Civil Society Content and Themes Working Group/Document 2-WSIS PrepCom 3/19September2003

Submission of the
Civil Society Working Group on Content and Themes (SCT)
Compilation of Proposed CSO Inputs on Paras 1-48 of the Draft Plan of Action (as Developed at the WSIS Inter-sessional)

Civil Society Organisations  Proposed language
This document is a compilation of proposals presented by civil society thematic caucuses and other content working groups.  It reflects a long process of collective work of civil society organizations at the WSIS, without necessarily reflecting consensus among all accredited CSOs. For more information, contact: Sally Burch, <sburch@alainet.org>

A)	Introduction
[CS Content and Themes Drafting Group and Human rights Caucus: Recommends additions and deletions as follows]
1.	 The Declaration of Principles must be realized through a plan of action based on human rights, the needs of people and communities, and sustainable democratic development..  can be translated into concrete actions by promoting the use of ICT-based products, networks, services and applications in order to create With the Millennium Goals at its core, the Action Plan commits to policies and practices designed to ensure the full participation of all in the information society, with a measurable impact on societal development. , and achieve development goals. In order to make the inclusive information society a reality, all actions shall promote non-discrimination and diversity in their formulation and realization.

2.	Governments, the private sector, civil society, local authorities, the media and multilateral organizations all have a role in the evolution towards an equitable and sustainable Information Society, supported by ICTs and traditional communication media. 

3.	Governments have a fundamental role in developing and implementing comprehensive, forward-looking and sustainable e‑strategies, in compliance with human right standards and reflecting the stage of development and the structural characteristics of the national economy and society. They also have a shared responsibility to develop and implement actions that work to eliminate current divides, including those between women and men, in access use and benefits. 

Such strategies should include:

a)	Establishing public policies and regulatory frameworks to achieve universal access and affordable services, to improve national legislation, explore innovative ways to correct market failures and foster innovative approaches, including competition, to bring the Information Society to all sectors of the economy and society, especially those living in poverty and in rural areas.
b)	Renewing models for public sector action and actively shaping the transformation towards an equitable and sustainable Information Society based on active and  inclusive social participation.
c)	Preparing the future generation for the Information Society, and creating an environment of continuous learning available for all.
d)	Ensuring equal conditions for the effective participation of all stakeholders in the e‑strategies that are elaborated and building into government policy and practice the assessment mechanisms that will provide them with the information to measure impacts, both intended and unintended, on different stakeholder groups, including women and men, rural and urban inhabitants, racial and ethnic minorities and persons with and without disabilities.  
e)	Becoming model users of new technologies and ICTs to improve the quality and delivery of government services especially to groups currently under-served.
f)	Promoting comprehensive, social and economic development that is built on the convergence of new and traditional ICTs, ensuring that successes currently experienced with traditional and “low tech” media are integrated and built upon in the new Information Society.

National government and local authorities must prioritize and promote local ICT initiatives to serve local, national and regional communities.

4.	The commitment with social responsibility of the private sector is crucial for a sustainable development of infrastructures, content and applications. The private sector should play an important role in the development and diffusion of ICTs.
a)	The private sector is not only a market player but also plays a role in a wider political and social context, for example helping countries to develop ICTs and overcome the digital divide arising from gender, age, race, class, ethnicity and other disparities, and developing and disseminating ICTs that are appropriate for, engage, and benefit currently marginalized groups 
b)	The private sector can be involved in practical partnerships for innovative applications, for instance, in e‑government initiatives.
c)	The private sector remains responsible and accountable for fair, open and transparent practices.
d)	The private sector plays an important role in redirecting the current movement toward a more democratic and sustainable information society that fully involves all women and men in envisioning and designing appropriate technologies.

5. 	The commitment of Civil society is plays a crucial role in for creating an equitable Information Society based on sustainable social and economic development and gender equality. 	Civil society, including youth, women’s NGOs and community based NGOs engaged in media information and communication work should work closely with communities and the other sectors in strengthening ICT-related initiatives, helping to spur innovation and address local needs. Specifically, they should be fully involved in the formulation, and  implementation and impact assessment of ICTs and sustainable development strategies: [WSIS-GC]
a)	Civil society involvement is vital in the take-up and social acceptance of the Information Society.[WSIS-CT Drafting Group recommends that this be deleted.]
b)	Civil Society has a key role in the creation and development of content in the Information Society  crucial role to play as a source of ideas and innovation, as a partner in implementation and policy making, as a critical voice close to people and as a means for mobilizing and supporting community-driven development.. [WSIS-CS Content and Themes Drafting Group recommends these edits.]
c)	[WSIS-CS Content and Themes Drafting Group recommends add and insert: Civil society  can help to strengthen the value aspect in the triangle of regulation, markets and values, and to   has a crucial role to play in being vigilant in recognizing and providing provide a critical perspective. On the social impacts of ICTs and in raising awareness of them. ]
d)	[Global Unions]Trade unions are both an important sector of civil society, and a core element of glabal industry.  Labour, together with civil society, business and governments have to create a common movement to overcome the social and the digital divide.

6.	[Community media working group strongly support the retention of paragraph 6 in full] The media—in their various forms, and with a diversity of ownership—are recognized as an essential requirement for freedom of expression and a guarantee of the plurality of information:
a)	The media provide an important means of disseminating public information, and fostering social development and cohesion [NGO-GSWG: add through promoting principles of equality and non-discrimination in their content and organization structures]
b)	Public service broadcasting and community media have specific and crucial roles to play in ensuring the participation of all in the Information Society.
c)	The media, both mainstream and independent, plays a critical role in the democratisation of society and of enhancing political accountability and transparency of both private and public institutions. Community media, independent and public mass media are important means of providing access to public information fostering involvement and promoting societal development and social cohesion. 
[WSIS-GC]    [Community Media Working Group strongly supports retention of para 6 in full]

7.	Multilateral organizations have a key role in providing guidance, facilitating peer dialogue, exchange of experience and familiarization with good practices, offering technical assistance in the design of national and regional e-Strategies, and in measuring their impact.
a)	International and regional organizations, including financial and development institutions should assist developing countries in integrating the use of traditional and new ICTs in the development process and making available the necessary resources in a manner that respects the right to self-determination.
b)	They should assess and report regularly on progress towards and challenges to an equitable and sustainable the Information Society.
c)	They should also ensure non-discrimination—whether based on sex, race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, or disability—for all members in their programmes, projects and contractual engagements, with the aim of creating equitable opportunities for the growth of ICT sectors of developing countries. Further, they should actively promote the inclusion of currently excluded groups and ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of the Information Society
All organizations should contribute in their respective areas of competence and expertise.
[WSIS-GC]

7.1 [Computer Profesisonals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) Recommend to add Para 7.1 : The commitment of *computer and information science professionals* in close cooperation with users of ICTs is crucial for creating an Information Society that is both technically sound and socially appropriate.  Computer and information science professionals and researchers should formulate ICT development practices that are tailored to the unique requirements of communities.  Toward this end, the 
computing and information science professions in cooperation with the international community should: 

a) SUPPORT RESEARCH IN COMMUNITY INFORMATICS: Research  geared toward  evolving community informatics must be supported. This would  include the  development of a research agenda among practitioners,  scholars, and  communities; the cataloging of community informatics  projects and  identification of both factors for failure and success; and  support for  research projects and systems trials.  

 b) SUPPORT AN INTERNATIONAL FORUM IN COMMUNITY INFORMATICS:  An ongoing,  international forum or conference in community informatics  is required.  This would create a center of focus and a forum in which  researchers,  practitioners, and communities can exchange results and  maintain a  coherent, field-wide research agenda, as is done in other  fields. 

  c) ENCOURAGE THE EVOLUTION OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING STANDARDS  TO SUPPORT  COMMUNITY INFORMATICS: International Organization for  standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission  (ISO/IEC) and  other relevant bodies should be encouraged to develop  adaptations of  existing systems analysis and software engineering  standards, such as  the ISO/IEC 12207 life cycle standard, tailored to the  unique needs of  developing ICT-based solutions for communities. 

  d) ESTABLISH GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY  INFORMATICS:  WSIS and similar processes must establish global information  society  mechanisms of governance that empower citizens to apply and  manage  community informatics processes in meaningful ways. This  would include  the creation of intellectual property mechanisms that  protect and  encourage the use of open source technologies and  development processes.  In addition, it would provide mechanisms that ensure that  public  interests are taken into account when community informatics  processes,  such as procurement and contracting, involve the private sector. ]  

B)	Objectives, goals and targets

8	Achievement of the objectives and goals of the World Summit on the Information Society requires a phased implementation. The first phase would be reached when all localities in the world have a minimal technological infrastructure. The second phase would conclude when there is content and infrastructure to address different social services such as education and health and should be available in local/indigenous languages. The third phase would be met when all communities have access to and benefit from ICTs, with environmentally sustainable energy production and ICT recycling systems.
[Environment and ICTs caucus] [WSIS-CS Content and Themes Drafting Group recommends this version over the following version of paragraph 8.]

