Toru NAKAYA,

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Discussion Paper Inclusion of Civil Society in
the Work of ITU
Toru NAKAYA, Co-repporteur CG-2
4 July 2006 3nd APT Preparatory Meeting for PP-06
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Background (1)

• Draft of the ITU Strategic Plan for 2008-2011,
  contains several paragraphs regarding the
  inclusion of new actors (e.g., civil society) in
  the work of ITU.
• Footnote-1 of this Draft Strategic Plan suggests
  that the inclusion of new actors (e.g. civil
  society) and its modalities will be subject to
  further discussion at the 2006 Plenipotentiary
  Conference.

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Relevant Paragraphs in the Draft Strategic Plan
(1)

• 2.1 Over the last four years, many developments
  have occurred in telecommunications and the
  broader information and communication
  technologies (ICT) environment that have
  significant implications for ITU as a whole.
  These developments include
• 2.3 A continuing challenge facing the Union is to
  remain a pre-eminent intergovernmental
  organization where Member States, Sector Members,
  Associates, and civil society1 work together to
  enable the growth and sustained development of
  telecommunication and information networks,

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Relevant Paragraphs in the Draft Strategic Plan
(2)

• 2.3.1 the need to engage representatives of new
  actors , including civil society1 in the work
  of the Union, especially as it relates to the
  emerging Information Society
• 3.2 The main mission of the ITU ? as a
  pre-eminent intergovernmental organization where
  Member States, Sector Members and Associates and
  civil society1 work together ? is to enable and
  foster the growth and sustained development of
  telecommunications and information networks, and
  to facilitate universal access so that people
  everywhere can participate in, and benefit from,
  the emerging Information Society. The ITU can
  achieve this overall mission by

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Relevant Paragraphs in the Draft Strategic Plan
(3)

• Goal 3 Widening the Union's membership,
  extending and facilitating cooperative
  participation of an increasing number of
  administrations and organizations, as well as new
  actors including civil society1.
• Footnote-1 The inclusion of new actors (e.g.,
  civil society) in the work of the ITU and its
  modalities will be subject to further discussion
  at the 2006 Plenipotentiary Conference

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Background (2)

• The Draft ITU Strategic Plan for 2008-2011 will
  be formalized at the final meeting of the Council
  2006 scheduled for 4 November 2006, to be
  submitted to PP-06 to finalize.
• This issue of the inclusion of new actors (e.g.,
  civil society) and its modalities will be
  discussed at the next meeting of the Council WG
  on WSIS scheduled for September, before PP-02.

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Key Message in Draft Strategic Plan

• The ITU can achieve this overall mission by
  widening the Union's membership, extending and
  facilitating cooperative participation of an
  increasing number of new actors.
• What PP-06 should discuss to widen the Unions
  membership to civil society?
• PP-06 should revisit the articles of the
  Convention relevant to the Sector membership and
  Associates.

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Scope of the Sector Membership CV
Article 19

• Recognized operating agencies approved by the
  Member state concerned
• Scientific or Industrial organizations approved
  by the Member state concerned
• Financial or Development institutions approved by
  the Member state concerned
• Other entities dealing with telecommunication
  matters approved by the Member state concerned
• Regional and other international
  telecommunication, standardization, financial or
  development organizations

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Member Fee (Minimum Level of Contributions)

• Sector Member 1/5 of the contributory unit of
  the Member States
• D sector member participating from least
  developed countries 1/16
• Organizations with an international character
  approved by the Council 0
• Associates (the level of contribution is decided
  by the Council)
• R 1/30
• T 1/30
• D 1/80, and 1/160 for organizations from LDCs
  only

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Another Relevant Issue to Be Discussed at PP-06

• The Working Group on Contributions by Sector
  Members and Associates towards Defraying ITU
  Expenses was set up based on Resolution 110
  (Marrakesh 2002).
• The Chair of this WG issued a report in May 2005.
  This report was circulated to member states for
  the preparation of PP-06.
• It seems that the current discussion pertaining
  to the findings of this report is now focused on
  the following two propositions.
• The level of contribution 1/5 of the Member
  state or 1/4 ?
• The date when denunciation takes effect 1 year
  from the announcement or 6 months?