Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 1 Information Society Initiatives: WSIS and IFAP Presented by Axel Plathe Senior Programme Specialist UNESCO, Information Society Division

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 2 Content UNESCO’s Concept of Knowledge Societies UNESCO’s Mandate Information Society/Knowledge Societies? Building Knowledge Societies World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) UNESCO’s Information for All Programme About WSIS WSIS Geneva Internet Governance Financial Mechanisms Between Geneva and Tunis WSIS Action Plan What is IFAP? IFAP Methods & Tools IFAP Objectives IFAP Actions IFAP Areas/Priorities 2004/5 Partnerships National Committees Administrative Structure

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 3 UNESCO’s concept of knowledge societies

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 4 UNESCO’s mandate “Promote the free flow of ideas by word and image” “Maintain, increase and spread knowledge” UNESCO: A focus on content UNESCO’s Mandate Enhanced UNESCO’s relevance in the information society

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 5 Enhancing information flows and providing infrastructure is insufficient A more comprehensive vision and a clearly developmental perspective are needed. Rather “Knowledge Societies” than “Information Society” Infomation Society or Knowledge Societies?

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 6 Knowledge Utilization Knowledge Dissemination Knowledge Preservation Knowledge Creation Building Knowledge Societies Human Needs and Rights Knowledge Societies Pluralism

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 7 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 8 About WSIS UN Summit Addresses global issues related to the development of the Information Society Platform for international debate Multistakeholder Two phases –Geneva, Switzerland, December 2003 (Declaration of Principles & Plan of Action) –Tunis, Tunisia, November 2005

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 9 WSIS Geneva: Results Process more important than Summit event, as it created unique opportunity for international dialogue on Information Society issues UNESCO’s visibility as a key actor & profile of its competencies greatly enhanced Declaration of Principles reflects UNESCO’s main concerns: Freedom of Expression (Article 19) Universal access to information (Key role of libraries) Capacity-building in ICT and in using information resources Cultural and linguistic diversity Access to education (ICT-enhanced learning) Importance of traditional, free & pluralistic media Plan of Action with many opportunities for UNESCO

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 10 ICANN? Issues Civil society Private sector Industry Standard bodies Academia National bodies: Governments International bodies: IGOs Internet Governance Features Stakeholders Users Autonomy Transparency Competence Participation Openness Stability Technical issues IP standards DNS Root server Access Dispute resolution Public domain Rights-holders’ interests Child protection Cybercrime Universal & equitable access Operational stability Privacy/Data protection Multi- lingualism Freedom of expression Cultural diversity Consumer protection Ethical, legal and societal issues

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 11 Financial Mechanisms UN Secretary-General established Task Force on Financial Mechanisms (TFFM) UNESCO’s position UNESCO neutral on pros/cons of a special Fund Promote an understanding that encompasses the principles for Knowledge Societies Ensure inclusion of other than financial aid (e.g. capacity-building, content provision) Ensure link to development agendas Encourage improved cooperation among existing funding and capacity-building mechanisms

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 12 Report Resolution Declaration of Principles Share common views Plan of Action Share objectives (what/when) Review actions Build concrete mechanisms for actions (who/how) Regional Meetings PrepComs Geneva Summit ITU WSIS-ES HLSOC Follow up Coordination Group (stakeholders) Thematic meetings (& Regional meetings) WG on Internet Governance TF on Financing Mechanism PrepComs DeliverablesModalitiesSecretariat Phase I Phase II Bureau Tunis Summit Bureau ITU WSIS-ES Secretariat for Coordination Group HLSOC Road Map to Tunis Group of Friends of the Chair

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 13 Between Geneva and Tunis – Actors PrepComs Bureau of the PrepCom Group of the Frieds of the Chair High Level Summit Organizing Committee (HLSOC) WSIS Executive Secretariat Same role as for Phase 1 Tunisian WSIS Secretariat Organizing committee: Habib Ammar Civil Society Caususes Other initiatives (e.g. wsis-online.net: platform for all stakeholders to identify issues of common concern)

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 14 Between Geneva and Tunis: UNESCO Capitalizing on banner headline "Towards Knowledge Societies" Operationalizing this concept by implementing the Action Plan Building on adopted positions: Recommendation on the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace" UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity UNESCO Charter for the Preservation of Digital Heritage Ministerial Round Table on Knowledge Societies Involving Member States, including Natcoms Involving professional NGOs Organizing events around themes like ‘Freedom of Expression’, ‘Cultural/linguistic Diversity’, ‘ICT for Reaching the Marginalized’, and ‘Capacity Building’

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 15 Process UNESCO’s thematic meetings Exptected results Concrete actions identified Key activities “showcased” Strategic alliances established Themes Freedom of Expression in Cyberspace Harnessing the potential of ICTs, including satellites, for capacity building Multilingualism in Cyberspace Cultural Diversity Empowering citizens through knowledge

