The current discussion on the WSIS plenary list prompted me to look for a NGLS publication that Ramin gave me at PrepCom 2 (Geneva phase). It's an easy to understand guide about the UN. Details are below, as is a excerpt - a nice organizational diagram as to which UN agency reports to who...

http://www.un-ngls.org/d_making.htm

Intergovernmental Negotiations and Decision Making at the United Nations:

A Guide (Nov 2003)

NGLS’s Intergovernmental Negotiations and Decision Making at the United Nations: A Guide explains the governance and decision-making fora and processes of the UN system. Section One explains the principal UN organs of intergovernmental decision making; the negotiating blocs of Member States at the UN; the various types of documentation; and the nature of UN decisions and the weight they carry internationally. Section Two provides practical knowledge, advice and guidance to non-governmental representatives who wish to engage with the UN system, ranging from accreditation to the preparatory process, to engaging in follow-up activities after a meeting.

• Introduction
• Main Text — (Sections I & II)
• Annexes

Technorati Tags: UN, WSIS

I'd like to ask a few questions to the Internet governance gurus out there on how we go from the WGIG report to the IG text that will be formulated at the prepcom.

1. There is an informal consultation meeting on Internet governance next week in Geneve. Will any drafting take place, or is it all left to the prepcom?

2. Does the Internet Governance (IG) caucus plan to develop a list of key points and/or paragraphs ahead of the prepcom? if not, how will the document submitted in Aug be used (if at all)?

3. Has information on and about the speaking slots available at subcommittee been determined yet ? Will the (default) 5min rule specified in the rules of procedure be used, or has an alternate rule been proposed and accepted by the chair ?

4. Should a contingency plan be developed in the case that part or all of the IG negotiations become "closed" ?

Technorati Tags: netgovernance, wgig, WSIS

What's up for discussion at the upcoming WSIS preparatory meeting in Geneva (aka. PrepCom3) ? The quick answer is - far too much! The long answer is a bit more complex and involved.... To understand what is up for discussion one needs to go back and see what was decided at the PrepCom back in February. Among the many documents posted online is one titled "Draft decision of PrepCom 2" that has the details we are looking for.

So what i've done is copied the document and revised it to include references to the documents that are open for discussion at the coming meeting. If you look at the list (below), you'll realize that almost everything is still up for negotiation. Meaning, it will be a challenge to get through all of it in the 10 days we have.

Prepcom 2 Decision & details where to find the documents

Document WSIS-II/PC-2/DOC/13(Rev. 1)-E
25 February 2005
Original: English
Draft decision of prepcom-2

PrepCom 2 of the Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) decides that, during the inter-sessional phase between PrepCom-2 and PrepCom-3:

1. The current text of chapter two of the Operational Part (Financing Mechanisms), as it stands at the conclusion of PrepCom-2, will be forwarded directly to PrepCom-3.

Text, as left @ PC2 & up for discussion is @ http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/off7.pdf

2. The text of the Political Chapeau, as it stands at the conclusion of PrepCom–2, together with a compilation document containing written comments and proposals (Document DT-4), will be forwarded directly to PrepCom-3.

Text, as left @ PC2 & up for discussion is @ http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/off8.pdf
Comments, contributed to date @ http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/working/dt4rev1.pdf

3. The Group of Friends of the Chair (GFC) will continue to draft proposals for chapters one (Implementation Mechanisms) and four (The Way Ahead) of the Operational Part. These new proposals will be in addition to the written comments and proposals presented during the first reading on 21 February, contained in the compilation documents on chapter one (DT-2 Rev. 1) and chapter four (DT-5) respectively. The above-mentioned documents will be forwarded to PrepCom-3, where a decision on use of the new proposals will be taken. All stakeholders are invited to continue making contributions to chapters one and four. The modalities of composition and the methods of work of the Group of Friends of the Chair will be defined by the Bureau, in consultation with the regional groups.

Operational plan - text so far @ http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/off8.pdf 

Comments on Implementation Mechanisms (Chapter 1):
http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/working/dt2rev3.pdf 

Comments on Way ahead (Chapter 4):
http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/working/dt5.pdf 

As well, Chapter 1 & 4 comments have been combined (i think) @
http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/working/dt6rev2.pdf

Note: Implementation mechanisms should be seen in a broader context, reflecting discussions taking place at other UN fora - such as the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the upcoming MDG+5 review summit. Here's some key documents one should review as well...

A/59/2005 - Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields

"In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for All" - Report of the Secretary General

E/2005/61 - Implementation of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits Implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B

UNGA 57/270b - Integrated and coordinated implementation of and followup to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields

4. The report of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) will be presented in mid- July 2005 (most probably on July 18). All governments and other stakeholders are invited to submit written comments and proposals for chapter three (to wsis-contributions@itu.int) by August 15. Thereafter, a compilation of these contributions will be forwarded to PrepCom- 3, together with the report of the WGIG.

WGIG report @ http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/off5.pdf
WGIG Report - Background report @ http://www.itu.int/wsis/wgig/docs/wgig-background-report.pdf

Comments on WGIG report received to-date

Technorati Tags: prepcom, wgig, WSIS

Well, i've finally done it - This WSIS Blog has now joined the podcasting bandwagon.

Stay tuned to the URL below for the latest (audio) news, comments and general information on and about the UN World Summit on the Information Society.

The URL for the podcast feed is as follows:

http://www.privaterra.org/activities/wsis/podcast/rss.xml

You can subscribe to the feed with iTunes, or any other podcasting enabled software.

Technorati Tags: podcast, WSIS

Here's where to find information on and about the WSIS Stocktaking report

July draft 
http://www.itu.int/wsis/stocktaking/docs/Stocktaking-Report-15July2005-Finalv1.pdf

Technorati Tags: stalktaking, WSIS