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World Summit on the Information Society 10-year review
sets
vision for post-2015 development agenda
WSIS+10 Outcome provides fresh priorities for global ICT ecosystem
Geneva, 12 June 2014 – More than 1600 participants including
around 100 Government Ministers and leaders from international organizations,
from business, civil society and academia are meeting in Geneva this week to
review progress on the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) over the last ten years and to set priorities for the post-2015
development agenda.
“Information and communication technologies have long been recognized as key
enablers for bridging the digital divide and achieving the three dimensions of
sustainable development: economic growth, environmental balance and social
inclusion,” said Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations. “We
must do everything in our power to increase access to ICTs and broadband
connectivity across the world, including reaching people in remote areas,
land-locked countries, small island developing states and the least developed
countries. This will empower millions of people and enable us to meet our
development goals in the post-2015 era.”
With the rapid development of information and communication technologies
(ICT) and the mainstreaming of ICTs into everyday life, the link between these
technologies and human development has become increasingly important. It has
therefore become necessary to consider the development of an inclusive
information society in the broader context of the post-2015 development agenda,
and this has been outlined in the
WSIS+10 Vision for WSIS Beyond 2015 document, which will be
endorsed today.
“The WSIS+10 Outcome Documents will provide a set of fresh priorities for
joint action oriented towards the further development of the global ICT
ecosystem, while focusing on the power of ICTs in facilitating development,”
noted ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré at a Press conference today. “We
are now paving the way for ICTs to contribute productively in achieving the
objectives of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.”
The need to protect and reinforce human rights, both online and offline, and
expanding access to ICTs to all, particularly to vulnerable and marginalized
people has been emphasized along with the development and availability of
simplified devices to facilitate digital inclusion.
Capacity building to keep pace with advancing technology, multilingualism in
the use of ICTs, preserving cultural heritage in the digital age and addressing
environmental challenges with green ICTs are considered priorities along with
promoting a digital economy and e-commerce.
Governments are encouraged to implement appropriate national strategies and
policies for the advancement of ICTs as enablers for social and economic
development and to facilitate enabling regulatory, legal and investment
environments to facilitate ICT for Development.
Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs, notably to protect
personal data and privacy and to strengthen the security and robustness of
networks has been emphasized along with enhancing national and regional capacity
to address cybersecurity challenges by encouraging a culture of responsibility
and joint efforts of all involved parties. Further strengthening cooperation
between all stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels is
required, the WSIS+10 Vision document notes.
The
WSIS+10 Statement on Implementation of WSIS Outcomes reviews
progress over the past ten years. The Statement reaffirmed the importance of
ICTs in the further development of the information society, stimulating
innovations, empowering different groups of people in developed and developing
countries, providing access to information, and fostering economic and social
growth. It invites UN system organizations and stakeholders to take full
advantage of ICTs in addressing the development challenges of the 21st century
and to recognize them as cross-cutting enablers for achieving the three pillars
of sustainable development: economic growth, environmental balance and social
inclusion.
The
Final WSIS Targets Review was launched on 10 June indicating
significant progress in ICT use, access and infrastructure development but with
mixed results in bridging the digital divide.
The WSIS
Stocktaking Report 2014 draws attention to key achievements by
different stakeholders worldwide.
WSIS
Success Stories provides a key reference point to WSIS
projects which were awarded the 2014 WSIS Project Prizes.
Editor’s Note:
The World Summit on the Information Society was held in two phases, in Geneva
in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. The WSIS+10 High-level Event has been coordinated
and organized by ITU, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD, and UNDP.
UN Agencies FAO, ILO, ITC, UNDESA, UNODC, UPU, UN Women, WMO, WHO, WFP, WIPO
and the UN Regional Commissions also played a key facilitating role. The WSIS
High-level Event was supported by governments and the private sector, including
the United Arab Emirates and Intel (as Strategic partners) as well as Japan,
Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland along
with Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, IFIP, ISOC, and ICANN.
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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