8	Achievement of the objectives and goals of the World Summit on the Information Society requires a phased implementation. The first phase would be reached when all localities in the world have a minimal technological infrastructure. The second phase would conclude when there is content and infrastructure to address different social services such as education and health. The third phase would be met when all communities have access to and benefit from ICT simultaneous efforts to ensure a minimal technological infrastructure, equitable access and benefits to all communities from ICTs, and strong individual and community capacity to shape, participate in and contribute to the Information Society.
[WSIS-GC]

[Community Infometics working Group recommend Addition of new Para 8a : Efforts to achieve the obejectives and goals of the WSIS should at the service of efforts to achieve the Millenium Goals]

9	At a global level,  and derived from already established development indicators, the following indicative targets could should serve as benchmarks for actions to be taken for improving access to, and use of, ICTs. They could  should also be used for developing more specific targets in national e-strategies. ‘Connected’ in these targets indicates accessibility in terms of technology infrastructure as well as elimination of structural obstacles to equitable participation by women and men of diverse communities. Success must be measurable in terms which demonstrate that better action to information and communication has contributed to the realisation of human rights, reduction of poverty, better health, gender equality and a  cleaner environment.
10	The Information Society must serve the interests of all nations and all the people of the world, in a manner that secures their fair, balanced and harmonious development. This will require specific actions to assist the most vulnerable [NGO GSWG: add groups] communities and countries:[WSIS-GC]

a)	All villages to be connected by 2010, with a community access point by 2015  2010.
b)	90 per cent of the world's population to be within wireless coverage with steady provision of electricty by 2010 and 100 per cent wireless and electrical coverage  by 2015.  
c)	All universities to be connected by 2005, all secondary schools by 2010 and all primary schools by 2015. 
[ Combine c, d and e to read:  Connect universities, higher training centers and research centers by 2005; connect all libraries by 2006;  connect professional and secondary schools, as well as, all cultural centers and museums by 2010 and all primary schools by 2015.  CSDPTT]

d)	All scientific research centres to be connected by 2005. 
e)	All public libraries to be connected by 2006 and all cultural centres, museums and archives by 2010. 
f)	All hospitals to be connected by 2005, and health centres by 2010. 
g)	All central governments departments to have a website and email address by 2005 and all local governments departments by 2010. 
h)	All primary and secondary school curricula to be revised to meet the challenges of the Information Society by 2006. [CSDPTT]
i)	All of the world's population to have access to domestic radio services by 2010 and domestic TV services by 2015.     [ Media literacy project]
j)	The necessary technical conditions should be in place by 2010 to permit all world languages to be present and used on the Internet.
k)	Building Awareness of the use of ICTs to among all segments of society will be accomplished by 2020. [[WSIS GC]  [ Media Literacy project suggests deleting k]
l)	All of the above goals are to be achieved in harmony with the principles of sustainable development. [Environment and ICT caucus]
m)	Women and men will have equal access to access-points by 2015 
n)	Content developed by and responsive to diverse groups of women and girls will be wide spread by 2010 [WSIS GC] 
[ insert as new b)  All children in need of care and protection to have access to telephones, radio and other ICTs by 2015  -Child Helplines International]
[merge  a and g; create new:
   Energy and ICT hardware production, disposal and recycling strategies in  place to meet millennium development goal number 7 (esp. “reverse loss of environmental resources”) by 2015
     Educational structures in place that promote creative and critical use and creation of content       Media Literacy Project]

C)	Action Lines
1.	Information and communication infrastructure
11.	Advances in ICTs provide all communities and social groups with unique opportunities to enhance access to, and participation in, the Information Society. Infrastructure is [LAC caucus suggests changes to this text] central essential to this goal of digital inclusion, enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable access to ICTs by all. [LAC Caucus suggests addition of this text]: but it must be understood that infrastructure is not enough to create an information society, without the human factor as its central feature. This will require utilizing existing and new technologies. [Community media suggests the additional new text] [Media Working Group : add Orbital paths should be recognised as a global resource belonging to all of humanity and should be allocated to benefit the public interest through transparent and accountable regulatory frameworks]. It will be necessary to:
Actions 	Level	

a)  Study [Community Media suggests the addition of the following text] appropriate and sustainable solutions including traditional as well as new technologies relevant   solutions for promoting the development of information and communication infrastructures [Africa Caucus Proposes the following text:] and power adapted to the environment, and relevant to communities, with particular attention to the needs of remote and rural areas, and marginalized urban areas.	N, R, I	
b)  Produce [Africa Caucus Proposes the following text] and disseminate a yearly inventory of the best technologies for access to remote and rural areas in order to optimize ICT access costs.	R, I	
c)  Improve connectivity for institutions accessible to the public, such as schools, universities, [Africa Caucus Proposes the following text] health institutions libraries, post offices, community centres, museums, etc.	N	
d)  Undertake international research and development efforts aimed at making available adequate [Africa Caucus Proposes the following text] affordable Internet community access equipment for under US$ 100 by 2010, and under US$ 50 by 2015.	N, R, I	
e)	Utilize unused satellite, [Africa Caucus Proposes the following text] fibre optic, gateways capacity to improve low-cost connectivity in developing countries. [Community media  suggests the additional new text and reserve a fixed percentage of satellite capacity for educational, humanitarian, community and other non-commercial use.]

	R, I	
f)  Develop and strengthen national, regional and international broadband network infrastructure to help in providing the capacity to match the needs of countries and their citizens and for the delivery of new services.	N, R, I	
g)  Reinvigorate the project for the modernization and extension of the existing PANAFTEL network and remove all obstacles to the implementation of the RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communications Organization) project.	R	
h)  Provide all interested countries with appropriate technical assistance for the preparation of network development plans for broadband, Internet and IP.	N, R, I	
[Community media suggests the removal of the following para]
i)	Put in place plans for a transition to digital TV in all countries by 2010.

[Media Caucus proposes the following new text]
To develop the infrastructure for universal television and radio coverage and to devise plans for the transition to digital. broadcasting.

To Promote open and interoperable standards and platforms.	N, [R ]	
j)  Mobilize financial, scientific, business and citizenry commitment to the development of alternative, renewable energy sources adapted to the environment for ICTs.	N, R, I	
12.	Universal access policies should promote the best possible level of connectivity at an affordable and reasonable cost for all [NGO GSWG: add that take into account differences in gender, mobility, income, literacy levels, and general socio-cultural factors]. Pro-active government policies to ensure Universal Access need to be defined and implemented in a transparent manner and in cooperation with private sector and civil society. They could take the form of a mechanism based on national funds to finance Universal Access, financed according to the principle of solidarity, i.e. on the basis of levied fees or taxes. The funds can be used for the development of isolated or disadvantaged regions whenever the universal access obligation appears to be unprofitable. Any such policy should not infringe on the principle of awarding licences to private operators, of free competition and of non-discrimination. Actions to be taken could include:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Devise, for all interested countries, appropriate universal access policies and strategies within two years (2005).	N, I	
b)  Undertake a global programme with the objective of providing sustainable connectivity to every village and community and especially to excluded populations [NGO GSWG: add and marginalized groups] of developing countries, with particular emphasis on the LDCs and Small Island Developing States. It would be conducted under the guidance of the competent national authorities and in partnership with the private sector and civil society, using the most appropriate and affordable technologies.
 [The Africa Caucus strongly supports the retention of this para]
	N, R , I	
c)  Include universal access policies into national e-Strategies, improving adaptation to local needs and conditions, increasing support for project planning and development and improving networking between projects and experience-sharing [NGO GSWG: add to overcome social imbalances and enable the broadest possible participation].	N	
d)	Revise the concept of universal access to reflect advances and opportunities offered by new technology, market development and changes in user demand.
Additional text proposed by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions)
Libraries should be involved in this process.
	N, R, I	
e)  Launch, through ITU, technical, regulatory and operational studies with a view to promoting the provision of high-speed satellite services for underserved areas. [The Africa Caucus strongly supports the retention of this para]	I	

[New para proposed by Global unions]
F) Open access must take into account the specificities of right holders’ protected works. In accordance with article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights authors have a right of protection of the moral and material interests of their work. Therefore, a copyright protected work either in digital or analogue format cannot be made available for free.

