The World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 14-18 May 2012 under the auspices of the United Nations Educational Scientific an Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the ITU, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

ITU closed to NGOs
The ITU is the UN specialised agency advising on telecommunications policy. According to its own information, this encompasses the whole Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector, from digital broadcasting to the Internet, and from mobile technologies to 3D TV.

The agency is based on public-private partnership, meaning that it is exclusively made up of states (193) and private sector entities (over 700) with no civil society participation. Indeed, both the ITU Constitution and ITU Convention in principle preclude such participation. Furthermore, membership fees are so high that NGOs would be highly unlikely to be able to afford them.

Civil society’s input vital in WCIT
However, with the upcoming review of the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT 2012) to be held from 3-14 December 2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Article 19 believes that civil society input is vital.

The ITRs were adopted in 1988 in Melbourne, Australia, i.e. in the pre-digital age. The review is meant to enable ITU members to meet the challenges of the new ICT environment.

According to Article 19, it is clear, therefore, that the issues that will be discussed at the WCIT 2012 can potentially have an impact on the open Internet, freedom of expression, and access to information.

Appeal to ITU
Therefore Article 19, together with 30 other NGOs, has signed on to a letter asking for greater transparency and civil participation in the ITU and expressed their desire to participate in the preparatory process undertaken for the WCIT 2012.

The undersigned human rights advocates, academics, freedom of expression groups, and civil society organizations say that the current preparatory process lacks the transparency, openness of process, and inclusiveness of all relevant stakeholders that are imperative under commitments made at the WSIS.

They ask that Secretary-General, the Council Working Group, and Member States work to resolve these process deficiencies in several concrete ways.

“The continued success of the information society depends on the full, equal, and meaningful participation of civil society stakeholders (alongside the private sector, the academic and technical community, and governments) in the management of information and communications technology, including both technical and public policy issues”, says the letter.

Multi-stakeholder approach needed in ICT policy
WSIS outcome documents recognize the need for a multi-stakeholder approach in technical management and policy decision-making for ICTs.

Article 19 stresses that ICT policy has long followed a multi-stakeholder approach. That was the promise of the Tunis Agenda 2005 and one of its great achievements. In light of the potential impact of the ITRs review on ICTs and human rights more generally, the organizations call on the ITU to open up its processes to ensure meaningful civil society participation in the discussions that will be taking place at the WCIT 2012.

“Yet there has been scant participation by civil society in the Council Working Group’s preparatory process for the WCIT so far, even as media reports indicate that some Member States have proposed amending the ITRs to address issues that could impact the exercise of human rights in the digital age, including freedom of expression, access to information, and privacy rights”, states the letter.

It also notifies that under the current process, civil society participation is severely limited by restrictions on sharing of preparatory documents, high barriers for ITU membership (including cost), and lack of mechanisms for remote participation in preparatory meetings.

Proposals
As an important step towards fulfilling WSIS commitments for building a more inclusive information society, the undersigned request that the Secretary-General, the Council Working Group, and Member States:

– Remove restrictions on the sharing of WCIT documents and release all preparatory materials, including the Council Working Group’s final report, consolidated reports from all preparatory activity, and proposed revisions to the International Telecommunication Regulations;

– Open the preparatory process to meaningful participation by civil society in its own right and without cost at Council Working Group meetings and the WCIT itself, providing formal speaking opportunities and according civil society views an equal weight as those of other stakeholders. Facilitate remote participation to the extent possible; and

– For Member States, open public processes at the national level to solicit input on proposed amendments to the International Telecommunication Regulations from all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, and release individual proposals for public debate.

The undersigned urged Secretary-General Touré to ensure the outcomes of the WCIT and its preparatory process truly represent the common interests of all who have a stake in the future of the information society and welcome his commitment to creating a more inclusive information society and ensuring equitable access to ICT around the world.

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