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 16 WSIS Action Plan Includes ca. 75 actions (total: 150 actions) for which UNESCO can claim responsibility as it directly affects its mandate and its areas of expertise 32 C/5 (Programme and Budget for ) as framework for implementing actions

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 17 Action Plan - UNESCO’s areas of competence A.Access B.Education / Capacity-building C.Sciences D.Cultural diversity E.Media

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 18 A. Access Developing policy guidelines for public domain information Establishing multi-purpose community access points, need to make better use of library infrastructure Supporting capacity-building for local authorities / local governance Developing digital public library/archive services Facilitating access to periodicals and books

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 19 B. Education/Capacity-building Developing programmes to eradicate illiteracy using ICTs and libraries Promoting e-literacy skills for all Developing ICT-based alternative educational delivery systems, notably for achieving Education for All targets Using ICTs to meet the educational needs of information professionals Developing distance learning, training and other forms of education as part of capacity-building programmes

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 20 C. Sciences Promoting electronic publishing, differential pricing and open access initiatives such as Open Archives Promoting ICT use and networks to share scientific knowledge Promoting long-term systematic and efficient collection, dissemination and preservation of scientific digital data Promoting collaborative IPR models for sharing technological and scientific know-how

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 21 D. Cultural Diversity Creating policies that support cultural and linguistic diversity Promoting the production of cultural, educational and scientific content Developing local cultural industries suited to the linguistic and cultural context of the users Using ICTs for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage as well as intangible heritage Promoting understanding of other cultures as a means of facilitating global dialogue

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 22 E. Media Encouraging the media – traditional and new – to continue to play an important role in the Information Society Encouraging development of domestic legislation that guarantees independence and plurality of the media Promoting balanced and diverse portrayals of women by the media

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 23 UNESCO WSIS Action Directory UNESCO has established an online tool for taking stock of its contribution to the implementation of the WSIS Action Plan Access by : categories of the WSIS Action Plan regions and countries types of actions UNESCO’s main fields of competence UNESCO’s four principles for Knowledge Societies Built on a robust, modular, database driven directory management platform (Gossamer-Threads LinksSQL)

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 24 UNESCO WSIS Action Directory Access by type of activities Access by regions and countries Access by WSIS Action Plan areas Access by UNESCO principles Access by UNESCO areas

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 25 UNESCO WSIS Action Directory Main contributor: Secretariat National Commission have been invited to contribute Potehtail of the Directory to be an efficient tool for information/knowldge brokering

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 26 UNESCO’s Information for All Programme

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 27 Intergovernmental Programme created in 2001 Successor of General Information Programme (PGI) and Intergovernmental Informatics Programme (IIP) International framework for oFacilitating reflection and debate oDeveloping strategies, methods and tools oPromoting networks oInitiating pilot projects What is IFAP?

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 28 IFAP Methods & Tools How can IFAP make a difference? Uniqueness & influence of its intergovernmental nature IFAP’s ability to influence at the national level and to use its local network IFAP’s potential to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and to the implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 29 IFAP Objectives Promote international reflection and debate on the ethical, legal and societal challenges of the information society Promote and widen access to information in the public domain through the organization, digitization and preservation of information Support training, continuing education and lifelong learning in the fields of communication, information and informatics

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 30 Support the production of local content and foster the availability of indigenous knowledge through basic literacy and ICT literacy training; Promote the use of international standards and best practices in communication, information and informatics in UNESCO’s fields of competence; Promote information and knowledge networking at local, national, regional and international levels. IFAP Actions

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 31 IFAP Areas Area 1: Development of international, regional and national information policies Area 2: Development of human resources and capabilities for the information age Area 3: Strengthening institutions as gateways for information access Area 4: Development of information processing and management tools and systems Area 5: Information technology for education, science, culture and communication

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 32 Priorities 2004/5 Promoting information literacy, through capacity building particularly for information professionals Strengthening awareness about the importance of preservation of information of all kinds Promoting a better understanding of the ethical, legal and societal implications of ICTs

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 33 Partnerships Why? to harmonize positions and policies to create a multiplier effect from improved communication and collaboration With whom? UNESCO Sectors International programmes within and outside the UN Stakeholder NGOs Private sector

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 34 National Committees What? Increase awareness of IFAP’s purpose to capture imagination and resources Encourage participation by Member States Translate IFAP’s global objectives into national activities Foster efficient and effective national practices, through international exchange Where? Afica: 5 Arab States: 3 Asia and the Pacific: 10 Europe and North America: 19 Latin America and the Caribbean: 4 Who? UNESCO National Commission: 18 Within a governmental policy body: 12 Under the leadership of an operational, research or educational institute: 11

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 35 Administrative Structure Intergovernmental Council o Function: Guidance its planning and implementation o Twenty-six Member States of UNESCO o President: Daniel Malbert, France o Annual meetings in the first three years of its existence Secretariat: UNESCO (Information Society Division)

Natcoms- Castries –12/ 2004–Slide 36