The Cultural Diversity Working Group respectfully requests the following changes to the Political Chapeau/Tunis Commitment in paragraphs 2,5,6, 7, and 11, with insertions indicated by bolded words in brackets, and deletions indicated by underlined italicized words:

2. The Tunis Summit represents a unique opportunity for us to strengthen the confidence in the future while its core subjects concerning the Information Society shift world attention away from narrowly-defined concepts to global ones, which [can] transform peoples’ activities and interactions in ways that challenge [all] traditional assumptions. The implementation of the commitments undertaken in the Geneva Summit is taking place amidst accelerating development of ICTs, which impact policies, human, economic, social and cultural development, [and linguistic diversity as common heritage of the world], bringing about profound changes in society.

5. We reaffirm our resolution in the quest to ensure that everyone can benefit from the opportunities that ICTs can offer, by recalling that governments, as well as private sector, civil society and the United Nations and other international organizations, should work together to: [establish and] improve access [and active contribution] to [information and knowledge] as well as to [information and communication infrastructure and technologies]; build capacity; increase confidence and security in the use of ICTs; create an enabling environment at all levels; develop and widen ICT applications; [preserve, promote and protect] foster and respect cultural diversity; recognize the role of the media; address the ethical dimensions of the Information Society; and encourage international and regional cooperation. We confirm that these are the key principles for building an inclusive Information society, the elaboration of which is found in the Geneva Declaration of Principles.

6. We recognise that [access and active contribution to] knowledge is [a fundamental human right] vital to human existence and that strengthening diffusion and exchange of knowledge would contribute to economic, social and cultural [and linguistic] development, and help all countries reach the internationally-agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.

7. Furthermore, ICTs have made it possible for a vastly larger population than at any time in the past to join in sharing and expanding the base of human knowledge, and contributing to its further growth and application to education, health and science. ICTs have enormous potential to expand access to quality education, to boost literacy and universal primary education, and to facilitate the learning process itself and thus lay the groundwork for a fully-inclusive and open information and knowledge society [which respects cultural differences].

Replace #11 with # 11B as amended:

11. To that end, we shall pay special attention to the roles and particular needs of all countries and all segments of society, and reaffirm the commitments taken in this regard in the Geneva Declaration.

Alternate 11B. To that end, we shall pay special attention to the role and particular needs of the youth, women and older people and to the special situation of indigenous peoples. We also recognize the role and special needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups of society including the disabled, migrants, internally displaced persons, refugees, underprivileged and poor people and of people of countries facing adverse economic situations, geographic isolation, occupation, conflicts or natural disasters [as well as Small Island Developing States, Landlocked Developing Countries, Highly