SOURCE: Wougnet - Information about WOUGNET: http://www.wougnet.org

CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT SENT TO WSIS SECRETARIAT
A statement from the Civil Society Co-ordinating group, comprising
representatives of groups participating at preparatory committee meetings for
WSIS has been sent to the WSIS Secretariat as input into plans and preparations
for PrepCom 2 in Geneva, February 14-28, 2003. Included in the comprehensive
statement are the following:

1. VISION:
Our vision is of Information and Communication Societies based on recognition
of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all human
beings as articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The
developments that shape such information and communication societies should
pursue goals of social, political, gender and economic justice, sustainable
human development, and support for democracy, participation, and empowerment.

Building people-centered and inclusive information and communication societies
implies taking into account the different stakeholders and involving them as
participants and decision makers in shaping policies and frameworks. It also
means enabling the engagement and commitment of all generations and ensuring
the involvement of diverse social and linguistic groups, cultures and Peoples -
particularly those most exposed to exclusion, discrimination and disadvantage-
and ensuring gender equality.

2. GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
2.6 Incorporating a gender perspective
Gender-based analyses and perspectives must be introduced into all proposals,
action plans and follow-up programmes, so that gender equality can be
guaranteed in information and communication societies, as enshrined in the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and
the Beijing Platform for Action (including, but not limited to Section J).

3. THEMES:
3.1.5 Gender Perspectives
In accordance with the Millennium Declaration and other instruments adopted by
the UN, the WSIS must address gender perspectives within the information
society as a cross-cutting issue in all aspects of the agenda and in relation
to each of the themes outlined in this document. In addition, in this specific
category, the WSIS would focus on the broad themes of reducing gender
discrimination and improving participation of women in the Information Society,
capacity building and training for women, equal access, and the use of ICTs to
improve the lives and livelihoods of women worldwide.

Specific themes would include: supporting wide participation by women ICT
specialists and gender analysis specialists in policy formation and decision
making at all levels in the ICT sector; supporting women©^s greater access to
and control over resources necessary for their empowerment; encouraging women
to explore the convergence and between cultural and traditional forms of
communication with the technologies currently available; enhancing the
possibilities for women at all levels to use ICT tools for the transformation
of gender hierarchies in society and to challenge stereotyped roles that women
and men are expected to fulfill; using new and alternative forms of ICTs to
counter the negative portrayal of women in the media, examining and addressing
old and new forms of exploitation and violence against women in information and
communication societies.

To see the full Civil Society Statement, go to:
http://article19.net/WSIS/SCT/