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WSIS Forum 2010 puts the spotlight on ICTs for development
At the half-way mark between the 2005 WSIS targets and the
Millennium Development Goals, is access to technology making a difference?
Geneva, 10 May 2010 - The opening of the WSIS Forum today brought together leading public figures and grassroots activists from the global development community to examine how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be harnessed to help drive social and economic development around the world.
Speaking to around 600 delegates at this morning’s opening ceremony, ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré said that ICT network deployment – and particularly broadband - needs to move to the very top of the national agenda in countries worldwide. “Broadband is particularly important because it delivers benefits right across every sector of society. The truly transformational power of broadband networks can help us get the MDGs back on track. That’s why broadband needs to reach all people, in all nations,” he said.
Co-hosted by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP, the week-long event (10-14 May) is the world’s largest annual gathering of the world’s ICT for development community, including UN agencies, governments, civil society and ICT industry representatives. In addition to reviewing progress towards the WSIS targets set for 2015, it fosters interactive debate and information exchange on a wide range of key topics such as rural development, multilingualism, environmental sustainability, education, healthcare and innovation.
The opening ceremony featured a number of prominent speakers, including Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO (by live video link); Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, the Secretary-General of UNCTAD; Ambassador Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General, UNDESA (by video message); Mr Johannes Christian Wichard, Deputy Director General of WIPO; Ms Cécile Molinier, Director, UNDP, Geneva; Mr Mohamed Naceur Ammar, Tunisia’s Minister of Communication Technologies; Mr Art Reilly, International Chamber of Commerce, Business Action to Support the Information Society (spoken message); Mr Richard Amalvy, Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Non Governmental Organisations in consultative relationships with the UN (CoNGO); Mr Adama Samassékou, Former President of PrepCom, WSIS Geneva Phase; and Mr Janis Karklins, Former President of PrepCom, WSIS Tunis Phase.
The Opening Ceremony was followed by a High Level Plenary session, Turning Targets into Action. High-Level Debates on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are focused on:
Build on Broadband
Broadband Applications for Tomorrow
Social Networking
ICTs for Disaster Management
Cybersecurity and Cyberspace
This year’s Forum offers participants a diverse range of meetings and activities, including Interactive WSIS Action Line Facilitation Meetings, Interactive Sessions, Thematic Workshops, Kick-off Meetings for new initiatives and projects, Knowledge Exchanges, Publication Showcases, and a small exhibition component.
The event agenda is the result of a comprehensive open consultation process involving all stakeholders. Spanning three phases, this year’s process welcomed 110 contributions from 48 countries.
The event will also feature the launch of a number of important new reports, including National e-Strategies for Development; the WSIS Stocktaking Report; and the WSIS Plus 5 report. Copies of these reports can be downloaded at: www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/2010/forum/geneva/publications.html
Videos, photos, live and archived webcasts, and transcripts of speeches 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 Ponder
Strategy & Policy Advisor, WSIS, ITU
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+41 22 730 6065 |
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+41 79 599 1405 |
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jaroslaw.ponder@itu.int |
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