of all stakeholders in the policy discussion after Tunis Summit is essential and modalities of such participation should be established.

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2005-06-06T18:38:00