Civil Society Orientation Session

PREPARATORY MEETING

(PREPCOM-2 OF THE TUNIS PHASE OF WSIS)

Palais des Nations, Geneva

14 February 2005

This orientation session is designed to give all participants the necessary background information on the WSIS Phase two process thus far to ensure effective participation. It is open to everyone: government delegations, private sector, civil society and international organizations.

Program of Activities

Time: Event:

14:00 – 14:10 Welcome and Introduction

· Renate Bloem (President, CONGO)

14:10 – 15:00 WSIS Phase 2: Actors and Processes

· Janis Karklins (President, PrepComs Tunis Phase)

· Charles Geiger (Executive Director, WSIS Executive Secretariat)

· Nitin Desai (Chair WGIG), tbc

· Markus Kummer (Executive Coordinator, WGIG)

· Moncef Achour (Civil Society, WSIS Executive Secretariat)

15:15 – 16:00 Civil Society at WSIS: Structures and Opportunities

· Civil Society Bureau: CONGO, NGLS, ICV

· Content and Themes Group: Karen Banks

· Plenary: tba

· Caucuses and WGs: tba

· Housekeeping: CONGO, ICV

16:00 – 16 :15 Coffee Break for Networking

16:15 – 18:00 Strategies:

· Breakout Groups into Caucuses and WGs

18.00 – 18.15 Plenary :

· Cultural Sensitivity: Tracey Naughton

· Groups reporting back