|
It has been a highly productive year at ITU. Our first notable event was the World Telecommunication
Policy Forum, held in Lisbon, Portugal, in April. It adopted the Lisbon Consensus on Internet-related
public policy matters; the implications of next-generation networks and broadband Internet access;
information and communication technologies (ICT) and the environment; collaboration on cybersecurity;
capacity building to support adoption of IPv6, and reviewing the International Telecommunication Regulations.
These issues go to the heart of ITU’s mandate, and during 2009 we have continued working to
meet the Union’s strategic goals. I am delighted that we have succeeded in bringing ITU’s key messages to
the top of the international agenda. We have helped to create the clear recognition that ICT are an essential
part of the solution to so many of the major challenges that the world faces today.
In May, ITU co-hosted the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) Forum, together
with partner United Nations agencies. It coincided
with celebrations of World Telecommunication and
Information Society Day on the theme of “Protecting Children in Cyberspace”, and we were honoured to
have Queen Silvia of Sweden as our patron.
Throughout the year, all Sectors of ITU have been
busier than ever implementing the wishes of our
membership. November, in particular, saw two major
events, almost back-to-back. First was the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR), which took place
in Beirut, Lebanon on 10–12 November. It was the
ninth time that this important meeting had been
held and its value was demonstrated by the record
number of participants who attended. In addition, on
the day before GSR, the successful Global Industry
Leaders’ Forum was held at the same venue.
Then, on 26–27 November in Minsk, Belarus,
ITU organized the Connect CIS Summit that
brought together some 350 participants from the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and
neighbouring countries, including Heads of State
and industry leaders. It was a landmark event in our
Connect the World series, which aims to mobilize all
the resources needed to connect the unconnected
by 2015.
In achieving that goal, along with the other fundamental
purposes of ITU, we will work in line with
the highest standards and as efficiently as possible — not least because of the need to meet the challenge
of climate change. The final month of 2009 is when
the United Nations Conference on Climate Change is
taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark. As part of the
ITU team at that vital event, I will do my very best to
put forward ITU’s message on the fundamental importance
of ICT, now and for the future of the world.
|