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World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

Recent developments and upcoming events

  • A cluster of meetings is being held in Geneva from 11-18 May to consult on the implementation of WSIS action lines C1 (ICTs for development), C2 (infrastructure), C4 (capacity building), C5 (Internet security and confidence), C6 (enabling environment), C7 (e-strategies), C8 (cultural diversity) and C11 (international cooperation). These meetings are being hosted by the ITU, UNDP, UN DESA, UNCTAD, ILO and UNESCO.
  • Information Society Day is being held on 17 May 2006.

Background

The Summit was a high-level, multi-stakeholder United Nations process to develop a blueprint for a global, people-centred, inclusive, development-oriented information society .

The Summit took place in two phases. The first ended with the Geneva Summit in December 2003, the second ended with the Tunis Summit in November 2005. Various implementation activities are now underway.

The key outcomes of the Summit were:

  • an extensive action plan to develop an information society globally;
  • enhancement of ICT for development (ICT4D) arrangements;
  • a process of ‘enhanced cooperation' in relation to Internet governance using existing mechanisms;
  • establishment of a new Internet governance forum for multi-stakeholder dialogue on Internet-related public policy issues; and
  • WSIS implementation arrangements, involving oversight by the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and facilitation by UN agencies like the ITU, UNESCO and UNDP.

The Internet governance webpage gives more information on this topic.

These outcomes and their underlying principles are set out in the 2003 This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteGeneva Declaration of Principles and This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteGeneva Plan of Action and the 2005 This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteTunis Commitment and the This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteTunis Agenda for the Information Society.

As part of Australia 's preparation for the Tunis Summit, we undertook a comprehensive stocktake of Australia 's ICT achievements.

The 2005 This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteTehran Declaration and This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteAsia–Pacific Regional Action Plan deal with WSIS implementation in the region. WSIS outcomes are also reflected in the 2005 Commonwealth document, the This link sends you off DBCDE's websiteMalta Declaration on Networking the Commonwealth for Development.

DCITA is monitoring WSIS implementation and participating where appropriate. If you would like further information or would like to provide your views on these matters, please email ig&wsis@dcita.gov.au.

Useful links

  • Document ID: 25184 |
  • Last modified: 21 May 2009, 9:56am