13.	Technological convergence should be monitored with a view to integrating ICTs in order to create alternative forms of access that can help to narrow the digital divide.
Actions 	Level	
a)  Further research and launch projects, at local and regional level, on alternative ways to organize the deployment, management and operation of communication systems (i.e. convergence and operator-neutral access networks).	N, R	
[AC Caucus suggests the addition of the text]
b)  Optimize connectivity among major information networks through the creation of regional traffic hubs, national or regional IXPs or  to reduce interconnection costs and broaden network access.	R	
c)  Develop methodologies for more equitable sharing of Internet transit and interconnection costs, thereby contributing to reducing the price of connectivity to end-users in developing countries, facilitating the universalization of access.	R, I	
d)  Develop national and regional ICT backbones and Internet Exchange Points.	N, R	
e)  Promote and implement the creation of Internet Exchange Points within and between African countries. [The Africa Caucus strongly supports the retention of this para]	R	
f)  Establish guidelines for Internet traffic contracts and, where necessary, renegotiate existing ones, in accordance with the legal provisions of each country, so as to allow more equitable access for all countries.	N, R, I 	
g)	Promote joint use of traditional media and new technologies. [The Africa Caucus strongly supports the retention of this para]

Additional text proposed by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions)
Libraries are currently enabling this combined usage on a large scale and are prepared to share their experience in this matter.
	N, R, I	
14.	In order to overcome the obstacles, which are often created by new technologies, and to ensure the inclusion of [Africa Caucus Proposes the amendments of following text] vulnerable all groups in the Information Society, the following actions are envisaged: 
Actions 	Level	
[Africa Caucus Proposes amendments to the following text]
a)  Design information and communication equipment so that everyone, including the elderly older people  and people with disabilities disabled, can easily access it. [NGO GSWG: add Enable all marginalized groups to design information and communication equipment they can easily access and use to become fully integrated into society ]	N, R, I	
[Africa Caucus Proposes amendments to the following text]
b)	Address the special diverse needs of people with disabilities the disabled , the elderly older people, wormen and girls,  indigenous people and migrants and refugees by promoting the development of technologies, applications, and content suited to their needs.

[Africa Caucus suggests the additional new text] 

Currently underrepresented populations should be actively targeted and the education system and ICT sector should be developed to ensure the active integration and participation of these groups.
	N, R, I	
[The Child Helplines International suggest the following amendments and additions to text about children]
c)	Designate, by 2005, a top-level delegate in national governing/regulation bodies for telecommunication and information technology, to be assigned to maintain regular contact with the organizations [for and of children as well as organizations] representing people with disabilities of the disabled, especially with organizations of the deaf and the blind, and to make sure that the special requirements for [children, including the need for helplines and for] the disabled people with disabilities are recognized and implemented in national laws and regulations. 
 	N	
d)  Establish, in all countries, telephone relay systems, to be in operation for text communication systems not later than 2005, and for video communication systems not later than 2010. A telephone relay service should be considered as part of the universal service, which enables live communications around the clock between hearing people and deaf people/hearing-impaired people/people with speech problems.	N	
e)  Television stations should take into account the information requirements of deaf and hearing-impaired people in that an appropriate proportion of their programmes are subtitled or signed.	N	
f)  Develop low-cost technologies and non-text based computer interfaces using iconographic software and voice recognition (vocal and tactile e-applications) to facilitate ICT access to a large part of the population in developing countries.	N R, I	
[LAC Caucus suggests the following new text]
g) Establish mechanisms with indigenous communities so that internet is a tool of exchange with other communities of expression of their culture traditions and of social participation.		

2. Access to information and knowledge
15.	At the heart of the digital revolution is the power of ICTs to allow people to access information and knowledge almost instantaneously, anywhere in the world, and to help meet their aspiration for a better life. Individuals, organizations and communities should benefit from unhindered access to knowledge and information. Information in the public domain should be of high quality and easily accessible for all, without distinction. It will be necessary to:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Develop policy guidelines for the development and promotion of public domain information as an important international instrument promoting public access to information.	N, R, I	
b)  Promote the accessibility of public information through the harmonization of procurement policies.	N, R, I	
Submission from: Latin American and the Caribbean Caucus
c)  Governments should provide free access on the Internet to information of a public nature, as the current legislation. They should establish legislation on access to information and the protection of public data, notably in the area of the new technologies, and publish it on the home page of their website.	N	
Submission from: Community Media Working Group
d)  Governments should adopt electronic freedom of information acts and publish all public information on websites and should develop appropriate legislation and implementation measures ensuring access by citizens to public information on an equal basis, with due regard for protecting privacy.	N	
Submission from: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
e)  Establish a programme, funded by the UN (or its agencies), to create a worldwide portal to open access journals and books, and an open archive for scientific information. Libraries are the institutions to provide that access.	I	
Submission from: NGO - GSWG
f) Support initiatives that facilitate women and girls ability to generate and disseminate content that reflects their own information and development needs.  Encourage innovative combinations of new technologies and traditional technologies that enhance women’s opportunities to access information		

16.	All stakeholders should support the diverse network of existing libraries and archives and should support those countries that plan to develop their own. Information and records management is a necessary condition for good governance. A modest level of investment in new technology, training and above all, content provision could kick-start the information revolution in many regions by broadening access and developing skills:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Governments should establish multi-purpose community public access points, providing affordable or free-of-charge access for their citizens to the Internet, and possessing sufficient capacity to provide assistance to users, in libraries, educational institutions, public administrations or other public places.	N	
b)  Governments must ensure proper organization, appropriate classification and financially-assured archiving of their own documents in order to guarantee long-term transparency and access to public information and records.	N	
c)  Creation and development of a public library service, adapted to the digital era should be supported.	N	
d)  Governments should provide appropriate training for archives users, staff and future staff and promote policies that increase public awareness of archives and records.	N	
17.	Development and deployment of open-source software, multi-platform and open platforms, should be encouraged to provide freedom of choice and to facilitate access to ICTs by all citizens, at an affordable cost:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Create awareness of open-source/free software, especially in the developing countries.	N, R, I	
b)  A "Programmers Without Frontiers" initiative, focused on open-source/free software as applied to development needs, should be launched and coordinated, under the auspices of the UN.	I	
c)  Intensify standardization efforts in the field of terminology and other language resources.	R, I	
d)  Promote a collaborative network of open-source/free software technology tools for civil society.	N, R, I	
e)  Create intellectual property mechanisms that protect and encourage the use of open source technologies and development processes. In addition, it would provide mechanisms that ensure that public interests are taken into account when community informatics processes involve the private sector.	N, I	
f)  Finance the development of open source technologies and open software that will facilitate women's access.	N, I	
Submission from: Asian Caucus
g) Governments should encourage research on the advantages and disadvantages of open source software, in particular on its use by government agencies. Results of this research should be made available by 2005. To ensure universal access and access for all people, open source/free software or platform should be optionally and preferably taken into account in governmental procurement. 
Website of all public institution should be designed in a way that all types of browsers could be accessible. Furthermore, plug-in tools which are to be publicly used, e.g. on-line banking add-ons or magnifying add-ons, must be freely provided and compatible to all type of platform.	N	
3.	The role of governments, the business sector and civil society [and UN and other [public] international organizations] in the promotion of ICTs for development

18.	The full and effective involvement of all stakeholders, and the mobilization of resources, is vital in developing the Information Society (see Section D). Increased cooperation and partnership between stakeholders are needed for the effective design and implementation of initiatives related to the Information Society. Action should therefore be taken to:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Instruct international organizations to mainstream ICTs in their work programmes and to assist developing countries to prepare action plans to support the fulfilment of the goals indicated in the declaration of principles and in this plan of action.	I	
b)  By 2005, relevant multilateral organizations should develop their own strategies for the use of ICTs for sustainable development and as an effective instrument to help achieve the goals expressed in the UN Millennium Declaration.	I	
c) Establish, under the aegis of ITU, a mechanism for the coordination of measures and activities carried out by international bodies in order to facilitate the promotion and development of the Information Society. 	I	
Submission from: Community Media Working Group
d) Establish, by 2005, mechanisms within the ITU for the full and affordable participation of all civil society stakeholders		
d)  Establish, by 2005, a structured multi-stakeholder dialogue involving all relevant actors, to be responsible for devising e-strategies for the achievement of the Information Society and for supervising their implementation.	N	
e)  National e-strategies, including the necessary human capacity-building, should be developed for all countries within three years to fully embrace the Information Society, taking into account the differences among countries (2006).	N	
Submission from: François ELIE, from Adullact, by Frederic Couchet free software mailer
f) Encourage governments, collectivities, and public actors who develop or make develop software on public funds to release them under free/libre licence, in order to contribute to the world patrimony of free/libre software		
g)  Identify a mechanism for the promotion and monitoring of partnerships between stakeholders of the Information Society.	N	
h)  New and innovative forms of partnerships at all levels and between all stakeholders, such as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), will be a key ingredient in the successful implementation of the plan of action. Each country should establish at least one successful PPP by 2005 as a showcase for future action.	N	
i)  Encourage a series of related measures, including among other things: incubator schemes, venture capital investments (local and international), government investment funds (including micro finance for SMEs), investment promotion strategies, software export support activities (trade counseling), support of research and development networks and software parks.	N	

