GC Position Papers & Briefs

The WSIS Gender Caucus has produced a number of position papers and advocacy briefs since its launch in May 2002.  The Caucus uses a consultative process to receive comments and feedback on these position papers.

PrepCom-1 of the Tunis phase, Hammamet, Tunisia, 24-26 June 2004

The first meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-1) for the Second Phase of WSIS took place in Hammamet (Tunisia) from 24 to 26 June 2004. In accordance with the decision taken during the Geneva phase on the preparations for the Tunis phase, and Para 29 of the Plan of Action, the preparatory meeting reviewed those issues of the Information Society that should form the focus of the Tunis phase of the WSIS and agreed on the structure of the preparatory process for the second phase.

Final Report of the Preparatory Meeting

PrepCom 3 Resumed Session December 2003

Press Release, December 5 2003

Gender equality and women’s rights a critical issue at the World Summit for the Information Society

The voices of gender equality and women’s rights advocates will be heard widely at the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS). The WSIS Civil Society Bureau has given added strength to gender advocates with the recent release of accepted names of civil society speakers at the General Debates and Roundtables of the WSIS.

Advocacy_Brief_No1_5_Dec_2003.pdf

The High Level PrepCom 3 Resumed Session is currently in session, debating the 14 November 2003 version of the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action. Whilst the Declaration of Principles has most paragraphs adopted, particularly the critical gender equality paragraphs, the entire Plan of Action is in square brackets, which means we run the risk of having the crucial gender equality gains in the Plan of Action, overturned. The call for the defence of all the gender equality paragraphs is imperative.

Global PrepCom3 Resumed Session, Geneva November 10 - 14 2003

Press_Release_Gender_Equality_14_November_2003.pdf SubCommittee 2 at the PrepCom 3 Resumed Session voted in favour of gender equality.

Brief_No_2_13_Nov_2003.pdf This lobbying brief calls for the Engendering of the Digital Solidarity Agenda which is currently under discussion in the SubCommittee 2 at PrepCom 3A.

Brief_No_1_11_Nov_2003.pdf This lobbying brief was produced by the Gender Caucus at the PrepCom 3 Resumed Session in Geneva November 2003. It notes that some government delegates proposed the removal of the main paragraph on gender equality in the Declaration of Principles and motivates for the defence of the paragraph.

Global PrepCom3, Geneva September 10-26 2003

GC_Position_Paper_Sept_2003.pdf The WSIS GC made a detailed submission which articulates its position on the WSIS Draft Plan of Action at the Third Preparatory Meeting in September 2003. The WSIS GC Position gives detailed input on gender equality and women’s rights perspectives into the Draft Plan of Action.

Endorsements_23_Nov_2003.pdf The endorsing organizations for the September 2003 PrepCom 3 Position Paper.

	Summary_GC_Position_Paper_Sept2003.pdf This document summarises the WSIS GC Position on the Draft Plan of Action submitted at the Third Preparatory Meeting of the WSIS in September 2003. The Spanish and English versions are available.
	Summary_GC_Paper_Sept2003_Espanol.pdf

GC_Statement_PrepCom3_Sept2003.pdf The WSIS GC Statement on its Position on the WSIS Draft Action Plan.

PrepCom3_Advocacy_Updates_Sept_2003.pdf Daily advocacy updates from PrepCom3 during September 16-26 2003.

Intersessional Meeting, Paris July 15-18 2003

GC_Statement_to_Plenary_Paris_16_July2003.pdf The GC statement to plenary at the Intersessional outlined the main recommednations for the integration of women's rights and gender equality into the WSSI Declaration.

Response_Declaration_Action_Points_May2003.pdf The contributions to the working drafts of the Declaration of Principles and Action Plan for WSIS by the Gender Caucus.

Global PrepCom2, Geneva February 2003

GenderCaucusInputPrepCom2.pdf The Gender Caucus prepared a formal input to the WSIS Declaration and Action Plan which was submitted to the WSIS Secretariat. It outlined the Caucus position on recommended approcahes for including women in decision making levels for preparation for the Summit and identified core issues that needed to be considered if Information Society development was to make a contribution to human development objectives.

WSIS_GC_Statement_to_Roundtable4_Geneva_18_February2003.pdf The GC statement to Roundtable #4 in Geneva February 2003.

Global PrepCom1, Geneva July 2002

GenderCaucusCalltoActionGenevaver2.pdf This document summarises the main recommendations on approaches to organising the Summit that would facilitate active participation by women at all levels, including at the decision making level. It also includes an invitation for partnership.

GenderCaucus_Statement_PrepCom1_Geneva.pdf At the first Global PrepCom, the Caucus prepared a statement summarising its advocacy positions. This was formally communicated to the WSIS Secretariat

WSISletters.pdf As an indication of the strength of the multistakeholder approach, the Caucus was able to motivate UNIFEM Deputy Director, Joanne Sandler to send a letter of support to the Executive Director WSIS Secretariat. The presentation of the letter was supported by in person lobbying of the Secretariat decision makers to take gender issues and women's rights more seriously in their planning of the December Summit.

African Regional Preparatory Conference Bamako 2002, Mali May 2002

Integrated_Statement_GenderCaucus_Bamako2002.pdf Twenty-two organisations responded to UNIFEM's invitation to form a Gender Caucus to make a make a strategic intervention in WSIS. This report provides a summary of the work achieved by that formation group during the Bamako conference and also outlines the resolution to use the formation group as the catalyst for a global Gender Caucus.

Statement_GenderCaucus_Bamako2002.pdf The Gender Caucus made a successful intervention at Bamako 2002 and produced a comprehensive set of recommendations and advocacy positions on gender and ICT issues with a regional focus on Africa. This document has subsequently been used as a foundation for the advocacy positions adopted by many other regional fora and global advocacy gender and ICT networks, including the Expert Group Meeting on ICTs and Women's Empowerment organised by the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women and the agreed conclusions of the 47th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The document also includes a call for the formation of strategic partnerships to take forward and expand the lobbying and advocacy work at a regional level.

French_Statement_Bamako2002.pdf

GenderCaucus_Call_to_Action.pdf This document presents a call for establishment of strategic partnerships to take forward the advocacy recommendations of the Gender Caucus Bamako 2002 statement.

KeyRecommendations_GenderCaucus.pdf This document provides a summary of the key recommendations presented in the Gender Caucus Bamako 2002 statement