We invite you to join the final week of the WSIS Forum 2021, which will take place from 17-21 May and will include Opening segments, WSIS Prizes 2021 Award Ceremony, Announcement of the Hackathon and Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize Winners, High-Level Dialogues and many more fascinating sessions!
SPECIAL ISSUE — MAY 14, 2021
WSIS FORUM
Final Week
Dear WSIS Stakeholders,
Since January, the WSIS Forum 2021 has hosted 200 workshops, interviews and WSIS Action Line Meetings with around cumulative attendance of over 11000 participants joining from over 170 countries around the world. In addition we have more than 20,000 views on Facebook videos of the sessions.
We would like to thank you for your participation, efforts, and determination towards ICTs for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Societies and Economies. Despite the difficult situation ICTs have kept us connected and allowed us to successfully host the Forum online!
Keep an eye out for our upcoming events through our interactive Agenda and our social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter !
Since the launch in January 2021, the WSIS Forum 2021 has garnered a lot of interest and excitement worldwide. This session will provide an opportunity for the workshop organizers to present the key highlights and outcomes of their workshops at the virtual WSIS Forum 2021.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2021 celebration
WTISD theme for this year, “Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times”, aims to emphasis the critical role of telecommunication/ICTs in the resiliency of societies, by showing how ITU membership stepped up and engaged in activities that have proven essential in saving lives and sustaining economies.
On the 18th of May, the Opening Segment will inaugurate the final week of the WSIS Forum 2021 and will consist of opening statements from the WSIS Forum chairman, the heads of UN Agencies and co-organizers, as well as the sponsors that are engaged in the WSIS process. Followed by the WSIS Prizes 2021 Awards Ceremony where the 18 winners will finally be announced and celebrated. The Opening Segment will conclude with an appreciation ceremony of the WSIS Forum 2021 partners, who will then participate in a High-Level Dialogue.
As part of the High-Level Track the final week will host a series of High-Level Dialogues. The outcomes of the track will be summarized on the 20th of May by the chairman of the WSIS Forum, H.E. Mr. Maxim Parshin, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, Russian Federation.
Don't miss the announcement of the winners of the Hackathon on Ageing Better with ICTs and the WSIS Forum Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize, along with other riveting events!
17 May, 15:00 – 16:30 (CEST)
Ageing in a Digital World: From Vulnerable to Valuable
This “Ageing in a Digital World: from Vulnerable to Valuable” High Level Dialogue will raise awareness among policy makers and all public-private sector stakeholders on how the mega-trend of ageing is a great opportunity itself, dependent on age-friendly digital environments for all.
Accelerating Digital Transformation of Government Services - GovStack
This session will provide a platform for high-level dialogue between the representatives of international and regional organizations, government, civil society, and private sector, on the challenges and possible solutions, including the offering of GovStack initiative, that aims at accelerating digitalization of the governmental services across the world.
AI Readiness Check: Policy Impact, Opportunities and Challenges
This high-level dialogue will explore progress by nations with respect to AI readiness. It aims to enable exchange of knowledge and best practices within the WSIS community on policies and strategies that could be most effective to facilitate the inclusive use of AI for good.
This high level session is aimed at taking stock of where we are and how to move forward with the tools that we have and that are about to be developed. Speakers will share their perspectives on how to make sure that developments in these technologies do not create new forms of exclusion and inequalities, including gender, and how to justly distribute the benefits.
Story of ICTs for Development behind My Photograph: Learn More from Photo Contest Winners and Finalists about Projects Implementing ICTs for Achieving SDGs
Regional commissions within their mandate have carried out various initiatives that promote the use of digital technologies in the face of the pandemic and aligned with the principles promoted by WSIS. These initiatives include the provision of research and statistics that facilitate decision-making, develop the capacity building, and offer technical cooperation. In this webinar, these initiatives will be discussed and shared.
