Towards an Asian CSO Response to the WSIS:

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Towards an Asian CSO Response to the WSIS
Key Issues Strategic Agendas

• Critical Engagement in the WSIS Process Bangkok
  gtgtgt Tokyo gtgtgt Geneva

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• Context
• Framing an Asian response to the WSIS processes,
  esp. Tokyo meeting
• Asian Regional Conference Bangkok, 13-15
  November 2002
• Sponsored by Forum Asia (Thailand) with WACC
  Bread for All
• Representatives of 34 organizations from 16 Asian
  countries

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Key Issues

• 1. ACCESS issue of the digital/social divide
  (North-South within countries/ societies)
• Context of globalization, liberalization what
  regulations and policies required to ensure
  national/global access and guarantee effective
  use of ICTs for all?
• What is needed to transform ICTs into a means of
  empowerment?

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Key Issues

• 2. DEMOCRATIZATION OF MEDIA
• Asia in transition pressures of globalization,
  liberalization movements for democratization
• Measures to reinforce and sustain public media
  independent, community-based
• Ensure accountability of private media

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Key Issues

• 3. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
• Continuing reality of government censorship (
  self-censorship under pressure)
• Concentration of media ownership gt restricts
  diversity and accountability
• New cyberlaws in the name of national security
  or dangerous content threaten open nature of
  media

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Key Issues

• 4. LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
• Growth of the global cultural industry raises
  many questions
• Threats to diversity of content, symbols, and
  processes
• Measures needed to promote local Asian
  productions and protect indigenous expression and
  knowledge
• Question of IPR regimes

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Key Issues

• 5. GENDER JUSTICE
• ICTs are not gender-neutral
• Many barriers to womens access and
  participation Rooted in gender inequalities
• How a more democratic, inclusive, and
  neutrally-gendered Information Society be shaped?
• How can ICTs be used to empower women?

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VISION

• Our vision of society, is one that is based on
  justice, equality and human rights.
• The right to communicate is fundamental to the
  strengthening of the political, economic, social,
  and cultural lives of our people.
• For us this vision is grounded in respect for
  diversity and plurality. It is a people-centered
  society and we envision our evolution into a
  truly communicative, just and peaceful society.
• The participation of civil society, especially
  from those communities who are excluded,
  marginalised and severely deprived, is critical
  in defining and building such a society.

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PRINCIPLES

• Communication rights are fundamental to democracy
  and human development. The information society
  offers opportunities to strengthen, embed, and
  endorse these rights.
• Democratic, transparent and accountable
  governance is fundamental the information
  society requires such governance, from the
  global to the local.
• Information and knowledge must be readily
  available for human development and not locked in
  private hands this requires a strong and viable
  public domain.

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PRINCIPLES

• Linguistic/cultural diversity, plurality and
  gender equity must be cornerstones of the
  information society.
• ICTs can bridge many gaps they also offer new
  challenges. They are not an end, but only a
  possible means.
• Steps must be taken to ensure affordable access
  and effective use by all policies, programs,
  regulations, public investment to serve human
  needs

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PROPOSALS FOR ACTION

• Strengthen community
• Ensure access
• Enhance the creation of appropriate content
• Invigorate global governance
• Uphold human rights
• Extend the public domain
• Protect and promote cultural and linguistic
  diversity
• Ensure public investment in infrastructure