2.	Capacity building
19.	An ambitious and innovative approach is required in human capacity building, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by ICTs in education. For the whole range of educational activities, the use of ICTs could contribute to more efficiency and better quality in education services. 
Actions 	Level	
a)  Ensure that ICTs are fully integrated in education at all levels, including in curriculum development, teacher training, institutional administration and management. In particular, curricula at the primary and secondary levels should be revised to incorporate appropriate ICT training, to ensure adequate e-literacy for all attending these levels and preparing them to meet the challenges of the Information Society. Adequate training of teachers and sufficient resources to schools to integrate ICTs in educational programmes should be provided.   Relevant national agencies should provide adequate training of teachers and sufficient resources to schools to integrate ICTs in educational programmes.  Adquate training of teachers should not focus only on the technical aspects of ICTs but also on potential possibilities and risks that these technologies can lead to and should enable teachers to effectively address the needs of students in the information  society.               [Education & Academia Caucus and Youth Caucus]	N	
b)  Design and implement regional and international cooperation activities (e.g. meetings for policy design, training seminars, establishment of cooperative networks, demonstrations, exchange of best practices) to enhance the capacity of leaders and operational staff in developing countries.  Civil Society should play and active role in this.  Pilot projects should be locally owned and self-sustainable. including LDC, to apply ICTs effectively in the whole range of educational activities. This should include delivery of education outside the educational structure, such as the workplace and at home. The impact of ICT-based alternative educational delivery systems, notably for achieving Education for All targets, should be demonstrated through pilot projects.	R, I	
c)  Develop affordable solutions in terms of hardware and software, particularly in regard to open-source and open standards, that meet the needs of all educational levels and which are suited to local conditions, while promoting the combination of various media, both traditional and new.     [Education and Academica Caucus]	N, R	
d)  Design special programmes using ICTs to increase knowledge of ICT among girls and women both in terms of receiving and creating information, and to remove the gender barriers (including unequal access to education).   Awareness-raising programmes should be developed to sensitize decision-makers and policy-makers on this issue, as well as teacher training courses for implementation. Early intervention programmes in science and technology should target young girls to increase the number of women in all career areas including ICT careers.   [Education and Academica]	N	
e)  Develop distance training through subregional, regional and global cooperation programmes, including by pooling available resources and with special emphasis on local content.  [Education and Academia Caucus]	N, R, I	
f)  Launch pilot projects to design new forms of ICT-based networking, in particular education and research networks linking developed and developing countries,    [Education and Academia Caucus recommends add: on equal terms, as well as networks between developing countries] and networks between teachers and teachers’ institutions[Child Helplines International recommends add: as well as helplines]  [NGO GSWG  recommends add: Integrate a gender perspective in ICT curriculum development, teacher training, institutional administration and management; and a gender-sensitive teaching-learning process]	N	
g)  Promote education and online training about human rights so more people living in isolated areas can become aware of their rights and respect them.   [Education and Academia Caucus]		
h)  Integrate a gender perspective in ICT curriculum development, teacher training, institutional administration and management; and a gender sensitive teaching-learnin process.    [GSWG caucus]		
i)  Develop awareness-raising programmes to sensitise decision-makers and policy-makers to the gender aspects of the information society.    [NGO GSWG caucus]		
j.)	Make maximum use of ICTs – for example, trhough distance education, e-learning and other ICT-based delivery systems – to eliminate gender disparities in literacy, and in primay, secondary and tertiary education.  [NGO GSWG]		

20.	ICT literacy and skills levels should be enhanced to ensure the best use of   and equal participation the Information Society:   
Actions 	Level	
a)  Design and implement leaders’ awareness and training programmes  and draw-up guidelines to establish e-strategies at the national level.	N, I, R	
b)  Design specific training programmes in the use of ICTs and production of knowledge and content and revise curricula for content workers such as archivists, librarians, scientists, teachers, journalists and other media workers.	N	
c)  Design and offer e-literacy courses to empower local communities in ICT use and to ensure the production of useful and socially meaningful content for the benefit of all. 	N	
d)  Promote e-literacy courses for civil servants. 	N, R, I	
e)  Establish sustainable local ICT training centres with the cooperation of all stakeholders.	N	
f)	Ensure equal training without distinction  race, religion, age, culture or nationality and production opportunities in media and ICT related fields for women and girls and to   marginalized groups.
              [Education and Academia Caucus]	N	
g)  Ensure that young people are equipped with knowledge, awareness of potential risks and possibilities, and skills to use and produce ICTs and to participate fully in the Information Society, including the ability to think critically, to select,  interpret, and create scientific information.     [Education and Academia Caucus]	N	
h)  Activate volunteer programmes (including UNV) to provide ICT training in developing countries, more particularly for marginalized groups or for specific applications.	N, R, I	
i)  Promote lifelong learning in the ICT field as well as private sector investment in ICT education and training.	N	
j. Foster the development of internationally compatible descriptors and standards for distance and e-learning courseware and for e-learning institutions.	I	
k. [Community Infomatics Working Group Recommend Add: Promote awareness of social and ethical issues involving the use of ICTs]		

21.	Basic and advanced education should be improved and made more accessible to help create a critical mass of highly-qualified and skilled local ICT professionals and experts, ensuring equal access for women and girls in the ICT field:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Create, at the national level, a critical mass of qualified and skilled ICT professionals and experts.	N	
b)  Train ICT specialists to ensure the availability of efficient, reliable, competitive and secure ICT networks services.	N	
c)  Create an adequate environment (e.g. training and employment opportunities, teleworking) to prevent South to North brain-drain, since it is detrimental for the development of all sectors of a country, especially in the educational sector.     [Education and Academia Caucus]	N, I	

5.	Building confidence, trust and security in the use of ICTs

22.	The security of networks is one of the critical issues for the use of the new technologies in general but especially for the continued growth of [LAC Caucus: electronic commerce] the information society. Security, authentication, privacy and [LAC Caucus: consumer] users protection are prerequisites for a mature Information Society and for building confidence among all users of ICTs. 
Effective information security could be guaranteed not only by technology, but also by education and training, policy and law, and international co-operation. It will be necessary to:

Actions 	Level	
a)  Take steps to enhance security, user confidence and other aspects of information and system/network integrity in order to avoid the systematic risk of disruption and destruction of the network systems on which we are all increasingly dependent.	N, R, I	
b)  Develop a baseline of computer security safeguards that all stakeholders must adopt in order to protect their computer infrastructure (computer pirates and viruses on the Internet).	N, R, I	
c)  Support the development of security schemes that balance security measures with the individual’s right to privacy, respecting the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and draw upon the principles of existing Guidelines and Convention in various forums, such as the OECD guidelines for the Security of Information Systems and Networks.	N, R, I	
d)  Put in place special mechanisms to encourage the banking sector to develop secure and reliable applications to facilitate online transactions.	N, R, I	
e)  Develop a framework for the implementation of electronic signatures.	N, R, I	

[HR caucus, PSWG: A UN privacy commissioner shall be established to ensure that national and international ICT regulation and practice is compliant with international privacy standards.]

[HR caucus, PSWG: In order to promote an international management standard on privacy protection, the International Standards Organization (ISO) shall develop standards on the protection of personal information.]

[HR caucus, PSWG: It shall be researched and tested whether privacy-enhancing technologies are feasible technical means for enhancing privacy in online communication.]

[Korean Civil Society Network for WSIS: Recommends Addition of following Action Lines]
22bis
a)General privacy protection act should be established to control all formats of surveillance in online and offline, public and private spheres.
b)Independent privacy commission should be established to oversee all public policies concerned with privacy, and provide an alternative dispute resolution service to those whose privacy rights are infringed. Many countries including France and Germany have already established Privacy Commission, which could serve as good examples.
c)Privacy impact assessments should be introduced at the planning stage of all privacy related policies.

23.	In the long term a “global culture of cyber-security” should be developed, with due respect to human rights, freedom of expression and privacy. It will be necessary to:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Invite each country to set up a focal point for real-time security incident handling and response, and develop an open co-operative network between these focal points for sharing information and technologies on incident response.	N, R, I	
b)	[HR Caucus and PSWG strongly support this proposal]  A global investigation on the impact of ICT security policies on civil liberties and human rights should be initiated under the supervision of the UN. The assessment would cover threats to privacy, freedom of expression, freedom from surveillance, etc. A public benchmarking on the evolution of this impact would be provided by a dedicated mechanism.
	I	

24.	Protection from civil and criminal offences (“cybercrime”) is essential in order to build trust in information networks:
Actions 	Level	
a)  Governments, in cooperation with the private sector, should adopt a specific common policy against the global threat of crimes committed using information technology (cybercrime) through legislation and international co-operation. The Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime lays down balanced standards and creates a cooperation process open to all states.
[HR Caucus,PSWG: Comment:
The Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime has been heavily criticized by international civil liberties and human rights organisations for not laying down balanced standards with regard to privacy protection. It is therefore recommended that the OECD guidelines for the Security of Information Systems and Networs are used as the international reference point, rather than the Convention on Cybercrime.]	N, R, I	
b)  Cooperation mechanisms should be established at the national, regional and international levels to fight against paedophilia and pornography on the Internet, [WSIS-GC: as well as trafficking in women and children], strengthening coalition of forces, involving children, industry, policy-makers, [WSIS-GC: advocates] , educators and parents to ensure that users are aware of potential dangers and have available to them the necessary means to combat these threat; 
HR Caucus and NGO GSWG comment: We need to clearly separate illegal criminal content such as child pornography from legal content that could be considered harmful by certain groups, such as pornography. Content that is legal offline is also legal online. 
	N, R, I	
[LAC Caucus] c) Content which reproduces violent sexist stereotypes on the internet which further perpetuates discrimination in relation to sexual preferences and/or ethnic origin must be considered a human rights violation.  Users must be warned about this when they are accessing that content. 		

