When the world meets up at Tunisia, in coming November, during the World Summit on the Information Society, this meet signals global recognition that information and communication technologies can play a major role in social and economic development and contribute significantly towards poverty alleviation. South Africa’s civil society takes a look at the focus and objectives of the WSIS.
In the run-up to the important second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) — to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, in mid-November 2005 — SANGONeT hosted a Thetha forum on June 29, 2005 in Braamfontein, South Africa.
This event provided local civil society organisations (CSOs) with an opportunity to reflect on the focus and objectives of WSIS, as well as to discuss the first draft of a South African WSIS Civil Society document.
Over 40 people attended the event.
Specific issues which received attention include international civil society processes related to WSIS, Internet governance, community broadcasting, freedom of expression and the need for a new evaluation paradigm.
Speakers included David Barnard, Executive Director, SANGONeT; Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications (APC); Calvin Browne, Uniforum; Rene Smith, MISA SA; Raymond Louw, Southern Africa Report; Danny Moalosi, National Community Radio Forum and Prof Wal Taylor, Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
The programme, presentations and Draft Civil Society Document are available on the SANGONeT website at http://www.sangonet.org.za A similar meeting will be held in Cape Town on August 22, 2005.
