Briefing and informal consultation with the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development

CSTD: system wide follow up to WSIS

Taking the occasion of the informal consultation of the Internet Governance Forum multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (12-13 February 2007, see below), the CSTD Secretariat will hold a briefing and an informal consultation with civil society entities and the private sector.

Two items will be addressed:
     - Briefing on the preparations for the up coming cluster of WSIS related events (CSTD and ALF meetings, May 2007).
       See provisional programme of May 2007 meetings HERE.
     - Informal Consultation on the multi-year work programme and the methods of work of the CSTD.

This briefing will be based on the provisions of ECOSOC Resolution 2006/46 reviewing the mandate and composition of the CSTD, and on the outcomes of the CSTD Intersessional Panel (Paris, 6-8 November 2006)

This includes the following main questions:

      - Preparation for the up coming 10th session of the CSTD and of the WSIS related cluster of events;
      For your information, the CSTD session will be held on 21-25 May; additionally some 8 ALF meetings might be held around that session. More information will follow.
      Up dated calendar: http://www.csbureau.info/posttunis.htm

      - Modalities for NGO/CS participation in the CSTD;

      - Other CSTD working methods for the follow up to WSIS (including reporting activities and relationship with other UN entities);
      Relevant paragraph of ECOSOC Resolution 2006/46 provide that "the Commission shall continue working on the basis of biennial action cycles" (para. 9) and that "at its next session the Commission shall develop its agenda and a multi-year work programme" (para. 10).

      - Multi-year programme of work of the CSTD.
      Based on the ECOSOC resolution renewing the CSTD mandate in July 2006, the Commission will work through biennial action cycle. The programme of work is still to be determined and the CSTD Panel in Paris (6-8 Nov. 2006) addressed this issue (see report of the CSTD Panel, http://www.unctad.org/sections/dite_dir/docs/dite_pcbb_stdev0045_en.pdf, read in particular pages 15-16).

The CSTD Secretariat is still rather flexible and open on the various issues they want to discuss with NGOs, in particular for the way to organise the CSTD Multi-Year programme of work, working methods and reporting activities on WSIS follow-up to the CSTD. There is therefore some good ground to influence and make proposals in this regard during this consultation.

CONTRIBUTE!
Interested NGOs are warmly encourage to provide us their views on these issues. Send your comments to wsis@ngocongo.org

Documents:

• ECOSOC Resolution 2006/46
• Summary report of the CSTD Panel, Paris (6-8 Nov. 2006)

A chart of the various post-Tunis implementation and follow-up mechanisms can be downloaded HERE [PDF].

To receive regular information and up dates about WSIS follow up and implementation, join the WSIS CS Plenary List Serve:
http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary

More CONGO ressources on the World Summit on the Information Society and its follow-up process.

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - Stocktaking session and the way forward
13 February, Geneva

As part of the meeting of the IGF Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group, an informal consultation will be open to all stakeholders to make suggestions with regard to the preparation of the IGF meeting in Rio De Janeiro (12 - 15 November 2007). Interested participants are also invited to register and to send on-line comments on the website of the IGF Secretariat.