1.
The Group of Friends of the Chair (GFC) was created in accordance with the decision of
PrepCom-1 (Hammamet) to prepare a document to serve as a basis for negotiations during
PrepCom-2. By the Decision of PrepCom-2, the GFC was invited to continue working during the
inter-sessional period to draft proposals for chapters one (Implementation Mechanisms) and four
(The Way Ahead) of the Operational Part of the Tunis Final Document(s).
2.
The membership of the Group comprised representatives from six governments from each
region, plus five regional coordinators and the two host countries. The Secretary-General of ITU
and a representative of the Secretary-General of the UN participated as ex-officio members of the
group. Non-member governments participated in the meeting as observers.
3.
The Group met three further times between 27 June and 7 September 2005, with one half-
day meeting on 6 September being open to all stakeholders as a “special session”. In addition,
informal consultations on the implementation mechanism, open to all stakeholders, were held on
13 June 2005.
4.
The Group developed drafts on the basis of contributions from all stakeholders and
discussion of rolling texts. The compilation of comments received since PrepCom-2 is available in
document WSIS-II/PC-3/DT-6 (Rev. 2). Contributions to the work of the Group and drafts of the
rolling texts are available on the Group’s website at www.itu.int/wsis/gfc.
5.
The two annexes to this document present the current versions propose changes and
additions to the Operational Part contained in WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/8.
Existing para 10 (including proposals in DT/2 (Rev. 3) and DT/6 (Rev. 2)) would be
replaced by new paras 10-13;
Existing para 11 (including proposals in DT/2 (Rev. 3) and DT/6 (Rev. 2)) would be
replaced by new paras 14;
Existing para 29 (including proposals in DT/2 (Rev. 3) and DT/6 (Rev. 2)) would be
replaced by new paras 29-35;
The “new” proposals could be added to the existing text of WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/8.
Document: WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/6-E
8 September 2005
Original: English
President of the PrepCom of the Tunis Phase
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GROUP OF FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR
DURING THE INTER-SESSIONAL PERIOD
- 2 -
(WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/6-E)
6.
These documents are presented for the consideration of PrepCom-3 as a possible basis for
negotiations. It is proposed that, if approved by PrepCom-3, this new text would be subject to a first
reading, during which further proposals on the text could be made. Thereafter, the new consolidated
text of chapter one and four will be issued for further negotiations.
Annexes:
Proposed text to replace paras 10, 11 and 29 of the Operational Part.
“New” proposals for inclusion in the text of the Operational Part
- ³ -
(WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/06-E)
Annex 1
Proposals to replace paras 10, 11 and 29 of the
Operational Part of the Tunis Final Document(s)
(Note: The whole text is in square brackets)
[Chapter One: From principles to action: A summit of sustainable solutions
Para 1-9, see document WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/8.
10.
We acknowledge that multi-stakeholder participation in the building of the inclusive and
development-oriented information society is essential. We underline that the participation of all
stakeholders in implementing WSIS decisions on national, regional and international levels with the
overarching goal of helping countries to achieve internationally agreed development goals is a key
to its success.
11.
In order to assure the sustainability of progress towards the outcomes of WSIS after the
completion of its Tunis phase, we agree to establish a process of follow-up to the outcomes of the
Geneva and Tunis phases of WSIS, at national, regional and international levels. It may include, at
each level, the following elements:
a)
implementation;
b)
evaluation;
c)
policy debate and review.
12.
At the national level, based on the WSIS outcomes, we encourage governments to set up a
national implementation framework with participation of civil society and business entities:
a)
National e-strategies, where appropriate, should be made an integral part of national
development plans, including Poverty Reduction Strategies, aiming to contribute to the
achievement of the goals contained in the UN Millennium Declaration;
b)
ICTs should be fully mainstreamed into strategies for Official Development Assistance
(ODA) through more effective donor information-sharing and co-ordination, and through
analysis and sharing of best practices and lessons learned from experience with ICT for
development programmes;
c)
Existing bilateral and multilateral technical assistance programmes, including those under
the UN Development Assistance Framework, should be used whenever appropriate to assist
governments in their implementation efforts at the national level;
d)
Common Country Assessment reports should contain a component on ICT for development.
13.
At the regional level:
a)
Upon request from governments, regional inter-governmental organizations could carry out
WSIS implementation activities, exchanging information and best practices at the regional
level, as well as facilitating policy debate on the use of ICT for development, with a focus
on attaining internationally-agreed development goals, including those contained in the UN
Millennium Declaration;
b)
UN regional economic commissions, based on request of Member States and within
approved budgetary resources, may organize regional WSIS follow-up conferences with
appropriate frequency;
c)
We consider a multi-stakeholder approach and the participation in regional WSIS
implementation activities by civil society and business entities to be essential.
