WSIS:
Building the Information Society: a global
challenge in the new Millennium
International Telecommunication Union
January 2004
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WSIS: Origins and status
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WSIS originally proposed by ITU PP in 1998
Formally endorsed by the UN in 2001
Regional meetings, 2002 – 2003
PrepCom process, started in July 2002
First phase, Geneva 10-12 December 2003
Second phase, Tunis, 16-18 November 2005
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WSIS first phase: some numbers
 More than 11,000 participants
 176 UN member states
 About 50 Head of States and Governments and VicePresidents
 3,300 representatives of from civil society
 514 business representatives from 98 organizations
 87 international organizations
 1000 media representatives
 More than 300 Summit events
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WSIS results: A common vision of the
Information Society
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Adoption of a Declaration of Principles and a
Plan of Action which:
Create
a common vision of the information society
Set out an agenda for building an inclusive
development-oriented Information Society
Establish a framework which will involve all
stakeholders
Request the UN Secretary General to initiate
action in a number of crucially important areas
such as the creation of a Digital Solidarity Fund and
Internet Governance
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Declaration of principles and action
plan – major challenges
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A common vision of the Information society
“We […] declare our common desire and commitment to
build a people-centred, inclusive and developmentoriented Information Society, where everyone can
create, access, utilize and share information and
knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and
peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting
their sustainable development and improving their
quality of life…” (Declaration, Paragraph 1)
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Tackling the injustices of the digital divide
 “We are fully committed to turning this digital
divide into a digital opportunity for all…”
 Connectivity, access, capacity building,
partnership and cooperation among different
stakeholders, financing
 Financial mechanism: better utilisation of existing
financial mechanisms, possible future creation of
a voluntary digital solidarity fund
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Meeting the MDGs, promote development
and improve the quality of life
 “Our challenge is to harness the potential of
the ICT to promote the development goals of
the Millennium Declaration…”
 ICTs applications and content, access, etc.
 ICTs are considered as fundamental working
tools and tools for development
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Promote access and use
 “…everyone can create, access, utilize, share
information and knowledge”
 Freedom of expression, enabling environment,
content and language, but also IPRs
 Mutual respect for diverse cultures and
traditions is also important (UNESCO Declaration
on Cultural Diversity).
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Building confidence, trust and security in
ICTs
 Privacy and data protection, cybersecurity,
protection of children, spam
 Professional, governments, and private citizens
have legitimate concerns over the respect of
fundamental freedoms, security, loss of privacy
and protecting children.
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Pending issues: Internet governance
 The UN Secretary General is asked to set up a
working group on Internet governance, in an open and
inclusive process that ensures a mechanism for the full
and active participation of governments, the private
sector and civil society from both developing and
developed countries, involving relevant
intergovernmental and international organizations and
forums, to investigate and make proposals for action, as
appropriate, on the governance of Internet by 2005
(Paragraph C6, 13 b) Plan of Action)
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Pending issues: Digital solidarity fund
 A review – to be completed by the end of 2004 - of the
adequacy of current financial mechanisms and the
possibility to create a voluntary Digital Solidarity Fund
will be be conducted by a Task Force under the
auspices of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations and will be submitted for consideration to the
second phase of this summit (Paragraph D2 f) Plan of
action)
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From Geneva to Tunis
The second phase of the summit will take place in Tunis
from November 16th to 18th, 2005
Preparatory work:
 Re-establish the WSIS bureau
 Held a preparatory meeting in the first part of 2004:
 to review those issues of the information society
which should form the focus of the Tunis phase
 to agree on the structure of the process for the
second phase
Reference document: “Arrangements for the Tunis Phase of
the Summit” www.itu.int/wsis
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Role of the ITU in WSIS
 ITU is lead UN Agency for Summit
 Providing financial and human resources
 SG chairs HLSOC of Summit
 Implementation of the Summit outcome
 Possible role of the ITU as mechanism for
coordination and follow up
 Implementation of ITU-related Principles and Actions
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website: www.itu.int/wsis
contact: [email protected]
Thank you
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