WSIS Background
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 rebranded 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.
WSIS+10 Review Process
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 multistakeholder 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 Multistakeholder 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).
WSIS Forum 2015 | Innovating Together: Enabling ICTs for Sustainable Development
25–29 May 2015, International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des
Nations, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland