dear all,
In light of the current discussions with respect:
- the Civil Society Bureau
- the Civil Society plenary, Content and themes group, caucuses
- new ways of working
background to CS organising during Phase I
------------------------------------------
I thought i'd share an *informational* document i wrote some time ago
which outlines, briefly, the various elements of Civil Society and how
it worked during _Phase I of WSIS_.
It does not reflect any of my personal or organisational views on
issues such as the evolution of the Civil Society Bureau (of which i
have several and they are well known to some ;)), nor recommendations
for how our ways of working might evolve.
It is intended as a brief overview for those who aren't as familiar
with the various CS elements and how we worked in an operational sense
during Phase I. (i shared it with some government delegates for
example, who were confused about how Civil society operated, when
dealing with some of the challenges during hammamet).
I offer it as such, not as a document to guide any future
developments, as that work is being led by the newly formed 'working
methods' group, the CSB etc.
I apologise that the document is only available in english.
the CSB proposals
-----------------
in addition, the CSB has been working similarily to evaluate, assess
and make proposals for re-organising
the proposal renate has posted for me, is a positive step forward.
yes, there were/are many concerns about the origins and evolution of
the CSB but our options are to either continue airing those concerns,
or, to once and for all come to some resolution as to the role and
functiong of the CSB - and how it fits with the other CS elements.
We must identify clearly and once and for all, what the role of the
CSB is.
If there is no role, the solution should be simple, but i don't think
that is the case.
If there is a role, let's define it clearly - everything should follow
from there including how to re-constitute the group, and how it should
conduct it's work.
I apologise in advance to those on the CSB who may have already done
this work - but i haven't yet seen a clear definition of the role of
the CSB in a way that is accessible to all. By that, i mean an
objective, and a list of tasks and activities it undertakes we all
agree is necessary.
** what does the CSB do that cannot be accomplished by the plenary,
the content and themes group or the caucuses and working groups **
The *existing* CSB will meet on Monday Feb 14th from 0900-1200. It is
really important that these issues are discussed and clarified as soon
as possible for presentation in a clear and concise manner for the
Civil Society Orientation session later that same day at 1400. If not,
these issues will hamper our work throughout the prepcom.
Civil Society Plenary and Content and themes group
--------------------------------------------------
working methods group
---------------------
it seems some people are confused as to what that group is.
Quite simply (and i am only a transient member of the group, which is
open to all) - it is a group that was formed to help evaluate, assess
and make proposals for any reorganising/adjusting etc - of the ways we
worked during Phase I - as outlined broadly in the document attached.
It was a direct response to the challenges CS experienced during phase
I with respect representation issues and concensus building (amongst
others).
Sean O'Siochro made a proposal for reconstituting the Existing COntent
and Themes group - to the Content and themes workspace. But the
proposal has come largely from the discussions in the working methods
space.
that proposal has tacit support from those who have responded in the
Content and themes space - but again, we need to table this proposal
more formally and work out some of the issues that still remain vague
- such as milton's comments:
"If caucuses are to be represented on CSB, how does one form a caucus,
or are the current ones set in stone forever? And how does one abolish
a caucus that is no longer populated or functional?"
A good time to address this would be - initially - during the CS
Caucuses meeting time of 1600-1900 on feb 14th.
proposals and decisions
-----------------------
* Renate has posted an Agenda for the CSB meeting, and some general
recommendations for re-constituting the CSB. i would add my request
for a clear definition or the objectives, role, tasks and activities
of the CSB - before discussing representation etc.
* Sean has posted a proposal for clarifying the ways in which caucuses
are consituted, role, drafting of documents, speaker identification
etc.
* The working methods group has also made some proposals on the
mandate/objective of it's work.
It would be incredibly useful if *one* document could be put together
including all of the above - (maybe even attaching the document i have
written by way of background if useful) and that it be
- posted as soon as possible to plenary
- translated into french and spanish
- printed for delegates for the meeting next week
If the above can't be done before the 14th (which is probably unlikely
now) as soon thereafter as possible.
And i would then propose that decisions not be taken on the proposals
until later in the week when people have had access to the
documentation.
apoligies, this has become a longer message than i intended!
karen<CS_ways_of working_Phase_I.doc>
