<nettime> wsis plan of action: civil society's priorities

[Florian Schneider <fls@kein.org>]

[below you find the civil society action plan as it
was released this morning at the prepcom2 meeting for
the UN world summit on the information society.
some detailled reports of what was going on here
in geneva in the last two weeks you find at:
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/nav/14.htm
independently from the participation of lots of ngo's
in the civil society working group preparations
for various autonomous activities around the
summit in the second week of december 2003 are on
the way. tbc /fls]


World Summit on the Information Society PrepCom-2 Geneva,
February 2003

27 February 2003 23:00

WSIS- Civil Society Working Group on Content and Themes --
Drafting Committee

Plan of Action: Civil society's priorities

This document is a work in progress that gathers proposals
drafted by the various thematic caucuses of the civil
society present at Prepcom2.

A - List of issues

B - Objectives

Benchmarks _ One Public access point to the network per
village/large community in 2005. _ Access to radio sets by
everyone before 2010, to be ensured by governments in
cooperation with the private sector and radio broadcast
coverage of all of the world's population by 2010 _ Set
targets for delegations in all future conference related to
ICT to include at least 30 percent women, including gender
and ICT advocates

C - Strategies programmes, methods for implementation

The WSIS Action Plan must take into account and provide
support for existing Action Plans developed by the DOT Force
process and the UN ICT Task Force.

1) Information and communication infrastructure: financing
and investment, affordability, development, and
sustainability

* An official body must be settled within the ITU in charge
of proposing new mechanisms of funding adapted to a society
in which international information flows are one of the main
sources of growth.

* As many developing countries face a drastical shortage of
electricity, renewable and decentralised energy sources
must be mobilised and established as a pre requisite for
universal access to network infrastructures. This priority
shall be pursued in reference to the Jo'burg summit on
environment goals. A particular attention must be given to
rural and isolated communities.

* Technology systems which are appropriate to local
environments to effectively bridge the digital divide, for
example community radio, local newsletters, and other forms
of community and non-profit media shall be privileged.

* Specific support must be given to the convergence of
traditional community media with other ICTs, for example
through community telecentres which combine community radio
with the internet.

* Strong public policies should be at the heart of the
information societies, although some steps towards
liberalisation, privatisation and competition, and the
removal of excessive levels of tariffs may play a role in
ensuring connectivity. In any case the latter must not
represent the only strategy.

* To improve efficiency and reduce costs of use of
infrastructure in developing countries, optimise connections
between major information networks by creating regional PSTN
exchange points and by extending the capillarity of regional
infrastructures.

* Coordinate intergovernmental action, with participation of
civil society, to establish an international agreement for
negotiating fair prices for Internet traffic that must flow
through root servers in the US.

* Public access points rely to a large extent on the
existence of terrestrial networks, and complementarily on
satellites. Consequently, it is imperative for Africa to
rehabilitate and develop the existing PANAFTEL network, and
where necessary, complete it with new backbones to create a
wide African Interconnection Network (AIN). This network
should be completed by International/Intercontinental access
points to the global telecommunications network. On the
other hand, remote regions which are too distant from
terrestrial networks should have priority access to the
satellite services, particularly the RASCOM African
satellite.

* Regarding IP traffic, which is rapidly growing in the
short term, a " Gateway Internet Exchange " (GIX) network
must be designed at the regional level as a priority, in
order to keep the intra-African IP traffic within the
continent, with the dual goals of fully leveraging the AIN
network and of reducing the volume of international traffic.

* Priority must be given to those who have no access and are
excluded from the information society, especially to young
people, women, the elderly and people with disabilities,
taking into account their specific knowledge abilities,
needs and facilitating their participation capabilities.

* Ensure provision for increased access to ICTs and
integration into programmes that assist with poverty
alleviation and the empowerment of women and men

* Equitable tariff and quota structures for
telecommunication services (backbone, local access,
telecommunication) should be created

* Link "traditional" media and the Internet for community
access to information "mixed media approach", as well as
embracing and building on African traditional communication
channels into the information society

* Community information and communication centres are
critical to ensure inclusive access to information and
social services. Universal access policies shall promote the
best possible level of connectivity at a reasonable cost for
all under-served rural, urban, and regional areas.
Technological convergence must be monitored with a view to
integrating traditional and new ICTs in order to create
alternative forms of access that can help narrow the digital
divide. The creation and provision of low-cost access
equipment and multi-purpose community access points shall be
an integral part of the agenda for reducing the digital
divide.

