ALAI, Geneva, September 17, 2003. Stronger recognition and guarantees for Human Rights, and particularly communication rights, are one of the central concerns of civil society organizations at the 3rd Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), taking place in Geneva from September 15 to 26. "We are asking states to clearly reaffirm their commitment to building a society based on human rights and human dignity", stated a civil society representative to the government delegates who are discussing the Declaration and Action Plan to be adopted at the first phase of the Summit, planned for December in Geneva. They are asking governments to affirm in the very first paragraph of the Declaration that they are determined to meet the challenge "to harness the potential of the information and communication society to ensure that human needs are met and that all human rights are realized." Other related proposals mention the respect for fundamental freedoms and labor standards, as a guarantee for secure working conditions in the information society. Moreover, deep concern is being expressed that security interests in relation to communication technologies–one of the most polemical issues being dealt with at the Summit–are "overstated at the expense of the rights of individuals who make use of communication networks". Civil society has therefore formulated proposals to affirm that "the right to privacy is a human right and is essential for self- determined human development in regard to civic, political, social, economic and cultural activities", which "must be protected in public spaces, online, offline, at home and in the workplace". Concern was expressed that the power of the private sector and of governments over personal data increases the risk of abuse, including monitoring, surveillance and discrimination, and therefore "must be checked and regulated legally and technologically. The collection, retention, use and disclosure of personal data, no matter by whom, should remain under the control of and be determined by the individual concerned". A majority of the civil society organizations present at the Prepcom have chosen to work collectively on the production of content proposals. These include the preparation of joint statements, combined with putting pressure on government delegations to adopt a more people-centred approach to the "information society", proposals which are being coordinated through the civil society "Content and Themes Working Group". An important step forward this week has been the acceptance that the proposals presented and compiled by civil society will be considered as formal input to the intergovernmental drafting committee negotiations. It also involves autonomous activities being organized and planned by civil society, among which is the "World Forum on Communication Rights", to be held in Geneva on December 11, on the initiative of the CRIS Campaign (Campaign for Communication Rights in the Information Society), together with other organizations. The Forum proposes to "tackle issues that the WSIS dare not", and will launch a Charter on Communication Rights. * Sally Burch, as ALAI´s delegate, has been acting as co- coordinator of the Civil Society Working Group on Content and Themes during the WSIS preparatory process. - http://movimientos.org/foro_comunicacion/ - http://www.worldsummit2003.org - http://prepcom.net