6.	Enabling environment
25.	To maximize the economic, [LAC recommends Add : cultural] and social benefits of the Information Society, governments need to create [NGO GSWG : Recommend Insert and Delete as follows : an trustworthy, accountable and transparent, and non-discriminatory legal, regulatory and policy environment, capable of promoting technological innovation and competition, and to provide appropriate incentives to favour the necessary investments in the deployment of infrastructures and development of new services and content. national ICT governance and policy framework which enable full participation in the Information  Society, with particular attentionto women and other marginalised groups in order to reduce teh risk of inhibiting people’s access to and effective use of technology, information and knowledge.]  

[NGO GSWG recommends Add: ICT policy frameworks should address the development of national communications infrastructure, to teh provision of government, health, education, investment, employment and other information services, and for broadersocietal issues, such as poverty eradication and sustainable development. The ICT policy framework needs to respond to the differential impact on women and marginalised group of new ICTs.]

[Community Media WorkignGrp recommend Add new para : "Governments should establish specific targets for the opening up of broadcast licensing to allow for the operation of independent and not-for-profit community broadcasting services in every community by 2010 and to ensure all of the world's population can access community broadcasting services by 2015"]

To this end, the following actions will be necessary to:
Actions 	Level	
a)  [NGO GSWG: Recommend Add: Ensure a gender perspective is incorporated in the] Formulation and implement effective strategies for the ]expansion and development of ICTs at national, regional and international levels.	N, R, I	
b)  Support the development of ICT policies, strategies and legislation by providing technical assistance, making available international best practices and creating a network among government institutions.	N, R, I	
c)  Encourage all countries to join the international trade agreement(s) on basic telecommunication services.	I	
d)  Remove duties levied on ICT hardware and software.	N, I	
e)  Promote and mainstream a [NGO GSWG recommend Insert and delete as follows: principle of non-discrimination and equal opportunity people centered focus and gender analysis] in national, regional and international ICT [LAC recommend add: and the traditional media] regulation.	N, R, I	
f)  Establish an effective dispute settlement system: alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should be considered to secure prompt settlement of dispute.	N, R, I	
g)  Encourage a positive general business environment for entrepreneurs and investors by removing administrative obstacles, adjusting tax and legal systems, minimizing bureaucracy and fighting corruption, promoting transparency etc.	N	
h)  Implement appropriate policies to support the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the ICT sector.	N	
i)  Take effective measures to combat paedophilia, racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia [NGO GSWG: Add and gender based discrimination]on the Internet.	N, R, I	
j)  Promote effective participation by developing countries in international ICT decision-making forums and create opportunities for exchange of experience.	N, R, I	
k)  Create new forums, and strengthen existing ones, for the exchange of experience, along the lines of the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators.	R, I	
l)  Encourage the diffusion and promotion of the next-generation technologies such as IPv6, mobile internet and broadband satellite communication.	N, R, I	
m) [NGO GSWG Recommend Add: Governments and other stakeholders should provide the necessary conditions to ensure women’s equal access to information and knowledge as well ensuring their equal role as producers and decision makers in all aspects related to the shaping of IT policies and frameworks.]		

[HR Caucus-PSWG: Establish an international mechanism to ensure that national and international ICT regulation and practice is compliant with international human rights standards.]

[HR Caucus-NGO GSWG: Governments shall take measures to mainstream a principle of diversity with regard to gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith and disability in all ICT policy areas and actions.]

[HR Caucus: 
National ICT strategies shall encourage the use of ICTs to conduct e-governance as a means to strengthen democratic institutions and processes by involving the public in decision-making.]

[HR Caucus-PSWG:
National ICT regulation shall promote a principle of limited liability for Internet Service Providers, i.e. Providers should not be held liable for content transmitted through their services, nor should they be subject to an obligation to monitor the information to which they give access.

[HR Caucus-PSWG:
Governments should develop appropriate legislation and implementation measures ensuring access by citizens to public information on an equal basis, with due regard to protecting privacy. Complaint mechanisms shall be established for citizens and media who do not get legitimate access to public information.]

[HR Caucus:
A principle of digital information access shall be part of every new ICT-project in the public sector.]

27.	 [Media caucus and LAC caucus : replace with new language ]
The radio frequency spectrum should be managed in the public and general interest and in accordance with the basic principle of legality, with full observance of national laws and regulations and as well as relevant international agreements: The radio frequency spectrum should be recognized as a natural resource belonging to all of humanity and should be managed in the public interest as a publicly owned asset through transparent and accountable regulatory frameworks.
Actions 	Level	
[LAC Caucus/community media group strongly supports the retention of the first line of action line: ]
a)  Governments should support a generous allocation of frequencies for local radio stations at reasonable prices. A transmitter network concept should be used which takes into account the federal, pluralist, democratic and cultural requirements of each country.	N	
[Community Media Caucus : recommend new action line]
Spectrum planning and regulation should ensure equitable access to spectrum among a plurality of media including sufficient capacity reserved for community media in both the analogue and the digital environments.		

28.	The loss of privacy, illegal and harmful content and the protection of minors raise real consumer fears. Assurance of the confidentiality of personal information is essential in building the Information Society. In addition, policies and codes to address unsolicited electronic communications (“spam”) are necessary.
Actions 	Level	
a)  Governments should actively promote user education and awareness about online privacy and the means of protecting privacy (such as the implementation of opt-in policy, the creation of independent commission and the development of alternative online dispute resolution service), and enact comprehensive laws protecting personal data in both the public and private sectors, giving individuals clear rights to control the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information, and an effective means of exercising those rights.	N	
b)  Governments should adopt an international convention on the protection of personal data and privacy. Existing legal instruments, based on the Council of Europe treaty #108 and the EU Data Protection Directive, should be the basis.	I	
c)  Establish a clearinghouse for the exchange of information and to promote cooperation among groups concerned with child abuse.	R, I	
[Asia Caucus : delete and replace with ]
d)  Establish an international legal framework to prohibit producing and circulating pornographic contents and harmful materials throughout the Internet, under the auspices of UNESCO.
d) Contents regulation, even if it is to be exceptionally allowed for public interest, should not go beyond the principles of human rights and freedom of expression, and those exceptional measures should ensure transparency and accountability, and the principle of clarity. Globally recognised contents regulation, if any, should be rigidly based on consensus of global users’community and public authorities.	I	
e)  Disseminate information among researchers, and promote exchange of information among child care and child protection organizations, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Web masters, police and judicial institutions, media practitioners, citizens and civic groups and other concerned groups.	N	
f)  Take action to ensure consumer protection in e-commerce transactions, notably through the fight against unsolicited electronic communications, detection of illegal contents, transparency of e-transactions, security of e-payments and contracts, efficient access to adapted resources, enhanced international co-operation and harmonization of local regulations.	N	
g)  Examine options to help treat the problem of spam, such as a holistic approach to restrict the activities of spammers and to minimize the damage they do, whilst still accommodating legitimate and responsible direct marketing activities. This will involve ISPs playing their part, both in educating their users and in dealing with spammers and spamming activity. Countries need to cooperate to help detect, prosecute or deter international scams using spam. More work is necessary to counter the problem, requiring broad international commitment, cooperation and resources.	N, R, I	
h)  Laws facilitating electronic commerce should always permit consumers to reject the use of electronic communication, and should protect consumers from unreasonable reliance by businesses on such mode of communication.	N	
i)  Governments should update their domestic consumer protection laws and procedural rules so as to address new problems raised by the use of ICTs, in particular electronic commerce, in a way that provides consumers with at least the same level of protection online as they enjoy offline.	N	
29.	It is necessary to broaden the participation of all stakeholders in the governance of the Information Society. Internet governance should be multilateral and transparent, taking into account the needs of the public and private sectors, as well as those of civil society and multilingualism. An international/intergovernmental organization should ensure multilateral, democratic and transparent management of root servers, domain names and Internet Protocol address assignment.
Actions 	Level	
a)  In co-operation with the relevant stakeholders, and respecting the sovereignty of States, governments should work to internationalize the management of Internet resources in order to achieve a universally representative solution.	I	
b)  Foster international dialogue among all interested parties (governments, private sector, civil society and relevant organizations) in order to ensure the most appropriate management structure. The second phase of WSIS in Tunis should review the outcome of this dialogue.	N, R, I	
30.	It is necessary to protect the rights of creators, notably through international cooperation, always ensuring a fair balance between the rights of the intellectual property owners and those of users of information, taking into account the global consensus achieved on IPR issues in multilateral organizations. 
Actions 	Level	
[SI & PCT working group : replaces 30a)]  
a) Ensure that any legal regime on database protection guarantees full and open access to data created with public funding. Restriction on proprietary data should also be designed so as to maximize availability for academic research and teaching purposes.
a) ensure that any legal regime on scientific and educational data repositories, such as scientific data bases, scientific journals, archives and libraries, as well as teaching material, guarantees full and open access to works created by research and educational ventures substantially financed by public funds. Restriction on proprietary data should also be designed as to maximise availability for academic research and teaching purposes.	N, I	
b)  Strengthen protection against unfair use of indigenous knowledge.	N, I	

