-
5
-
WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/2-E
preparations for the Summit including security, protocol, media and registration took place in
Geneva and Tunis.
27.
On May 13, the ITU organized an Information Session for permanent Missions accredited
to the UN Office in Geneva on the Time Management Plan of the Tunis Summit, the Opening
Ceremony and other logistical issues including protocol and security, registration and badging,
accommodation, Media, transport, and parallel events.
28.
The Secretary-General has taken numerous steps to bring the matter of the Summit to the
attention of world leaders and major stakeholders as well as the media. The meeting of the G8
leaders (July 2005, Gleneagles, United Kingdom), the 5th Conference of the African Union (July
2005, Syrte, Libya), and the Millennium Summit + 5 (September 2005) have, or are expected to,
confirm their support to the WSIS Process.
2.
ITU Council 2005
29.
The 2005 session of the ITU Council adopted Resolution 1244 on the “ITU role in the
Tunis phase of WSIS and in the Implementation and Follow-up.” The Resolution calls for an active
participation of the ITU Secretary-General in the WSIS preparatory process, in particular in the
discussions on implementation and follow-up of WSIS, including through close cooperation with
UNESCO or other UN agencies. It also instructs the Chairman of the Council Working Group on
WSIS to present to GFC and PrepCom-3 a proposal on ITU’s possible role in the implementation
and follow-up of WSIS which was endorsed by ITU Council. The Resolution is attached to this
report, in Annex A.
3.
ITU Council Working Group on WSIS (WG-WSIS)
30.
The 2002 session of the ITU Council (Resolution 1196) established a WSIS Working
Group open to all Member States and Sector Members of the Union, with the task to develop a
framework for the substantive contribution of the ITU to the Preparatory Process and the Summit
itself. The Chairman of the Working Group is Mr. Yuri Grin (Russian Federation).
31.
The ITU Council WG-WSIS held its eighth meeting on 3-4 May 2005. The meeting
focused on ITU inputs to the Summit preparatory process, Internet Governance, the necessary ITU
actions to help accomplish the goals and objectives articulated in the declaration of Principles and
Plan of Action and proposals on how the ITU might further adapt itself to the Information Society
and the changing telecommunication environment. A report of WG-WSIS was submitted to the
ITU Council 2005 in July 2005.
32.
The Chair of the ITU Council WG-WSIS convened on 2 May 2005 an informal
consultation of all stakeholders on WSIS follow-up and implementation. The report from this
meeting can be found at https://www.itu.int/council/wsis/wsis_WG.html
4.
UN Chief Executive Board (CEB)
33.
The spring CEB session took place from 8-9 April 2005 in Geneva. The Secretary General
of the ITU briefed CEB members on the status of WSIS preparations.
34.
As stated in the annual Report of CEB to the ECOSOC 2005 substantive session, “bridging
the digital divide” was one of the major issues dealt with by CEB during 2004-2005. In particular,
CEB requested the High Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) to work on mainstreaming and
integrating ICTs into the broader MDG agenda and agreed to give priority to the Implementation of
the WSIS Pan of Action of the Geneva Phase so that effective results can be reported to the second
Phase. The Report also stresses the growing importance of ICTs in the work of the UN system.
35.
The CEB report on the response of the system to the Millennium Declaration entitled “One
United Nations, Catalyst for Progress and Change” recognizes the coordination role played by the
High Level Summit Organizing Committee to strengthen synergies and sharing of best practices
between UN system organizations on the Information Society.