(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The second meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2) of the Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) ended in Geneva, Switzerland, with participants endorsing their support for the establishment of a Digital Solidarity Fund for the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The fund will be officially launched in Geneva this month, and is intended to transform the digital divide into digital opportunities for developing countries. It will be opened to voluntary contributions by interested stakeholders.
The two outstanding topics for discussion and consensus from Phase 1 of the WSIS were Financing and Internet Governance. Before the start of the official prep-Com2, officials held two days of talks on Internet Governance, where some 41 topics were tabled for discussion, including the search for a working definition for the term Internet Governance. The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) also submitted a draft report to the Prep-Com 2, and a further draft report will be presented by the WGIG in mid-July. All governments and stakeholders will be invited to submit written proposals by 15 August. The submissions and the report of the WGIG will be forwarded to Prep-Com3.
Other achievements of Prep-Com2 which was held from the 17 to 25 February included several successful official side events on Media involvement in the WSIS process, measurement of the information society, experiences of grassroot women in India and civil society involvement.
Caribbean participants made submissions to discussions in key areas, including coordinated assistance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to lower transaction costs associated with the delivery of international donor support; communications access and connectivity for ICT services in locations presenting unique technological and market challenges; and local government and community-owned initiatives that deliver ICT services to communities in the areas of education, health and livelihood support. Barbados made a significant contribution to the major outcomes of the meeting through its chairmanship of three out of five working groups held to resolve issues related to financial mechanisms for meeting the challenges of ICT for development.
The Caribbean has now renewed efforts to become more engaged in the process during the second phase. A critical component relating to Regional participation in the WSIS Phase 2 summit was the formation of an ICT Steering Committee in January 2005. The Regional ICT Steering Committee comprises representatives from CARICOM Member States, Regional organisations, private sector and civil society, as well as a CARICOM Secretariat team. It will provide guidance and advice on issues relating to ICT including the WSIS process.
Throughout discussions at the Prep-Com2, Member States, civil society and other interest groups stressed that the events and activities leading up to the 2nd phase of the WSIS were intended to produce human and social development successes and not confined only to ICT.
The CARICOM Region will continue to prepare itself for the second phase of the WSIS by continued articulation of its ICT strategy, a Regional meeting on Internet Governance in the second quarter of 2005 and other technical, policy and multi-stakeholder consultations leading up to and beyond November 2005.
Additional information pertaining to Prep-Com2 may be accessed at http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc2/index.html Additional information pertaining to the Digital Solidarity Fund may be accessed at http://www.dsf-fsn.org/
CONTACT:
Jennifer Britton
jbritton@caricom.org
