In line with its mandate and the WSIS outcome documents, the ITU continues to play a key role in the WSIS implementation and follow-up process in particular, as the WSIS Action Lines Sole Facilitator for AL C2 (Information and Communication Infrastructure), AL C5 (Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICTs), and AL C6 (Enabling Environment). With the aim of strengthening the implementation mechanism, ITU Council 2009 agreed on the framework for roadmaps of ITU’s activities in its role as the sole facilitator for the above mentioned WSIS action lines in the implementation of WSIS up to 2015. Roadmaps are detailed plans to guide progress towards achieving the WSIS goals. They provide a broad vision and detailed overview of the activities planned within the mandate of the Union. Direct links between the activities and the strategic goals and relevant resolutions, programmes and initiatives of the ITU are highlighted. The roadmaps include timeframes, expected results, impact on ITU’s human and financial resources as well as list relevant partners.

Elaborated framework may serve as a template for the other WSIS Action Line moderators/facilitators to strengthen the implementation mechanism of the WSIS process.

It has been widely disseminated amongst the members of the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) as well as WSIS stakeholders. 

The roadmaps are living documents that will be updated regularly in an ongoing process, based on clear objectives and measurable targets. Plenipotentiary Conference (Res. 140) has noted 2010 WSIS Action Line Roadmaps.  2011 Updates for Action Line C2 and C6 have been prepared on the occasion of TDAG. 2011 Update for Action Line C5 will be made available shortly.
 

In line with its mandate and the WSIS outcome documents, the ITU continues playing key role in WSIS implementation and follow-up, including:

• WSIS Implementation [Leading Facilitating Organization]

• WSIS Forum [Leading Facilitating Organization]

• WSIS Action Lines [Facilitator]

  • ICT Infrastructure (AL C2)

  • Cybersecurity (AL C5)

  • Enabling Environment (AL C6)

• WSIS Action Lines [Co-Facilitator]

  • Action Lines: C1, C3, C4, C7, C8, C11

• WSIS Stocktaking Process

• United Nations Group on Information Society [Chair/Co-chair]

• Partnership on Measuring ICT for Developmentelopment

• ICT Statistics

• Internet Governance

• Connect the World

• WSIS Outcomes

  • Geneva Declaration of Principles (GP)

  • Geneva Plan of Action (GPA)

  • Tunis Commitment (TC)

  • Tunis Agenda for the Information Society (TAIS)

• Provisions of the WSIS output documents related to ITU

• Some of the main ITU roles reflected in the TAIS:

  • § 27 and 50 c ii of TAIS - encouraging ITU to continue to study the question of international Internet connectivity (IIC) as an urgent matter to develop appropriate Recommendation

  • § 72 c of TAIS (in relation to IGF) to interface with appropriate intergovernmental organizations and other institutions on matters under their purview. 

  • § 78 of TAIS – The UN Secretary-General should also draw upon any appropriate resources from all interested stakeholders, including the proven expertise of ITU, as demonstrated during the WSIS process.

  • § 96 of TAIS - ITU and other regional organizations should take steps to ensure rational, efficient and economic use of, and equitable access to, the radio-frequency spectrum by all countries, based on relevant international agreements

  • § 98 of TAIS – encouraging partnerships such as the ITU-led "Connect the World" initiative

  • § 103 of TAIS – initiating establishment of the United Nations Group in Information Society (UNGIS) with consideration of the ITU, UNESCO and UNDP as lead agencies of this group  

  • § 109 of TAIS - ITU, UNESCO, UNDP to play lead facilitating roles for the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action.

  • § 112 to § 115 of TAIS – calling for periodic evaluation using appropriate indicators and benchmarking to track global progress; developing ICT indicators, measuring the digital divide; efforts by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development; ICT Indices which will build upon the common set of core ICT indicators as they were defined within the Partnership on Measuring the ICT for Development

  • § 120 of TAIS - encouraging all stakeholders to submit entries to the WSIS Stocktaking database maintained by ITU

  • Annex of TAIS – Action Line Moderators/Facilitators

News from the ITU CSD Newslog on World Summit on the Information Society