The WSIS was held in Geneva, Switzerland in December 2003, and Tunis, Tunisia in November 2005. During the 2003 meeting, NGOs were once again frustrated at their inability to make their voices heard. NGO representatives criticized the comparatively heavy participation of private businesses at the Summit. The inclusion of private industry was also an issue at the 2005 summit. In the lead-up to the 2005 summit, conference organizers convened "multistakeholder" meetings. Many NGOs felt that a "multistakeholder" format diluted their role in the policymaking process.
WSIS Aftermath: Who Cares About Human Rights? (November 24, 2005)
Despite its poor record on human rights and freedom of expression, Tunisia remains an important ally to the US in its war on terrorism. While criticizing the Tunisian government of its inhuman treatment of journalists and civil society groups, Washington continues to supply the government with $4,646,000 in military assistance, training and hardware equipment. This Pambazuka article questions the sincerity of US President George Bush's pledge to "end tyranny in our world" while providing a government with serious human rights abuses with arms and military aid.
Repression in Tunis and the World Summit on the Information Society (November 17, 2005)
NGOs first organized, and then cancelled a civil society summit, which was to run parallel to the World Summit on the Information Society. NGO representatives said the parallel summit was called off in a show of solidarity with Tunisian NGOs. Tunisia, the host country, has repressive policies towards NGOs, and planned to refuse to let its domestic NGOs participate in the parallel event. (Pambazuka)
Civil Society Stuck With a Consolation Prize (November 16, 2005)
NGOs went into the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) hoping to gain a voice in the issue of Internet control. However, the closed proceedings of the WSIS resulted in an outcome statement, which only offers NGOs a voice in the newly-established Internet Governance Forum. The Forum will have no oversight capabilities, and will not have any power to make decisions on Internet issues, leading some to liken it to a "gathering at the water-cooler" for NGO members. (TerraViva)
Civil Society Turns up the Heat in Tunisia (November 14, 2005)
Tunisia, the host of the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), has a questionable record on human rights and freedom of expression. NGOs attempting to take part in the WSIS have felt the effects of Tunis' policies, and have been followed and spied on by Tunisian officials. As a result, NGOs have announced that they will hold their Citizen's Summit on the Information Society, parallel to the WSIS. They hope that in this independent event, they will be free of the twin barriers of minimal conference participation, and Tunisian oversight. (swissinfo)
No Turning Back on Civil Society Participation (November 2, 2005)
The World Summit on the Information Society could be "a veritable turning point" for the inclusion of NGOs in major international decision-making processes. The Summit's "multi-stakeholder" format has actively involved NGOs and civil society not only in the pre-summit discussions, but potentially also in the outcome document on Internet governance. If this format is successful, experts predict that NGOs and civil society will be increasingly involved in decision-making on issues like international human rights and environmental protection. (Inter Press Service)
Activists Denounce "Erosion" of NGO Participation in Summit (September 29, 2005)
NGO participants of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) are baffled by their sudden exclusion from the preparatory process. With little explanation, governmental participants have requested and even forced NGOs to leave drafting sessions and have silenced their role in consensus building. NGOs see this as a blow both to themselves and to the outcome of the WSIS, as it is civil society that is ultimately best equipped to implement new policy passed at the Summit. (Inter Press Service)
Future of Civil Society Participation in Doubt (September 21, 2005)
In what was called "unprecedented in the UN" and a "breakthrough," NGOs were heavily involved in the lead-up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), scheduled for November 16-18, 2005. Unfortunately, after the outcome document of the Millennium+5 Summit did not strongly affirm the participation of NGOs in UN Conferences, NGOs "have recently begun to run into resistance to this kind of multi-stakeholder participation." (Inter Press Service)
Civil Society Ponders Alternative Declaration (September 29, 2003)
Government officials ignore a large number of NGO proposals for the World Summit on the Information Society in December 2003. Citizen groups work on a separate declaration, marking a split between governmental and non governmental actors. (Association for Progressive Communications)
The Role of NGOs in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) (April 29, 2003)
This paper summarizes the role of NGOs in the UN summit on the information society and its three preparatory committee meetings. NGOs are particularly concerned about the influence and status of private industry in relation to civil society at the summit. (Digital Freedom Network)