- 4 -
(WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/6-E)
14.
At the international level:
a)
Implementation of the outcomes of the Geneva and Tunis phases of the Summit in the UN
system should take account of the main themes and action lines in the Summit documents;
b)
Each UN agency, according to its mandate and competencies, and based on decisions of their
respective governing bodies, and in line with UNGA Resolution 57/270 B, could facilitate
activities among different stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to help
national governments in their implementation efforts. The facilitation could include, amongst
others, information exchange, sharing of best practices, and assistance in developing
public/private and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Facilitation should be carried out within the
approved budgets of the respective agencies.
c)
The modalities of coordination of implementation activities among the UN agencies should be
defined by the UN Secretary General on the basis of existing practices within the UN system
and within the WSIS. The experience of, and the activities undertaken by, UN agencies in the
WSIS process—notably ITU, UNESCO and UNDP—should continue to be used to their fullest
extent;
d)
Coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities would allow information exchange
and avoidance of duplication of activities;
e)
The establishment of multi-stakeholder partnerships, such as the ITU-led initiative “Connect the
World”, which are aimed at bridging the digital divide, should be supported and encouraged;
Chapter Four: The way ahead
Para 26-28, see document WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/8
29.
Evaluation and policy formulation, at the national level, would remain the prerogative of
governments. We consider the participation in the policy debate by the national civil society and
business entities to be essential.
30.
A realistic international performance evaluation and benchmarking (both qualitative and
quantitative), should continue to be developed to follow up the implementation of the Geneva and
Tunis outcomes through an internationally-comparable and agreed upon framework for statistical
indicators, including by using a methodology for a composite ICT development index (digital
opportunity index), taking into account different national circumstances.
31.
The work of the global Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, which aims to
increase the availability of internationally comparable ICT statistics would provide valuable inputs
by setting international standards, defining indicators and promoting capacity building in countries
to introduce systematic timely national monitoring of the Information Society.
32.
The stocktaking of activities related to the implementation of the Geneva and Tunis
outcomes could be a valuable source of information in the evaluation process.
33.
We request the Secretary General of the United Nations to submit a report on
implementation activities of the WSIS decisions within the UN family as part of the annual report to
the ECOSOC and/or UNGA.
34.
Review and policy debate should be organized in the framework of the follow-up to the
outcomes of the major UN conferences and summits in the Economic and Social fields, as provided
for in UNGA Resolution 57/270 B. It should be an integral part of the review process of the
implementation of the UN Millennium Declaration.
35.
Participation of all stakeholders in the policy discussion after the Tunis Summit is essential
and the modalities of such participation should be established.
- 5 -
(WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/6-E)
Annex 2
“New” proposals to be added to the text of the Operational Part
New Para 2A.
We call upon parliaments to establish the enabling environments for national e-
strategies by adopting the necessary legal framework, by approving the budgets
required to finance national e-strategies and by effectively overseeing the
implementation by government of such strategies.
New Para 6b3.
Encouraging good information management policies in public and private sectors
to ensure on-going reliability and accessibility of public information; encouraging
creation of technical solutions for technological obsolescence to ensure the
survival and transmission of informational contents;
New Para 6b4.
Digitizing our cultural treasures for the benefit of future generations;
New Para 6k3 v.
Establishing mechanisms that help local SMEs to customize products and
applications to their particular market and cultural context, and providing support
through capacity-building;
New Para 6o.
Ensuring ICT enterprises commit to environment-friendly production processes
and to product recycling and proper disposal of ICT waste products, to minimise
negative impacts of the use and manufacture of ICTs on people and the
environment;
New Para 6p.
Building ICT networks and developing services that are available anytime,
anywhere, by anything and anyone;
New Para 6q.
Establishing programmes for academia, communities, industry, and governments
for ongoing learning of good practices in the design and implementation of ICTs;
New Para 6r.
Providing increased attention and support to human resource development and
education for the information society with emphasis on the youth and women in
order to increase contribution to the broader knowledge economy;
New Para 6s.
Incorporating policies and self-regulatory, co-regulatory or other effective
frameworks to protect children and young people from abuse and exploitation
through ICTs into national plans of action and e-strategies.
New Para 7B.
We also applaud research initiatives that contribute to the accomplishment of the
WSIS goals. Research institutions should be promoted and supported at all levels,
and recognized as a relevant stakeholder.
New Para 30.
We propose to establish a World Internet Day. This Day could help to raise
awareness, on an annual basis, of the importance of this global facility, and more
broadly on the issues dealt with in the Summit, especially the possibilities that the
use of ICT can bring for societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the
digital divide.
]