[APC Women Networking Support Programme: recommends new para 30 bis wioth following action line]

30 Bis 
a)	include women and gender advocates in consultations and policy processes which aim to regulate or control the use of the internet
b)	support ICT initiatives which facilitate researching the reasons for, and results of, violence against women and the effectiveness of preventive measures
c)	Promote the use of ICTs as an effective tool in distributing information about, and advocating against gender-based violence.
d)	Support women's on-line communities and networks, especially those that address gender dimensions of violence against women, generate locally relevant and appropriate content in local languages and accessible formats
e)	Support initiatives which promote the relevance and complimentary role of non-computer-based communication mediums such as radio, video, telephone and fax, in the fight against gender-based violence
f)	Interpret, monitor and enforce rights which empower women to be free from on-line sexual exploitation and gender-based violence

7	- ICT Applications

[NGO Gender Strategies Working Group and others comment : The indiscriminate use of  'e-' (as in 'e-environment') creates a false impression that the physical realm can simply be digitalised.  We suggest using ICT Applications in the Environment, in Health, in Education, etc.]

31.
[NGO Gender Strategies Working Group : recommends additions and deletion as follow]
ICTs applications can support social and economic development, in particular in the fields of public administration, business, education, health, employment, environment, agriculture and science, including on broadband networks. It is also important to ensure that new ICT models do not displace traditional ones, which should continue to betraditional models are recognized, and respected and utilized, so that non-users of ICTs are not marginalized. Growth in the demand for these applications will help create a favourable environment for the private sector to invest in the development of new goods and services. The following examples are intended to illustrate the potential for this:

32.	E-government:

Actions 	Level	
a)  Policy guidelines on e-governance at local, national and regional levels should be developed by 2005.	N, R	
[Civil Society Latin American and Carribean Caucus: add insert]
b) Support, at the international level, co-operation initiatives in the field of e-Government for development in order to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency—at all levels of government, and in particular at the local level—more specifically: coordination of intergovernmental operations, delivery of public services and consultation, design of online services, including online access to legislation and updated population data, adapted to the needs of citizens and businesses and better management of financial, human and public resources and goods.
	I	
[Gender Caucus : add newaction line]
d) Governments should collect, analyse and disseminate data concerning ICT access, use and capacity building that is disaggregated by sex, location, disability, race, ethnicity and age. This data should be maintained current.
	N	
[Civil Society Latin American and Carribean Caucus: add new action line]
e) Governments should update their databases and deaggregate the statistics by sex, locality, disability, race, ethicity, and age. This data muest be available and premanently updated online. The second phase of the WSIS in Tunisia should monitor the development of these process.
		
[NGO Gender Strategies Working Group : add new action line]
f) Governments to implement policies that provide forthe inclusion of women as innovators and creators and their perspective and knowledge in the development of ICT applications.

34.	E-learning (see also section C4):
Actions 	Level	

[Civil Society Youth Caucus: recommends new action line]
c) Programs should be established that involve ICT-trained students in connecting schools, conducting peer training in ICTs, and contributing to the development of curricula.		
[Gender Caucus and Civil Society Latin American and Carribean Caucus: recommends new action line]
d) New skills required by the use of ICGTs and not included in conventional curricula should be included in training materials and syllabi. The teaching of collaborative skills, making use of the potential of ICTs, should be enhanced		

.35.	E-health:

[Civil Society Asian Caucus: recommends to delete and add]
e)  Governments should undertake to adapt their legislation and standards with a view to making electronic clinical files valid in law. All individuals that choose to do so should have a single electronic clinical record covering their entire lives, from birth to death. Governments should also pursue the adoption of a global technical standard for the exchange of data between the information systems of all public and private health institutions.
Personal information provider’s consent must be prerequisite to the collection, retention, use and disclosure of their clinical records for the sake of safeguarding from the abuse and possible profiling particularly in a digitized format. 	N	

36.	E-employment:

 [Civil Society Trade Union Caucus: recommends deletion and addition]
a) Develop best practices for safe, healthy, secure and fair working conditions for e-workers and e-employers, based on fundamental rights and core labour standards, and built on principles of social justice, gender equality, freedom and decent work standards for all workers in the Information Society. The role of the ILO, as an initiator and supporter of fair labour standards, is fundamental to ensure governments adhere to the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and to the eight core ILO conventions.

Develop, at the international levels, best practices and new labour laws for e-workers and e-employers built on principles of social justice and gender equality. The role of the ILO is fundamental in this respect.I	N	
b)  Promote new ways of organizing work and business with the aim of increasing raising productivity, employment, including youth employment, economic growth and well-being through investment in information and communication technologies and human resources.N, R, Ic)  Promote teleworking to allow the best brains of the developing world to live in their societies and work anywhere, and to increase women's employment opportunities	N,R, I	
[Civil Society Youth Caucus and Global Unions: add new action line]
d) Promote ICT entrepreneurship to combat youth unemployment, an issue of major concern worldwide (as recognized in the Millennium Development Goals), and of special relevance in developing countries due to their population dynamics and economic situations.		
[Gender Caucus and the Civil Society Latin American and Carribean Caucus: add new action line]
e) Social entrepreneurship programmes should be encouraged by public and private sectors to provide support mechanisms for women. 
[In doing so, women will be supported to rise out of poverty by using the potential of ICTs.]		
[Civil Society Asian Caucus: add new action linde]
f) Workers’ rights should be extended to include the unhindered access to communication media and publicly accessible information sources even in workplace, and freedom of censorship, negotiation based monitoring system, freedom of communication among workers and etc.		
[Global Union caucus : recommends new action line] 
g) Policies should be promoted to build up the infra structure of the information society by ensuring responsible reinvestment of telecommunications profits made in developing countries to benefit those countries, whether that reinvestment comes from the public or private sector.		

37.	E-environment:

[Environment and ICT Caucus : Merge a) and b) to an new a) as follows]
a)      Establish systems, using ICTs to forecast natural disasters, to monitor environmental impact and to prevent man-made disasters, with special attention to the needs of small islands.
a)	Mobilize ICTs in order to meet the specific needs of small islands under an environment endangered by hazards or global warming.N, R, Ib)  Establish systems, using ICTs, to forecast natural disasters, to monitor environmental impact and to prevent man-made disasters. c)
b)	Governments and the private sector should develop different instruments that can will help to extract realise the maximum environmental benefits from ICTs and speed the development of sustainability solutions throughout society in support of Millenium Goal 7. These proposed instruments should be ready for implementation by 2005.	N, R, I	
[Gender Caucus: recommends addition]
b)  Establish systems, using ICTs, to forecast natural disasters, to monitor environmental impact and to prevent man-made disasters..  FAO has an important role in promoting gender-responsive natural resource disaster management.		
[Civil Society Latin American and Carribean Caucus / Environment and ICT Caucus : recommends additions]
b) Establish systems, using ICTs, to forecast natural disasters, to monitor environmental impact and to prevent man-made disasters.. These systems should contribute to improving crisis management, whether caused by natural disasters or not.
	N, R, I	
[Environmental caucus recommends : addition]
d) Government and the business community should initiate actions and implement projects and programmes for the environmentally safe disposal and recycling of discarded ICT hardware and parts, for environmentally sustainable production of hardware and energy, e-waste reduction, recycling and disposal..		
[Civil Society Asian Caucus: add new action line]
e) For the sake of environmental preservation, new products should necessarily ensure the backward compatibility. Hardware or software vendors should continue the after-sale service for the out-dated products.		

38.	E-agriculture:

Civil Society Youth Caucus: add new action lines
b) Within rural communities, integrate cross-cutting issues concerning women and youth, as well as ICTs, into policies and programmes.Submission from the WSIS Gender Caucus:
c) Promote the use of ICTs among rural women and men of all ages to aid in information gathering and sharing and in distribution systems.Submission from the Civil Society Latin American and Carribean Caucus:
d) Agree with communities on the use of ICTs in rural areas to estrablish programmes  of  cooperation, access and information exchange, as well as the creation of new distribution systems in small and medium-sized industry		

39.E-science:

Civil Society Science and Academia Caucus: replace c) and add new action line.
c)  Promote appropriate open source initiatives to make scientific information affordable and accessible on an equitable basis in all countries.
c new)  Promote electronic publishing, differential pricing and open access  initiatives to make scientific information affordable and accessible in all countries on an equitable basis.ISubmission from: Environment and ICT Caucus
d) Allocate funds for research on the environmental benefits and impacts of ICTs, and development of environmentally sustainable technologies, including e-waste strategies and renewable energy.		