* Public funding should be made available to ensure Internet
access in public institutions such as schools, libraries,
and community centres.

* To save large investment and operation costs, a common use
of infrastructure is recommended for both telecommunication
and radio/TV information transport and distribution.

2) Access to information and knowledge

* Compilation work done in building databases and
non-creative works shall not be protected under copyright
law.

* The right of Internet hyperlinking, framing and mirroring
shall not be restricted, under the provision that the name
and URL of the original site is properly indicated and
acknowledged.

* Free modification and adaptation of a copyrighted web page
shall be permitted for personal non-commercial use as a
means of free speech.

* Rules of loans existing in traditional libraries must be
extended without hindrance to digital media belonging to
online libraries

* Use of Peer to peer technology shall be promoted to share
public domain information.

* Authors must be encouraged to retain ownership of their
copyrights and not to automatically transfer copyrights to
publishers or other intermediaries.

* Non-commercial use and private copy of digital contents
should be regarded and protected as fair use.

* Computer software has different characteristics from other
creative works in that it is functional/technical works and
has no meaning as a public domain after the protection
period. So, computer software should not be protected by
copyright, or at least, the protection period of computer
software should be shortened.

* Open Source/Free Software shall be adopted by all public
authorities and bodies.

* Developing countries should investigate how to leverage
the opportunities presented by the emergence of Open
Source/Free software in the context of limited financial
resources and expertise.

* Change current intellectual property regimes so that all
information and knowledge produced with the aid of public
resources, for example the outputs of publicly funded
educational and research institutions, are automatically
released as open content and made available and accessible
at no cost into the public domain.

* Software shall not be patentable, in principle.

* Business model (or method) patent should not be allowed.

* A first-to-invent instead a first-to-file patent
application rule shall be adopted, in order to better
preserve the rights of academic scientists and low-income
inventors.

* The purpose of patent is to develop technology and thus to
promote the quality of life such as health, etc. In line
with it, national policy to limit patent holders right for
public health such as compulsory licensing and parallel
importation should be allowed without interference of other
countries as addressed in the declaration on TRIPS agreement
and public health adopted in Doha WTO ministerial
conference.

* Web pages of all public bodies should be fully accessible
with any kind of browsers, including the free software
browsers such as Mozilla.

* The need for a legal protection of traditional knowledge
must be implemented

* Generic domain names shall not be subject, in any way, to
trademarks laws.

* A specific status concerning transition and developing
countries shall be recognized in regards to Intellectual
Property Rights.

* Recognition of and support for community and non-profit
media as the major platform for the public to both access
and contribute to global knowledge and information must be
ensured.

* Public service values in the Information Society should be
encouraged, including genuine public service broadcasting.
State-controlled media should be transformed into
editorially independent public service media organizations.

* Availability of both traditional and newer technologies
should be guaranteed to promote equitable access to
information at all levels of the information society.

* Ensure free access to all scientific and engineering data
and information that are available in archives, libraries
and research institutions.

* Promote and guarantee access for all starting from the
community level. While that access should be affordable and
premised on effective use of information and communication
technologies, recognition should also be made that this
requires not only infrastructure and technology but also
meaningful content, capacity building and an enabling
environment that encompasses the needs based on gender, lack
or total absence of literacy, ethno-cultural diversity and
political plurality.

* Information and communication technologies should foster
the flow and exchange of information; maximize access and
participation of remote areas and marginalized groups.

* Awareness should be created among civil society at large
for the need to support an independent, open-access public
domain

* There is a need to make provision for the appraisal and
preservation of, and access to information in all its forms

* Scientific information should be available or at least
indexed within a multilingual context.

* Encourage Open Access content models whereby the content
in digital format is freely available, while paper printed
versions or CD burned versions may be sold by institutional
or commercial channels.

