Speech by Malcolm Johnson, ITU Deputy Secretary-General

Enabling a Trusted Connected World : Welcome Address

16 December 2015, New York, United States

Excellencies,
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for joining us today, this session will provide us with an opportunity to inform you about the key role played by the ITU in the WSIS Process since its inception.  

ITU Initiated WSIS in 1998, and led the organisation of the two phases, Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005. Since then ITU has been playing a lead role in the implementation and annual follow-up of the WSIS outcomes.
 

ITU is the sole Facilitator of Action Lines C2 (Information and communication infrastructure); C5 (Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs); and on UNDP's request, Action Line C6 (Enabling Environment). ITU also co-facilitates Action Lines C4 (Capacity Building), as well as other Action Lines. ITU produces an annual report that provides in depth information on all these activities 

Regarding infrastructure, ITU aims at promoting national ICT-strategies, harmonization of ICT policies and infrastructure initiatives, is developing a virtual financing platform and deploying an online tool for ICT development assessment.

ITU updates Interactive Transmission Maps available online to show a global perspective of broadband connectivity by continuously collecting data from all regions. These maps identify broadband needs and investment opportunities.  

Capacity building is crucial for the success of every project, and the ITU Academy aims at integrating and providing education and training on ICTs to an array of participants.  

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs is particularly critical. ITU places emphasis on helping countries overcome the substantial challenges especially in the development of human and technical capacity.   

ITU assists Member States in defining a national strategy on cybersecurity, has developed the Global Cybersecurity Index to measure the commitment of countries to cybersecurity, raises awareness with key stakeholder communities, conducts training workshops, developes programs for child online protection, and helps establish national computer incident response teams (CIRTs) and facilitates their international collaboration, amongst other activities. 

ITU's technical study groups provide a neutral, global platform for all stakeholders to come together and work on security-related standardization on a variety of topics, including: Security architectures and frameworks; Identity management; the security of applications and services for Internet of Things; and Smart grids. 

ITU is also playing a very active facilitating role to improve the UN's internal coordination of activities on cybersecurity. 

As for Enabling Environment, ITU continues to work towards bridging the digital divide, including by working to assist Member States and Sector Members in developing a pro-competition policy and regulatory framework for telecommunications. ITU undertakes numerous activities that foster the development of an enabling environment through information and knowledge sharing and exchange, defining best practices and promoting international cooperation, and the creation of tools for effective regulation, as well as direct national and regional assistance.  

Since its launch in 2000, the annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) provides a unique venue for regulators and policy-makers from both developed and developing countries to meet and exchange views and experiences, as well as an open dialogue between regulators and industry. 

Finally I would like to draw your attention to the WSIS Action Lines and SDG Matrix endorsed earlier this year by the executive heads of UN Agencies. The Matrix shows the potential of WSIS Action lines as enablers and accelerators of SDGs.  I would like to thank all UN colleagues in helping with this matrix which will guide our future work, especially at the next WSIS Forum from 2-6 May 2016 at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva. We hope to see you all there.

I look forward to today's discussion to give us new ideas on future actions and work plans to implement the WSIS Outcomes.