[Child Help Lines International: recommends addition of new para 39A

39A 	Children

a)	Ensure that all children have access to telephones and other technology to protect themselves in abusive or harsh circumstances.
b)	Ensure that necessary laws are in place by 2005 to protect children from being exploited through ICTs.
c)	Ensure that the girl child has equal access.		

[LAC caucus recommends: replacing of the title]
8. Cultural identity and linguistic diversity, local content and media development
8 Diversity and cultural identity, local content and media development

[ Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Caucus recommends : delete and add]

40. 	Cultural and linguistic diversity enriches the development of society by giving expression to a wide range of different values and ideas. is the common heritage of humanity and should be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generations. (Art. 1 of UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity). Market forces alone cannot guarantee the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, which is the key to sustainable human development. From this perspective, the pre-eminence of public policy, in partnership with the private sector and civil society, must be reaffirmed (Art. 11). It is a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Actions 	Level	
[Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Caucus /NGO GSWG recommends : additions]
a)  In conformity with Unesco’s Universal declaration and Action plan on cultural diversity Declaration and Action Plan, governments should:
i.	Create cultural policies with a legal framework and , where necessary, financial support for the protection, promotion and enhancement of cultural diversity and cultural heritage, within Information Society. This includes safeguarding the cultural heritage as a common trust, keeping it accessible as a living part of today's culture, particularly by the adaptation of educational systems to diversity, and developing standards for its preservation, enhancement, and exploitation, making full use of the potential of ICTs.

[Indigenous Peoples Caucus/ NGO GSWG recommends: additions]
ii.	Develop and implement policies that preserve and promote diversity of cultural expression and indigenous and local knowledge and traditions through the creation of varied information content and the digitization of the educational, scientific and cultural heritage with full participation of indigenous peoples and in compliance with their cultural approaches, protocols, proceeding and obligations in these fields.	N, I	
[Indigenous Peoples Caucus and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Caucus/NGO GSWG working group recommends: additions]
b)  Governments, through public/private partnerships, should promote technologies and R&D programmes in the areas of translation, iconographies, voice-assisted services and the development of necessary hardware and software, such as standard character sets, language codes, electronic dictionaries, terminology and thesauri, multilingual search engines, machine translation tools, multilingual domain names, content referencing as well as general and application software. This will permit: 
i.  all the world’s languages to be present and used on the Internet;
ii. all different cultures to mix exchange and  share with each other in the information societies, avoiding hegemony;
iii. the development of national and community cultural identities;
iv. multilingualism in cyberspace as well as in all other forms of media and communication systems;
v. respect of the different language communities in the development of international standards;
vi. processing information in local languages;
vii.  enabling indigenous peoples, with their full and effective participation, to utilize new tools in the Information Society, if desired, in their cultural production and community development;
viii. preserving non written and other endangered languages;
ix. developing information and applications in the language and cultural context most familiar to the user, thereby further encouraging the use of ICTs; and 
x. developing multilingual applications for use in enterprise and administration.
xi. the learning of several languages, while respecting the mother tongue.	N, R, I	

41.	Local content in a variety of languages is indispensable in achieving sustainable development. Traditional media and ICTs should be developed and used so as to contribute to those goals:
Actions 	Level	
[Indigenous Peoples Caucus recommends : addition]
c)  As the first level of contact between administrations and their citizens, local authorities should support local content development, digital archives, diverse forms of digital media, content translation and adaptation. Those activities can also foster the development of local and indigenous communities and should be carried out in full co-operation with Civil Society actors.	N	
[Indigenous Peoples Caucus recommends : addition]
d)  Develop national policies and laws to ensure that libraries, archives, museums and other cultural institutions can play their full role of content—including traditional knowledge—providers in the information society, more particularly by providing continued access to recorded information. These policies must take into account that traditional knowledge is not in the public domain and should only be displayed with due authorization of the indigenous people concerned and in accordance with their cultural protocols.	N	

8a)	Media
42.	The media play a key role in the Information Society. As the same basic principles apply to both traditional and new media using ICT, policy formulation and concrete support should ensure that they are provided an adequate environment for this purpose:
Actions 	Level	
[Indigenous Peoples Caucus recommends : addition]
a)  Governments should preserve or develop legislation that guarantees the independence and plurality of the media and to transform the state media (radio, TV and other) into public services that enjoy editorial independence. Governments should take legal measures limiting the concentration of the media, so as to guarantee diversified, pluralistic information sources. Governments should take steps to support indigenous peoples in establishing their own media in their own languages. 
[media caucus recommends : new a)]
a. Develop legislation to ensure the participation of all in the information society that: 
1. Promotes and defend the existence and development of free and independent media, as an essential element for the information of the citizens and the formation of public opinion.
2. Encourages pluralism and diversity of media ownership and avoid excessive media concentration,
3. To reinforce the public service broadcasting and community media’s responsibility in enhancing social inclusion and public debate in the information society. 
4. Transforms state-controlled media into editorially independent organizations.
	N	
[media caucus recommends : delete and replace]
b)  The media should adapt to other more recent forms of content delivery the standards applicable to the broadcast media, including the separation of editorial content and advertising, the protection of minors against illegal and harmful content, and the prohibition of certain types of advertising.
b. The media should adopt the highest journalistic standards through which are promoted editorial independence including that editorial content is not influenced by advertising and is also sensitive to the need to protect minors. In pursuit of these standards, the formulation of professional and ethical standards in journalism is the responsibility of media professionals themselves.	
c)  States should take clear measures to ensure that the international standards on working conditions and the right of workers to organize and be represented are applied in all the media, old and new.	
[media caucus recommends : delete and replace]
d)  Media professionals (employers and employees) should commit themselves to establish partnerships with the media in disadvantaged regions or societies. This can be done, for example, by establishing twinning relationships between editorial staff, developing exchanges of personnel, encouraging the development of citizens' associations of listeners/viewers/surfers for conducting a critical dialogue with their media, and supporting, the professional training of journalists, in the form of courses and seminars, in using ICTs and in adapting their role to a changed environment with increased competition from non-professional information providers.
d) Training and development activities such as employee exchanges should be promoted by the various branches of the industry and, if government funding is involved it should be channelled through independent structures.	
[media caucus recommends : delete and replace]
e)  Encourage investment in regional and community-based media content as well as new technologies.
e) To encourage production content which reflects national and regional cultures and is relevant to local communities. Establish a Community Media Fund for investment to be administered by an independent structure.	
[media caucus recommends : delete and replace]
f)  Launch specific projects that promote balanced and diverse portrayals of women by the media and international communication systems and that promote increased participation by women and men in production and decision-making.
f. Promote balanced and diverse portrayal of all groups in society who are currently marginalized by the media.	
[media caucus recommends : delete and replace]
g)  Take effective measures—to the extent consistent with freedom of expression—to combat the growing sexualization and use of pornography in media content, in terms of the rapid development of ICTs; to encourage the media to refrain from presenting women as inferior beings and exploiting them as sexual objects and commodities; to combat ICT and media-based violence against women including criminal misuse of ICT for sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and trafficking in women and girls; and to support the development and use of ICT as a resource for the empowerment of women and girls, including those affected by violence, abuse and other forms of sexual exploitation.
g. Governments should establish specific targets for the opening up of broadcast licensing by independent regulators to allow for the operation of independent and non-commercial community broadcasting services in every community.	
[NGO GSWG recommends : new action line]
h) encourage and support the development of community media to further advance their role in promoting social inclusion and development in the information society.	

9.  Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
43.	An emphasis should be placed on the formulation of legislation and policies and the definition of ethical and moral orientations required for the development of human life in a sound society. 
43. [Values and Ethics Caucus recommends: add] It is essential that the Action Plan be formulated in line with the ethical values articulated in the Declaration of Principles.

43. [NGO GSWG add] An emphasis should be placed on the formation of legislation and policies and the definition of ethical and moral orientations required for the devlopment of human life in a sound society respecting universal Human Rights.

