Youth Participation In

World Summit On Information Technology (WSIS)

By:

Maitreyi Doshi

Representative Of The Youth Caucus

WSIS Prep - Com 1

What is WSIS??? World Summit on Information Society

1st - 2003 Geneva 2nd – 2005 Tunis

AimAddress issues associated with Information Society -

Broadly clustered into 3 main areas:

• Vision • Access• Applications

Organised by: United Nations

Who is Participating?• Government • Civil Society • Private Sector• UN Family

The WSIS Process The Preparatory Committees

(Prep Coms) 1st - 5th July 2002 Geneva 2nd March to 4th April 2003

Geneva3rd July-September 2003

(not decided)

Regional Meetings

- Africa- Europe

- Asia Pacific - Latin America

Aim:1. Agenda of Summit 2. Modalities of participation3. Draft declaration and Action Plan4. Target specific issues related to

region

World Summit On Information Technology Deliverables

1. “Declaration of Principles”

2. Action Plan to achieve goals of Information Society

Importance of Youth Participation in WSIS

Young people today :• ARE The leaders of Information

Technologies Web Developing to Information

access Growing up with Technology

• ARE: Innovators Entrepreneurs

• SEE technology as a tool for: Communication Education Solving social issues

Importance of Youth Participation in WSIS Problems faced by young people: 1. Lack of main stream support

Funding Recognition

2. Lack of participation in decision Making Policy development Framework Support and Legitimacy Sustainability Policy implementation

3. Lack of communication Fragmented effort Uninformed Unconnected Not motivated

4. Lack of continuity Valuable expertise is lost New people have to relearn

Importance of Youth Participation in WSIS

Why Should we participate:

• WSIS one of the key decision making forums

• Young people cut across all spheres

• Young people major stake holders in WSIS

• Young people need to put forth their problems

• Help solve some of the problems• Getting involved in the decision

making

Youth @ WSIS Overview: • 65+ young people comprised the

youth caucus from 40 countries • 10 attended the WSIS Prep-com• 6 courtesy of funding through the

GKP

Aim of the youth caucus is to ensure: • Young people recognised as key builders of the information

society• Priorities identified by young people included in the WSIS• Perspectives of young people UNABLE to attend the WSIS

meetings incorporated into the process• That the WSIS action plan is implemented

Youth @ WSISWhat did we do there?

1. Provided a framework for procedure Youth Participation cuts across all

spheres Youth a Major Stake holder Right to speak in plenary and sub-

committees Simpler Accreditation mechanisms Innovative mechanism to facilitate

full and effective participation

2. Youth Position Paper on the thematic groups Drawn from previous declarations Includes a broad category of issues under Information Society

3. Fund raising 4. Lobbying with government delegations 5. Presented Youth Creating Digital Opportunities 6. Working on Individual themes

What we expect from WSISYoung people want WSIS to ensures that it is:

1. Relevant to young people 2. Allows participation of all

young people3. Is sustained4. Is heard5. Includes follow up activities6. Creates a platform for

youth involvement in decision making

WSIS And youth employment

The 5 basic principles: 1. Promoting youth

Entrepreneurship 2. Promoting public-private

partnerships3. Targeting vulnerable

young people4. Bridging gap between

digital economy and informal sector

5. Putting youth in charge

• Taking IT Global + YES

Vital Forums for pushing

ICT & Youth Employment.

• TIG chairing YES

WSIS And youth employment through ICT’sUN, World Bank and ILO Recommendations: 1. Employability

• Government investment in education• Vocational training

2. Equal opportunities to girls3. Entrepreneurship

• Easier process to start and run enterprises • More and better jobs for young women

4. Employment creation• Centre of macroeconomic policy

Problems of Developing Countries1.Access2.Expensive infrastructure3.English dominates

WSISYouth

Lobbying

Civil

Society

Regional and

Prep -Coms

WSIS Action

Plan

Expectations from Other Youth Organisations

• Work with us• Help us lobby for the

decision making

How it will help you?• You will be heard • Sustainability • Receive mainstream support • Involved in decision making

How to get involved?• Participate in the WSIS prep-

coms, regional conference, and the Summit

• Participate in the online discussion at ict.takingitglobal.org

• Join our mailing list – wsisyouth@yahoogroups.co

• Fund youth participation in the Prep-coms, regional conference, and the Summit

• Write about us in the media

Email – maitreyi@takingitglobal.org

Special Thanks to GKP for Sponsoring me to come here

And also at the WSISSpecial thanks to the WAY organisers