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WSIS Stocktaking report: Tracking progress towards the WSIS targets and the MDGs
For the first time, report looks at the impact of social media on development
Geneva, 12 May 2010 - The 2010 World Summit on the Information Society Stocktaking report, released today, confirms that information and communication technology (ICT) development projects are helping countries make significant progress towards achieving the WSIS connectivity targets and MDGs by 2015.
The report, now in its third edition, identifies five key emerging issues that deserve special attention by the international development community. They include the link between WSIS and the Millennium Development Goals; emerging broadband applications; social networking; the use of ICTs for disaster management; and cybersecurity and cyberspace. For the first time, the report examines the potential of new social networking services for transforming development work in ICTs, and showcases specific actions undertaken by the global community in the implementation of WSIS goals during the period from end 2008 to mid-2010.
The report was presented to delegates by ITU Deputy Secretary-General Mr Houlin Zhao during the WSIS Forum 2010 event taking place in Geneva from May 10-14. “This report charts significant progress in meeting the ICT development targets set by the WSIS Tunis Phase in 2005, and also offers real hope that we may be able to leverage our success in connecting the world to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals,” said Mr Zhao.
ITU has substantially upgraded the online WSIS stocktaking platform with new Web 2.0 interactive communication tools for connecting project managers around the world involved in ICT for development. Many new projects have been added to the database, and the ITU can now analyze projects according to new sets of criteria, helping to identifying new trends in ongoing development work.
The open consultation process which characterizes the WSIS Forum concluded that that the Forum should promote project showcasing, win-win partnership creation, public-private cooperation, and financing issues. The electronic version of the report will also be revised and updated to reflect the latest developments emerging from this year’s Forum.
Copies of the WSIS Stocktaking report and other reports being launched during this year’s WSIS Forum event can be downloaded at:
www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2010/forum/geneva/publications.html
Background
Initiated in 2004 as a follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society, the WSIS Stocktaking provides a register of activities carried out by governments, international organizations, the business sector, civil society and other entities, to help quantify and track ongoing progress. ITU maintains the WSIS Stocktaking database as a publicly accessible system, providing information on ICT-related initiatives and projects with reference to the 11 WSIS Action Lines.
Videos, photos, live and archived webcasts, and information on materials showcased at this year’s WSIS Forum event can be found at the event Newsroom at www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/wsis/index.aspx, or on the main event website at www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2010/forum/geneva.
For more information, please see www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2010/forum/geneva or contact
Sarah Parkes
Media Relations, ITU
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+41 22 730 6135 |
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+41 79 599 1439 |
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pressoffice@itu.int |
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Jaroslaw K. Ponder
Strategy and Policy Advisor , ITU
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+41 22 730 5495 |
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jaroslaw.ponder@itu.int |
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