43. [Media caucus replace preamble with:

Formulate of professional and ethical standards in journalism are the responsibility of media professionals themselves

Actions 	Level	
[media caucus recommends deletion]
a)  Create a review and monitoring body and an independent tribunal and appoint a special rapporteur to ensure that the public has access to the latest scientific information and expert judgment on ethical, social, and political that arise in the use of ICTs. They would also work to ensure that the computer and information science professions take pro-active public roles in both promoting the socially beneficial uses of ICTs and discouraging harmful ones. They would be responsible for conducting independent research and evaluation of the implementation processes.	N, I	

b) Establish cooperation mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to fight against paedophilia and pornography on the Internet, strengthening a coalition of forces, involving children,[Youth Caucus] youth, industry, policy-makers, educators and parents, to ensure that users are aware of potential dangers and have available to them the necessary means to combat these threats
b).[Latin American and the Caribbean caucus : recommends addition]  ……..on the Internet, as well as trafficked  women and children, strengthening a coalition of forces, involving children, women, industry, policy makers civil society, educators and parents……….
b. [WSIS Gender caucus: recommends addition] Establish cooperation mechanisms involving multistakeholders ( governments, policy makers, UN system and Civil Society) at the national, regional and international levels to fight against paedophilia, trafficking of women and children and pornography on the Internet.. strengthening a coalition of forces, involving children, industry, policy makers, educators and parents to This cooperation mechanism should ensure that users are aware of potential dangers and have available to them the necessary means to combat these threats.
[media caucus recommends deletion and replacment]
b) To promote suitable content for children and dialogue on child pornography and paedophilia on the internet. 	N, R, I	
c)	Elaborate international guidelines on ethical dimensions of ICTs, including the need to guarantee the respect of personal privacy and of human dignity as well as the ethical uses of health and medical information, taking duly into account the context of growing invasive information technologies, surveillance systems and information awareness.
[Ethics and Values Caucus:-add]
d)	Each action of the action plan should undergo an ethical audit
e)	Encourage all State parties, in partnership with the private sector and civil society, to facilitate the development of seminars, curriculum and other opportunities that promote the consideration of ethics and values in policies and practices related to ICTs.
f)	Further to the practice of the UN General Assembly, every meeting of the WSIS process should begin with a moment of silence	I	

10.International and regional cooperation
44.	Close international cooperation among national authorities, stakeholders and international organizations in all aspects of the Information Society is more vital today than ever. To this end, advantage should be taken of the opportunities offered by international and regional financial institutions and the UN Regional Commissions.
Actions 	Level	
a)  The UN Family shall work closely together to ensure maximization of synergies and the impact of resources, particularly between UN initiatives and the Development Gateway initiative.	I	
[Childlines International recommends addition] 
b)  Government leaders of developing countries should raise the relative priority of ICT projects in requests for international cooperation and assistance on infrastructure development projects from developed countries and international financial organizations. Policies should be promoted to build up the infrastructure of the information society by ensuring responsible reinvestment of telecommunication profits made in developing countries to benefit those countries, whether that reinvestment comes from the public or the private sector	N, R, I	
c)  Launch a "Global Digital Compact" as a new pattern for partnership and interaction between governments and non-governmental actors, based on division of labour and specialized responsibilities, as well as on identified specific and common interests, to work together to achieve ICT development goals (e.g. governments create stimulating regulatory environment and fiscal incentives, business bring in technology and made available simple applications, non-governmental organizations undertake awareness campaigns and work at community level etc.; a model that could start from the institutional relationships already existing in ITU, with ITU as coordinator.	I	

d)	D)	Financing and implementation 

[African Caucus and CSDPTT recommends that Paragraphs 45 and 46 be in reverse order]

45.	A realistic international performance monitoring and benchmarking (both qualitative and quantitative) exercise, through comparable and differentiated statistical indicators and research programmes, could be developed to follow up the implementation of the objectives, goals and targets in the action plan:
Actions 	Level	
a)  [Latin American Caucus]A composite ICT Development (Digital Opportunity) Index should be launched and gradually developed. It could be published annually, or every two years, in an ICT Development Report. The index could show the ranking of countries while the report would present analytical work on policies and their implementation, including gender analysis. ITU Specialized UN bodies could coordinate this activity, drawing upon the existing experiences in various organizations, universities, think-tanks etc (2004, then annual or biennial).	I	
b)  [Latin American Caucus]Appropriate indicators and benchmarking should clarify the magnitude of the digital cultural and gender divides, and keep them under regular assessment, with a view to measuring progress made in bridging the gaps, and tracking global progress in the use of ICTs to achieve internationally agreed development goals, and to combat poverty.	I	
c)  [Latin American Caucus] Gender-specific indicators on ICT use and needs should be developed, and measurable performance indicators should be identified to assess the differentiated impacts of funded ICT projects on the lives of women and girls.	N, I	
d)  Consideration should be given to the incorporation of new community connectivity indicators that allow analysis of the development of communities in which community connectivity is introduced.	N, I	
e)  [Latin American Caucus: recommend addition ]A “Handbook on good practices and success stories", as well as of “Compilation of ICT Experiences” could be developed and launched, based on a compilation of contributions from all stakeholders, in a concise and compelling format. The Handbook could be re-issued periodically and turned into a permanent experience-sharing exercise, and the compilation could enrich discussions on lessons learned and innovative strategies.	I	
f) All countries should develop their statistical infrastructure and guarantee high-quality, independent and free access to statistical information. They should provide basic statistical indicators and analysis on the developments of key dimensions of the Information Society. Priority should be given to setting up coherent and internationally comparable indicator systems	N	
g) [African Caucus and CSDPTT : recommend addition] Governments should encourage further research on the significance of the ICT sector and the macro impacts of ICTs on aggregate measures, particularly on productivity sustainable development. Results of this research should be made available by 2005.	N	
h) [Latin American Caucus recommend  addition] The WSIS should adopt guidelines that will assist in the development of internationally compatible statistical measurement, and that disaggregate statistical data by sex, location, disability, race, ethnicity and age.	I	
i) The development of national strategies should be based on the exchange of international best practices, benchmarking and peer review. A peer review mechanism should be established by 2005	N, I	
46.	[African Caucus and CSDPTT, Latin American Caucus: recommend following additions ] A commitment to financing the different initiatives proposed in this action plan is an essential element in its successful implementation. This will require innovative effective partnerships between the public and private sectors and civil society, and the integration of existing and new sources of financing and implementation mechanisms:
Actions 	Level	
a)  [African Caucus and CSDPTT recommend following addition] It is proposed to organize, by 2005 at the latest, a donors’ roundtable for the purpose of mobilizing the necessary financial resources.  Its results should have to be presented at the Tunis Summit.	I	
b)  The international community is called upon to respond appropriately through technical and financial cooperation at both the [African Caucus and CSDPTT - change the order to “bilateral and multilateral”]multilateral and bilateral levels to the relative priority given by LDCs and developing countries to the development of their ICT infrastructure.	I	
c)  [African Caucus and CSDPTT] The public and private sector should be encouraged to provide ICT goods and services at preferential conditions for specific categories of users, notably not-for-profit organizations directly involved in poverty alleviation.	N, R, I	
d)  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.	N, R, I	
e)  The Monterrey Consensus adopted by the International Conference on Financing for Development recognized that the resources necessary for development must be generated from both domestic and international sources. Developing countries are encouraged to create domestic conditions that are conducive both to generating domestic and attracting international resources and to using these resources effectively for development. For their part, developed countries are encouraged both to provide the additional resources they signaled at the Conference and work towards creating an international environment that is more conducive to development.	N, R, I	
f)  [African Caucus and CSDPTT] The unsustainable debt burden should be reduced through debt relief and, as appropriate, debt cancellation.  In this context, the role of the ICT sector will be identified and evaluated, in order to prioritize financing of ICT infrastructures, within the framework of debt repayment processes.	N, R, I	
g)  Developed countries that have not already done should make concrete efforts to fulfill the target level of 0.7 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product as ODA, and the target of earmarking 0.15-0.20% for LDCs.	N, I	
h)  In developing countries, a mechanism should be established to finance universal access (such as a universal access fund) in order todistribute access in the most equitable manner, particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas. Narrow the digital divide, especially in rural areas. 	N, I	
i)  Financial support should be provided for the preparation of e-strategies and development projects at the national, regional and international levels.	N, R, I	
 [Youth Caucus : recommends new action line] Develop multistakeholder partnerships to realize the potential of key groups such as youth, women, and indigenous peoples in creating digital opportunities.	N, R, I	
[Community Media Caucus : recommends new action line] Establish, by 2006, a Community Media Fund to support new community radio development and community media content including projects that make provision for the poorest communities, for cultural and linguistic diversity and for the equal participation of women and girls. The Fund should also support community projects that combine the use of traditional and new communication technologies. The Fund should be established through a donor - civil society partnership involving leading community media organisations and civil society organisations working in this field.		

47.	[Latin American Caucus recommends additions and deletions] It is important to facilitate access, and to ensure knowledge and technology appropriation by both developed and developing countries, without discrimination, on concessional, preferential and favourable terms t o developing countries, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protectintellectual property rights creators and the public interest, with the objective of enhancing the technological capacities and capabilities of developing countries, and improving their productivity and competitiveness in the world market. 
a)	Successful technology convergence requires identification and promotion of existing local technologies and technological solutions, as intrinsic elements of the technology capacity of developing countries.
b)	[Latin American Caucus] Research programmes should support and encourage the design, development and adaptation of ICT infrastructure, tools and applications that are responsive to the needs and proposals of the poor, including women.
c)	Encourage technology appropriation and investment, including venture capital, in the creation of national and regional ICT production facilities, research and development, incubation schemes and SMEs.