* Encourage publishers to develop Open Access business
models whether these models are commercial or
not-for-profit.

* Encourage the creation by scientists of not-for-profit
Open Access Journals

* Encourage existing subscription-based journals to turn to
Open Access models.

* Encourage authors to submit their papers to Open Access
Journals.

* Encourage authors to write Open Access books and
multimedia material for research and education.

* Encourage authors to maintain a personal web page whereby
all their research findings and reports are freely
available.

* Recommend the creation of institutional Open Archives at
the national and international level.

* Recommend a program funded by the UN (or its agencies) to
create a worldwide portal to Open Access journals and Open
Access books.

* Recommend the creation of a funding program by the UN (or
its agencies) to ensure financial support to not-for-profit
Open Access Journals.

* Recommend a program funded by the UN (or its agencies) to
create a worldwide scientific Open Archive

* Recommend the creation of a funding program by the UN (or
its agencies) to provide financial support to the creation
and maintenance of institutional Open Access archives

* Encourage the creation and maintenance of mirrors sites of
Open Access contents in institutions belonging to transition
countries, in order to save Internet connection costs.

* Recommend a program funded by the UN or its agencies to
distribute free CDs containing Open Access contents to
transition countries.

* Recommend that member states should adopt national
legislation making it compulsory for scientists to deposit
their published works in a national or a UN funded worldwide
Open Access archive.

* Recommend that member states should adopt national
regulations making it compulsory for scientists whose
research is funded by public agencies or by private
foundations to publish in Open Access journals.

* Recommend that databases built with the help of freely
available scientific content should be also freely available
to all the authors that contributed to its content.

* Databases built with the help of freely available
scientific content should be accessible with a reasonable
fee proportionate to the average income in the customer's
country.

* Use of Peer to Peer technology shall be promoted to share
personal scientific knowledge and preprints and reprints
written by scientific authors who have waived their right to
payment.

* International co-operation and exchange of knowledge --
North-South, South -South, and North-North -- should be
encouraged through the use of ICTs.

* Promote the use of ICT as an effective tool in
distributing information about, and advocating against,
gender-based violence.

* Prepare and disseminate accessible information that
strengthens prevention programs that promotes women's health
such as education and information on sexual and reproductive
health issues and on sexually transmitted disease and
HIV/AIDS.

* Extending the rights of workers and their trade-unions to
the use of the internet and intranet of companies for the
purpose of communication and solidarity

* Civil society is encouraged to use low-cost means
(CD-roms, radio etc) to deliver information widely.

* Development of an interactive knowledge-sharing platform
on the WSIS must be encouraged

* Large-scale translation of information essential for human
development must be promoted.

3) The role of governments, the business sector and civil
society in the promotion of ICTs for development

Civil Society

* Civil society, in particular NGOs, must work closely with
communities in innovating, developing and strengthening
ICT-related initiatives.

* Civil society acknowledges its role as a major content
provider in the information society and should, therefore,
be active in the promotion of public awareness on the
quality of content of information circulated.

* Researchers and civil society organisations should be
fully involved in the formulation and implementation of ICTs
and sustainable development strategies

National Government and local authorities

* Public authorities must ensure that market competition is
fair and that monopolies are not perpetuated in the
communication sector.

* While public authorities should promote and facilitate
infrastructure building, provide training, and create an
enabling environment for ICT to be accessible for all, they
should not play the role of regulators of information flow
and content.

* Public authorities should prioritise and promote local ICT
initiatives to service local, national and regional
communities.

* Governments should take account of their social
responsibility and commitments to international conventions,
agreements and action plans and carrying out their
responsibilities.

* Reaffirm the role of a more transparent, participatory,
and effective democratic UN system as a truly legitimate
forum for global governance.

* Promote corporate or employee volunteering initiatives on
ICTs for development to facilitate for the private sector to
share skills, expertise and resources, in order to apply
them in a constructive way in ICT for development
initiatives

* Developing appropriate global and regional technical
standards to foster the deployment and use of ICTs by
ensuring the participation of all stakeholders and raising a
broad awareness of the societal and ethical implications of
the introduction of such standards.

