The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a unique
two-phase United Nations (UN) summit that was initiated in
order to create an evolving multi- stakeholder platform aimed
at addressing the issues raised by information and
communication technologies (ICTs) through a structured and
inclusive approach at the national, regional and international
levels. The goal of WSIS is to achieve a common vision, desire
and commitment to build a people-centric, inclusive and
development-oriented Information Society where everyone can
create, access, utilize and share information. The UN General
Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the
holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to
12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from
16 to 18 November 2005. In 2003, the number of participants was
11,000 representing 175 countries and in 2005 the number of
participants was more than 19,000 representing 174 countries.
Since then, a cluster of WSIS-related events was held on an
annual basis. In 2009, the cluster of WSIS-related events was
re-branded as WSIS Forum.
Geneva Phase 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a
clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to
establish the foundations for an Information Society for all,
reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82
Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as
high-level representatives from international organizations,
private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of
WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva
Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that
were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants
from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of
Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach
agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing
mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and
Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197
Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174
countries as well as high-level representatives from
international organizations, private sector, and civil society
attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to
the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the
Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005.
More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the
Summit and related events.
WSIS Forum
Building on Para 109 and Para 110 of the Tunis Agenda for the
Information Society, WSIS Forum is organized each year, hosted
by the ITU and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP.
Information on previous forums is available here.
Geneva Phase 2003
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcome
documents and the UN General Assembly Resolution 60/252
resolved to conduct an Overall Review of the Implementation of
the WSIS Outcomes in 2015.
WSIS+10 High-Level Event 2014
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Outcome
Documents and the UN General Assembly Resolution 60/252
resolved to conduct an overall review of the implementation of
the Summit Outcomes in 2015. In this context, building upon the
outcomes of the UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS)
Open Consultations on WSIS+10, including the UNGIS Plan of
Action for WSIS+10 and multi-stakeholder guidance provided at
the WSIS Forum 2012 and 2013, ITU’s Membership (PP-10
Resolution 172 and ITU Council Resolution 1334 (Mod. 2013)),
resolved to hold an ITU Coordinated WSIS+10 High-Level Event in
2014 and to establish a preparatory process based on the open
and inclusive WSIS+10 Multi-stakeholder Preparatory Platform
(WSIS+10 MPP). The modalities for the Overall Review were
discussed at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly and
are expected to be finalized shortly.
Following the guidance of its Membership (PP-10 Resolution 172
and ITU Council Resolution 1334 (Mod. 2013)), ITU initiated the
preparatory process leading towards the WSIS+10 High-Level
Event to be held in June 2014.
The WSIS+10 High-Level Event was an extended version of the
WSIS Forum that:
-
addressed the progress made in the implementation of the WSIS
outcomes related to the WSIS Action Lines under mandates of the
participating agencies
-
provided a platform for multi-stakeholder coordination of the
implementation of the WSIS outcomes, with involvement and
participation of all WSIS action line facilitators, other UN
agencies and all WSIS stakeholders.
The WSIS+10 High-Level Event reviewed the WSIS Outcomes (2003
and 2005), in particular, related to the Action Lines with a
view to developing proposals on a new vision beyond 2015,
potentially also exploring new targets. The event was organized
taking into account decisions of the 68th Session of the UN
General Assembly (negotiations on modalities started on 23
October 2013).