World Summit on the Information Society

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World Summit on the Information Society

• An Overview of the Summit and the Preparatory
  Process

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Plan of the presentation

• The challenge
• UN Resolution
• The framework
• Proposed themes
• The preparatory process
• Participation
• Proposed outcome of the Summit and outcome of
  PrepCom-1

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The Challenge (1)

• The modern world is undergoing a fundamental
  transformation as the industrial society that
  marked the 20th century rapidly gives way to the
  information society of the 21st century. This
  dynamic process promises a fundamental change in
  all aspects of our lives.

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The Challenge (2)

• The Internet is a communication medium that
  allows,
• for the first time, the communication of many to
  many,
• in chosen time, on a global scale. As the
  diffusion of the
• printing press in the western world created what
• McLuhan called the Gutenberg Galaxy, we have
  now
• entered a new world of communications the
  Internet
• Galaxy
• (Source Manuel Castells, The Internet Galaxy,
  OUP, 2001)

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The Challenge (3)

• The WSIS is the first time that all Governments
  of the world assemble at a UN Summit to discuss
  the issues of the Information Society and the
  Digital Divide.
• The Summit is to harness synergies and to create
  cooperation among the various ICT-initiatives at
  the regional and the global level and shall
  promote and foster the potential of ICT for
  development.

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UN GA Resolution A/RES/56/183

• Potential of knowledge and technology for
  promoting the goals of the UN Millennium
  Declaration.
• To put this potential at the service of
  development for all.
• Called for a meeting at the highest political
  level, for the development of a common vision and
  understanding of the Information Society.

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Resolution A/RES/56/183 (contd)

• Summit convened under the patronage of the SG of
  the UN with the ITU taking the lead role, along
  with other UN bodies, international
  organizations, as well as the host countries
  Switzerland and Tunisia.
• Encouraged participation of the private sector
  and the civil society in the Summit and its
  preparation.
• Invited the international community to make
  voluntary contributions to the special trust fund
  for the Summit.

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The framework (1)

• The first phase of the World Summit will take
  place in Geneva, hosted by the Government of
  Switzerland from 10 to 12 December 2003
• It will address the broad range of themes
  concerning the Information Society and adopt a
  declaration of principles and an Action plan.

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The framework (2)

• The second phase of the World Summit will
• Take place in Tunis in 2005 hosted by the
• Government of Tunisia.
• Development themes will be a key focus in
• this phase and the Tunis Summit will assess
• the progress that has been made and adopt
• any further Action Plan to be taken.

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Proposed themes (1)

• Vision
• What is the shared vision of the information
  society?
• What framework can the international
  community develop to ensure that the possible
  benefits of ICTs for development are maximized
  while the possible obstacles and barriers are
  minimized?

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Proposed themes (2)

• Access
• How can the benefits of ubiquitous and
  affordable ICTs be extended to all the worlds
  inhabitants?
• How can we assist those that have access to
  ICTs to use them effectively?
•  

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Proposed themes (3)

• Applications
• The development of ICTs has implications for
  economic, social and cultural development.
• How can ICTs be leveraged to help promote
  the common goals of humanity, such as those
  expressed in the UN Millennium Declaration?

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The Preparatory Process for Geneva 2003

• At the global level
• PrepCom-1 Geneva 1-5 July 2002
• PrepCom-2 Geneva 17-28 February 2003
• PrepCom-3 tbd by PrepCom-2

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The Preparatory Process for Geneva 2003

• At the regional level
• Africa Bamako/Mari 28-30 May 2002
• Europe Bucharest/Romania 7-9 Nov. 2002
• Asia Tokyo/Japan 13-15 January 2003
• Latin America Caribbean Santo
• Domingo/Dominican Rep. 27-30 Jan. 2003

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Participation (1)

• Observers
• Entities and international organizations having
• received a standing invitation from the UNGA
• Specialised agencies and other intergovernmental
  organizations
• Accredited NGOs and civil society entities
• Accredited business entities

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Participation (2)

• NGOs, civil society and business entities
  accredited may designate representatives to sit
  as observers.
• Rule 55, ROP for PrepCom
• Active participation of all stakeholders in the
  intergovernmental preparatory process and the
  Summit as observers.

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Participation (3)

• Substantive written contributions will be
  published on the WSIS website.
• Multi-stakeholder thematic roundtables will be
  organized as informal part of the Preparatory
  Committee meetings.(from Arrangements for
  participation)

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Proposed outcome of the first phase of the Summit
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(No Transcript)
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• website www.itu.int/wsiscontactwsis_at_itu.int
• Thank you for your attention