The WSIS
What is the WSIS?
The World Summit on the Information Society is a major UN summit that has brought together representatives from the highest levels of government, private sector, and civil society. It will be held in two phases. The first took place in Geneva, Switzerland from Dec 10–12, 2003. The second phase will take place in Tunis, Tunisia from 16–18 November, 2005. In Dec 2001, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 56/183 which endorsed the World Summit to be convened under the patronage of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has the lead role in organizing the WSIS.
The goal is to establish a common vision for the Information Society and to seek ways to harness and direct Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to improve social, economic and cultural life.
Participation
The challenge of building an inclusive information society is complex and requires the participation of all segments of society; public, private and non profit sectors.
Governments, the private sector, civil society and international organizations participated in the Summit's preparatory process and were invited to participate in the first phase of the WSIS. Accreditation rules and procedures were adopted for phase 1 and are available on the WSIS Web-site.
Calendar of events
Geneva Phase 1: Outcomes
- Final report of the Geneva Phase of the Summit
- Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action adopted in Geneva 2003, at the first phase of the WSIS.
- Comments by Ambassador Sergio Marchi delivered at the WSIS.
Geneva Phase 1: Events
The following is a partial listing of events that took place at the first phase of the WSIS.
- ICT4D Platform, Geneva, Dec. 9 – 13, 2003
- World Electronic Media Forum
- Global Forum On Indigenous People and the Information Society (GFIPIS)
- World Summit Award — The best in e-content and creativity