* Recommit to principles of open, transparent, decentralised
and accountable governance mechanisms at all levels, from
the local to global, and in all spheres of society,
including those related to the governance of information and
communication systems.

* Promote further research programs on issues related to the
goals approved by the United Nations Millennium Assembly
especially in the developing countries.

Private Sector

International institutions

* Awareness of Open source/Free Software should be created,
especially in the developing countries. Capacity in Open
Source/Free software development should be built through the
development of incubator funding, a knowledge warehouse of
expertise in developing countries, development of regional
and national Open Source/Free Software portals, and by
ensuring that technical experts in developing countries have
full opportunity to participate in the development of Open
Source/Free software. These should be achieved by: urging
key organs such as Africa Union, UNECA, UNDP, UNESCO, World
Bank, Agence la Francophonie and NEPAD among others to
support Open Source/Free Software development in Africa;
leveraging various free and open source capacities and
resources in Africa; urging donor governments and other
institutions to consider funding open source software in
their developmental activities; urging African governments
to adopt Free and Open Source Software; and promoting Open
Source/Free Software capacity and skill development in
Africa through education with emphasis on women and youth.

* International community's commitments to ICT developments
assistance should not be monitored through indicators alone
but should also be evaluated by civil society, governments
and the private sector.

* Catalyze the volunteer network built during the
International Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV 2001), with nodes
in over 100 countries, to support the plan of action of the
Summit

4) Capacity building: human resources development,
education, and training

* Integrate into science curricula the social analysis of
the role and use of science and technology as well as the
social-cultural and economic perspectives and demands in
science and technology research and development.

* Develop tools and programmes that promote lifelong
learning

* Create awareness on the necessity of privacy protection
through educational programmes conducted by governments,
international organisations and civil society.

* Include in formal and informal education programmes the
development of skills to access and produce knowledge, as a
contribution to empowerment and participation of citizens.

* Governments, inter-governmental organizations, civil
society actors and other stakeholders in partnership with
global, regional and national open source forums should
spearhead initiatives that build skills through education
and empowerment of women and youth.

* Governments should work with all stakeholders to ensure
that Open Source is available as a platform to engineer
solutions that meet the needs of the people at affordable
prices.

* Build capacity for the creation of locally produced,
audience sensitive content that responds to local needs.
Strengthening relevant and diverse programmes focused on
gender-sensitive curricula in formal and non-formal
education for all and enhancing communication and media
literacy for women.

* Develop and provide resources for ICT skills enhancement
programmes in technical colleges and in particular
professional academies with full involvement of the teaching
staff and directors. This action should replace
commercially-based joint ventures programmes with
multinational corporations that provide narrow training
focussed on their company products.

* Integrate into curricula at all levels of formal and
informal training and educational programmes education in
media and information literacy and human rights.

* Develop and improve the capacities of local teacher and
researchers organisations by providing ICT training
facilities in teachers training and research institutions,
with particular emphasis to developing countries.

* Develop affordable solutions in terms of hardware and
software tailored to the needs of educational levels and to
local conditions while promoting the combination of various
media, both traditional and new.

* Raise awareness on the issue of copyright exemptions and
knowledge ownership through the education and training
sectors.

* Support training initiatives in information management and
production skills for grass roots organisations in
developing countries.

* Develop training programmes that enable all people, and in
particular marginalised communities, to be able to utilise
new models of content creation, production and dissemination
through the use of ICTs.

* Develop alternative incentive and rewards schemes that
encourage the creation and dissemination of culturally and
linguistically diverse content.

* Provide children, parents and teachers with appropriate
training for the use of ICTs and with access to new learning
models, including distance learning, on-line textbooks, and
reference materials.

* Increase the resource allocation of governments to
programmes targeting the elimination of illiteracy,
innumeracy and other learning challenges that impede the
ability of marginalised sectors of society from fully
accessing information necessary for their well being.

* Extend ICT services in developing countries, with
particular attention to Least Developed Countries (LDC),
small island nations and remote parts of all countries.
These services need to prioritise the needs of traditionally
marginalised groups such as women, the disabled, poor young
people, Dalits, linguistics and ethnic minorities, and also
people who are forciably isolated and confined, such as
prisoners and prisoners of war.

