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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 
Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action and the 2005 Tunis Commitment and the Tunis 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 Tehran Declaration and Asia–Pacific Regional Action Plan deal with WSIS implementation in the region. WSIS outcomes are also reflected in the 2005 Commonwealth document, the Malta 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
- World Summit on the Information Society – official information on process, outcomes and implementation
- Internet Governance Forum – UN implementation activities on Internet governance
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – a key UN WSIS implementation agency
- UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) – a key UN WSIS implementation agency
- UN Development Program (UNDP) – a UN WSIS implementation agency
- UN Economic and Social Commission for the Asia–Pacific – regional WSIS activities
- CHOGM 2005 – 2005 Commonwealth decisions on ICT4D