The Civil Society Bureau (CSB) functions as an interlinkage between civil society participants and the intergovernmental Bureau and process, with regard to operational and logistical needs, procedures and interactions. It does not concern itself with content-related issues. The Bureau is constituted by 'family fodal points', that enable any civil society entity to find a 'home', and it enhances interaction between all sections of civil society and between civil society and others. The Bureau reports regularly to the CS Plenary on decisions taken.

Overview

Global civil society has created an international civil society Bureau. This decision was taken during the second session of he PrepCom (17-28 February 2003) after intense consultations organised by the civil society division with numerous civil society representatives that lasted more than a year. The international civil society Bureau represents a "turning point" in the history of the United Nations and international negotiations, insofar as, for the first time, civil society has mechanisms that facilitate the dialogue with governments and insures its effective participation at the heart of the decisive structure of a United Nations Summit.

In the context of the WSIS, the Bureau offers new perspectives to raise all questions that are being asked to solve the concrete preoccupations of our citizens. The Bureau is composed of larges "families" of global civil society: unions, media, creators and actors of culture, towns and local authorities, NGOs, youth, gender, indigenous people, handicapped people, etc. It also includes the regional contact points in order to establish links with all continents.

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Civil Society Contribution to Tunis Summit Preparations & the WSIS Implementation Phase

Programme of Civil Society Meetings during the Phase 2 - Prepcom 2

Capetown Meeting Summary and Outcome - (french version)
Information on the Capetown meeting
Minutes of the Bureau Meeting, 26 June 2004 - Meeting PV (french version)
Report on the Transition Period between phase 1 and 2

Visit the Newsroom

Contact Details of CSB Familes and Focal Points - download

FAMILY REPORTS:

Local authorities
Indigenous People
People with Disabilities
Science and Technology Community
NGOs
Education
Media
Youth
Volunteers
Africa Region
Networks & Coalition
Asia Caucus
Philantropic Institutions and Foundations

Minutes 17.02.05

Capetown Meeting Summary and Outcome - (french version)

CSB meeting minutes - download

Phase I, PrepCom-2, September 2003

Minutes 15.09.03
Minutes 16.09.03
Minutes 17.09.03
Minutes 19.09.03
Minutes 22.09.03

Phase I, Intersessional Meeting, Juli 2003