* Develop programmes in close consultation with Indigenous
Peoples such that they are enabled in the information
society and can utilise new tools, if desired, in their
cultural production and community development.

* Ensure that the production of international E-learning
programs incorporates contents, context and visions from
developing countries so as to contribute to cultural
diversity.

* Develop early interventions programmes in science and
technology that target young girls to provide access to fair
and equitable participation in ICT careers.

* Promote engineering knowledge transfer towards domestic
capacity building in developing countries, as well as local
engineering capacities to develop local knowledge and needs.

5) Security

Assessing ICT impact on privacy and other civil liberties

* All international treaties and agreements should include
an assessment of the implications on civil liberties and
human rights such as privacy and freedom of expression.

* Adoption of any security-related policy should be the
result of prior multi-stakeholder consultations, including
civil society and users/consumers as well as business and
government.

* A global investigation on the impact of ICT security
policies on civil liberties and human rights should be
initiated under the supervision of the UN. The assessment
would cover threats to privacy, freedom of expression,
freedom from surveillance, etc. A public benchmarking on the
evolution of this impact would be provided by a dedicated
mechanism.

* An independent' mechanism such as a "Privacy Protection
Committee' is necessary to supervise, monitor and arbitrate
privacy infringement in the Global Information Society.

* Privacy security studies should be carried on for all main
new technologies emerging, such as IPV6 (Internet Protocol
version 6). Their potential impact on privacy and freedom of
expression for the citizen and businesses should evaluated
and monitored, including their possible misuse for the
restriction of civil liberties and human rights.

Prevention of surveillance and censorship

* International cooperation should be developed to fight all
forms of the surveillance and monitoring system infringing
upon the values of human rights and democracy.

* (Guarantee and take appropriate action to protect the
right to privacy, including freedom from surveillance and
censorship by utilizing ICTs at all levels of the
information society)

* Workers' privacy in the workplace where ICTs are being
abused for the purpose of surveillance and monitoring such
as CCTV, IC Card, and Network-monitoring system, should be
protected. In the case of introducing new technology or
policies which might infringe the worker's privacy,
agreement with workers or labor unions should be made in
advance in a open and transparent manner.

* No implicit or explicit delegation of judicial power
should be given or imposed on Internet Services Providers
ISPs (Connection, site hosting) to the effect that they have
to reach a conclusion on the nature and content of any
information, wherever said information is stored, however
the said information is transmitted. No exemption to this
rule shall be allowed, even in the case of an alleged
obviousness.

* The right to 'anonymity' should be protected.

* Technical experts to protect against illegal monitoring of
private information held by CS must be secured.

Electronic ID or health cards, government databases

* National compulsory projects using ICTs, such as
electronic national ID card initiatives and electronic
health care card initiatives, should be prudently assessed
with the consideration of privacy issues and risks of
government surveillance issues before the implementation.

* Databases of individual information, which have been
established by the governments, such as the databases of
residence, health insurance, education, administration
related information as well as driver's license information
should be reviewed on the basis of securing human rights and
democracy.

* These databases should not be combined and should be
managed only for its respective purpose. In particular,
unique ID number of residents, which could be used to link
the different databases of individuals, should not be used.

Security of governmental networks

* Governments should take steps to ensure that their own ICT
networks are well protected against invasion through the use
of free and open source software.

6) Enabling environment

* Competition is only one out of many ways to drive down
prices and to ensure the ongoing modernization of networks
and services.

Promoting Media Diversity

* As ICT and media diversity is a vital factor of the
information society, and a key condition for freedom of
expression, there should be a variety of media sources.
Therefore, concentration of media ownership has to be
avoided and a legal basis as well as public funding for
community and non-profit media must be provided.

* The radio-electric spectrum has to be managed in the
public and general interest and by independent and
transparent regulatory frameworks for the equitable
allocation of frequencies to a plurality of media including
community media.

* Public financial support, training, preferred access to
licenses, frequencies and technologies to promote
community-based media, including facilitating links between
traditional media and new ones, and to bridge the digital
divide between the have and the have-nots.

