[Lac] Reacción de sociedad civil a ultima version de declaración

[Valeria Betancourt]

Amigos/as, 

En inglés, la reacción a la última versión de declaración emitida el 
viernes pasado.  Estamos trabajando en la traducción a nuestra 
lengua. 

Abrazos, 

Valeria
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Statement of the Civil Society in Response to the WSIS Draft 
Declaration Version 2 (DRAFT 1)

WE, the civil society representatives, present at the third Prep Com 
of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), express our 
grave concern, frustration and disappointment at the Draft 
Declaration that has been issued on 19th September 2003.  We have 
entered this process in good faith, on the understanding that our 
inputs and contributions would be given serious consideration in this 
process.  While we acknowledge that the process of negotiations is 
not an easy one, this is no justification for the failure to address 
issues that are critical to this process and to society as a whole.

We have three overarching concerns in relation to this document. 

"	Key language and points that address core concerns that civil 
society has raised over the past 18 months have been removed from 
this document.
"	Certain concepts and issues have been formulated in the current 
document in a way that has fundamentally altered their meaning.  We 
believe that the message that the current document expresses is not 
one that reflects the interests of all stakeholders.
"	Although the principles of the UDHR and the Millenium Development 
Goals are referred to prominently at the start of the Declaration, 
the subsequent paragraphs do not reflect vision statements that 
demonstrate genuine commitment to the upholding of these principles 
in the realization of an Information Society.

Specifically:

1.	Community media as a concept is missing from the document.  This 
indicates to us a complete disregard of the value of such alternative 
media in promoting public participation, strengthening cultural and 
linguistic diversity, promoting gender equity and in bringing about a 
just and equitable information society that includes the voices of 
the poor and the marginalised.

2.	The value and benefits of Free and Open Source Software are not 
adequately recognized nor promoted in this document, thus undermining 
 their real potential.  These extend far beyond the concept of 
affordability  which is the only stated benefit.

3.	The section on Enabling Environments speaks mostly of a regulatory 
and legislative environment necessary for the advancement of a market-
driven industry.  The social and political environments necessary to 
enable full participation and enjoyment of the benefits of an 
Information Society by all people are not emphasised, except in 
relation to regulations, standard setting and legislation.

4.	The reference to Intellectual Property Rights manipulates the 
notion of fair balance. If not revised to recognize the threat that 
it poses to innovation, the public domain, and citizens rights, it 
will only support the further concentration of wealth and power in 
the hands of the resource rich few.

5.	In relation to Internet governance, the document speaks of a multi-
stakeholder approach to ensure equitable distribution of resources.  
However, in subsequent paragraphs in relation to the management of 
the Internet, both in technical and policy issues, the role of civil 
society is completely negated. 

6.	Discussions in relation to Building Confidence, Trust and Security 
have shifted considerably from a focus on the need for Infrastructure 
integrity, to a highly politicized agenda characterized by language 
referring to the integrity of the military field and the use of 
information resources for criminal and terrorist purposes. 
Definitions of criminal and terrorist purposes in existing and 
emerging policies and legislation are ambiguous and prevent the use 
of information resources for legitimate purposes and threaten rights 
including the right to privacy, freedom of association, freedom of 
movement and freedom of expression.  

7.	References to women still fail to recognize them as key actors and 
equally important contributors, shapers and decision-makers in all 
aspects of building an information society.  The Declaration must 
avoid language that couches women as "wards" needing protection and 
guidance from those in positions of power and authority and rather 
focus on the importance of women as primary change agents in the 
realization of sustainable development.
.

In addition, references to the role of the Information Society in 
ensuring the furthering of commitments made in previous UN 
conferences, including issues such as disabled peoples, the 
environmental impact of the new ICTs, and indigenous people's rights, 
amongst others, are given little, if any, mention in this document.  

The document as it currently stands, reinforces the unequal balance 
of powers between and within nations, instead of redressing it.  We 
strongly urge governments to maintain a strong development focus and 
pr event the growing control of international governance processes by 
market-led forces.  



Prepared by:

Latin American and Caribbean Caucus
African Caucus
Asian Caucus
NGO Gender Strategies Working Group (NGO GWSG)


--------------------------------------------------------------
Valeria Betancourt
Coordinadora
Monitor de Políticas de TIC en América Latina y El Caribe
http://lac.derechos.apc.org
Tel: +593 (2) 2-234447 Fax: +593 (2) 2-559440
APC ~ La Asociación para el Progreso de las Comunicaciones
http://www.apc.org