* Legal frameworks for allocation of broadcast frequencies
should be made fully transparent where this is not already
the case.

Restoring the balance in Intellectual Property

* Considering the change brought by the development of the
digital network on the creation and dissemination of
knowledge the Intellectual Property regime should be
reviewed to restore the balance between the protection and
retribution of authors or creators and the widest possible
dissemination of knowledge (right to participate in, enjoy
and share cultural life of community, the arts and
knowledge).

* Exemptions for fair use of information should be
harmonized and the extension of the public domain guaranteed
as a mean to ensure access for all to information.

Promotion of Open Source/Free Software

* The development of Open Source/Free Software technologies
and free/open software should be promoted as an alternative
that favors innovation and the development of appropriate
technologies and content.

* A "Programmers Without Frontiers" initiative, focused on
Open Source/Free Software as applied to development needs,
should be launched and coordinated under the auspices of the
UN.

Internet Governance

* To widen the participation of all actors in the global
policy decision-making system, three types of
multi-stakeholder Task Forces should be set up in
consultation with ICANN, composed of representatives from
civil society, the private sector and governments : ss a
"Root Server Monitoring Task Force" to enhance regular
communication with the "Root Server Advisory Committee" in
the ICANN who is in charge of the global Root Server
management; ss a "Multilingual TLD Task Force" to facilitate
regular communication with IETF, IAB, Root Server Advisory
Committee and other grass-roots efforts, MINC, AINC, CDNC,
JDNA etc ... ss a "Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)
Management Task Force" in each region. Each regional task
force would include the current ccTLD managers and a
government representative.

* These Task Forces would be expected to report to the
Sub-Committee through the WSIS process between 2003 and
2005.

* Provide resources for civil society organisations,
including women's organisations to enhance grassroots
participation in the ICT policy processes.

Marginalized groups

* Special attention shall be given in the information
society to traditionally marginalized groups, such as
indigenous peoples, women, people with disabilities, older
people, refugees, migrants and those who lack access to
formal education and higher technical training.

* Public investment in capacity building focused on the
creation of locally produced, audience sensitive content
that responds to local needs, and marginalized communities.

* Online media workers should have the same contractual
rights and protections as other media workers.

* Establish global accounting standards for intangible
assets, in order to make annual company reports more
comparable and prevent fraudulent accounting practices.

7) Promotion of development-oriented ICT applications for
all

* Public participation in the information society shall be
enabled through affordable and appropriate ICT applications
allowing for local content creation, such as community
media, non-profit media, and interactive Web applications.

* The process of transformation into information societies
requires the development and deployment of Open Source/Free
Software as a means to improve productivity and quality of
life in developing countries.

* There is a need to prioritize and develop uses of ICTs for
development e.g. health in relation to pandemic diseases,
agriculture e.g. early warning systems and education.

* Facilitate exchange mechanisms for volunteers to share
experiences across sectors and projects related to plan of
action of the Summit, e.g. bridging the digital divide.

* ICT tools should be developed for e-government, with a
priority to promoting greater civil participation in
governance decision making.

* To create an enabling environment, ICT policy processes
must integrate gender analysis at all stages of their
development, from the initial design to implementation,
monitoring and evaluation. This requires analysis of the
current status of women and men's participation in and use
of ICT, including a comprehensive analysis of
sex-disaggregated statistics and indicators and policy
responses that target gender-based differences and
inequalities. In addition, the policy process itself needs
to be inclusive and consultative through the participation
of stakeholders groups representative of the full spectrum
of society, including gender advocates

* Allocate adequate resources for policy development to
integrate gender equality in ICT policies including funds
for research and analysis that demonstrates the impact of
ICT policies on gender equality as well as the human
resource capacity to ensure that gender analysis is fully
integrated in the ICT policy process.

* Strengthen national machineries for the advancement of
women, particularly through increased financial resources
and technical expertise that can facilitate their advocacy
role and collaborative action amongst government bodies

* Develop gender-sensitive technical and regulatory
instruments when addressing ICT policy issues such as
universal access, regulatory frameworks, licensing,
tariffing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure, ICT industry
development and labour policies.

* Develop, promote and support gender sensitive educational
programmes and appropriate learning environments including
e-learning to increase women's access to education.

* Implementation of measures to ensure women's equal access
to ICT education, training and literacy by: Sum Integrating
ICT education in school curricula based on gender equality;
Sum Realising girls' full participation in science and
technology education; Sum Developing relevant distance ICT
education and training programmes, especially for rural
women and girls;

* Governments and other actors, including trade unions,
business and professional associations, and international
organisations such as the ILO and UNCTAD, should: Sum
Develop ICT-based information systems with relevant content
for women to increase their economic opportunities and
entrepreneurship skills, including information about
national economic and trade policies and programmes; Sum Use
ICT to increase women's economic literacy and their economic
empowerment and participation; Sum Ensure that women gain
access to new employment opportunities in the ICT area,
including increasing women's access to ICT literacy and
skills at all levels, and also ensure that women are not
disproportionately disadvantaged by the working conditions
and organisational climate common within the global ICT
industry, such as "flexible" employment practices

* Databases of best practices of donor and Civil society
projects must be developed and linked.

* A collaborative network of Open Source and Free Software
technology tools for Civil society must be promoted.

* National and regional online volunteering services should
be established.

8) Cultural identity and linguistic diversity, local content
and media development

* Software companies and relevant national and international
bodies should prioritise software development and
transmission protocols in local languages.

* Recognition and support will be given to media based in
local communities, thus contributing to creating local
content and preserving and developing cultural and
linguistic diversity.

* Recognition and support will be given to non profit media
which give a voice to many marginalised or other ways
underrepresented groups and thus represent a vital force to
preserve and develop media diversity and media pluralism.

* The development of policy, procedure and tools to ensure
multi-lingualism in cyberspace, and in all other forms of
media and communication systems, must respect the different
language communities in the development of international
standards.

* There should be support for local creativity in any
country, especially through promotion of local content
contents to respond to local particularity and needs.

* The creation and preservation of traditional and
indigenous knowledge should be promoted.

* There should be protection against unfair exploitation of
indigenous knowledge and intellectual property

* Develop, consistent with freedom of expression, regulatory
mechanisms that promote balanced and diverse portrayals of
women by the media and international communication systems
and that promote increased participation by women and men in
production and decision making.

* Include content about women and gender issues in all
official Government websites in addition to those websites
that specifically cover gender equality issues.

9) Identifying and overcoming barriers to the achievement of
the information society with a human perspective

* International organisations, national and local
governments should commit to giving online information on
all public policies, public money uses, as well as
benchmarking of the results of their policies.

* Public service values in the Information Society should be
encouraged, including genuine public service broadcasting.

* Community and non-profit media should be promoted and
developed as a major platform to enable public participation
in the information society. They serve as essential factors
of empowering marginalised communities, particularly youth,
women, indigenous peoples, children and minority groups.

* Community projects which can contribute to the democratic
process, such as self-publication web sites on matters of
local interest and affairs, should benefit from public
support.

* Support and encourage research programs to design, develop
and adapt ICT infrastructure, tools and application that are
responsive to the needs of the poor, especially non-literate
women

* Develop, promote and implement research programmes that
permit ongoing and comprehensive analysis of the impact of
ICT on gender equality and women's empowerment, particularly
by development of appropriate indicators, conceptual
frameworks and qualitative assessment methodologies and case
studies.

* Safeguarding environmental resources is central to
achieving a healthy networked community for all. Southern
countries are not the ICT garbage dump of the North: an
active recycling policy should be established. Life cycle
management in the production flow of ICT related goods must
be promoted and implemented by the global ICT sector. Also,
technologies should be mobilised in order to meet the
specific of small islands under the endangered environment
by hazards or global warming.

* Tools should be developed to evaluate the social impact of
ICTs and contribute to the eradication of poverty. This
should be done with the involvement of all stakeholders,
including the poor themselves, both in Northern and southern
countries.

* Develop reporting mechanisms to monitor progress towards
gender equality in the ICT area


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