The World Summit on the Information Society Eun-Ju Kim, Ph.D. Senior Advisor for Asia and the Pacific International Telecommunication Union The Workshop on WSIS: The Asian Response November 22, 2002 Bangkok, Thailand

Updates of Background & Progress Updates of Background & Progress Objectives with Expected Results Objectives with Expected Results Structures & Procedures Structures & Procedures Who should participate in ? Who should participate in ? When & Where to participate in ? When & Where to participate in ? How to proceed at regions ? How to proceed at regions ? What & How to prepare at regions ? What & How to prepare at regions ? What are the proposed themes ? What are the proposed themes ? Latest Developments Latest Developments ITU’s related activities in Asia & the Pacific Region ITU’s related activities in Asia & the Pacific Region Agenda

Background & Progress n ITU/PP-98 adopted Res. 73 to hold WSIS n UN/GA-01 adopted Res. A/RES/56/183 endorsing to hold the WSIS n Executive Secretariat was set up at the ITU HQ, Geneva n UNESCAP has initiated to prepare for the WSIS in the Asia and Pacific Region n Japan proposed to host the AP Regional Meeting of WSIS in Jan., 2003

Objectives with Expected Results “To provide a global platform where key players from various stakeholders will come together to develop a common vision & understanding of the information society & to adopt a declaration & a plan of action”

Structure & Procedures Private Sector NGOs & Civil Societ y Regional Meetings ITU/WTDC ITU/PP-02 G8 Dot Force ECOSOC ICT Task Force High Level Summit Organizing committee (HLSOC) Heads of UN Agencies High Level Summit Organizing committee (HLSOC) Heads of UN Agencies Executive Secretariat Government staff UN Agencies staff Private Sector staff NGO’s & Civil Society staff World Summit Geneva Dec World Summit Tunis 2005 Preparatory Meetings (Prepcom) Preparatory Meetings (Prepcom) States Host Country Secretariat

Who should participate in ? n Heads & representatives of the States n Heads & representatives of of the UN Agencies n CEO’s & representatives from private industries with small, medium and large sizes beyond the information & communications sectors n NGOs & academics, and n Representatives from various civil societies and public interest groups

When & Where to participate in ? PrepCom 1, Geneva Regional Preps PrepCom 2-3 1st Ph. WSIS, Geneva PrepComs 2nd Ph. WSIS, Tunis e.g., Japan, Jan.2003 e.g, Thematic Prep 1-5 Jul Feb Dec

What are the proposed themes ? 1. Infrastructure: financing, deployment and sustainability 2. Identifying and overcoming barriers to the achievement of the information society 3. The role of government, the business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICTs for development 4. Education, human resources development and training 5. Access to information and communication technologies 6. Information network security 7. Development of a policy and regulatory framework, and 8. ICT applications (e.g., education, health, culture, poverty eradication, government, employment, business etc.) The 1 st PrepCom adopted themes:

How to proceed at regions ? n The initiative to hold a regional conference may come from any government in the region; n The host country should send out invitation letters to the other governments of the region, once fixed; n Host countries should base the themes, which was decided at the PrepCom-1 for discussion; n Closer coordination among host countries, the Executive Secretariat and UN Regional Economic Commissions; and n Inputs from the regional conferences will be considered by the PrepCom and incorporated into the final documents of the Summit.

What & How to prepare at regions ? n Regional Conferences for the PrepComs –assess the key challenges, opportunities and constraints stemming from the information society in the region, –develop a common vision & understanding for the region, –identify existing initiatives and networks in the regions & assess examples of best practices, –consider new initiatives and commitments in the region, –prepare for a plan to address the key issues and solve the problems identified n Regional Thematic Meetings –define regional priorities on the theme(s) –define content and –identify regional positions on issues, if possible

Latest Developments: ITU HQs n Based in ITU HQs, Geneva; n Started work in August 2001 n Executive Director – Mr. P.Gagne n With various focal points & updateds: at wsis/index.htm ITU Council Working Group on WSIS : at ITU Council Working Group on WSIS : at

Latest Developments: Preparatory Meetings n Ministerial level –Africa: Bamako, Mali, May 2002 –Europe: Bhucharest, Romania, 7-9 Nov –Asia: Tokyo, Japan, 2003 n Thematic Meeting –Africa: Dakar, Senegal, 7-9 April 2002 –Asia: ?? n Preparatory Committee Meetings - 1 st PrepCom: Geneva, July nd PrepCom: Geneva, Feb rd PrepCom: Geneva, September 2003

A Resolution adopted at the Plenipotentiary Conference, Marrakesh, October 2002 “Guidelines for ITU’s Inputs” To the WSIS as

Three broad objectives for the Guidelines  Providing access to ICTs for all  ICTs as a tool for economic and social development – and meeting the Millennium Development Goals  Confidence and security in the use of ICTs

The World Telecom Development Conference (WTDC) 2002, held in Istanbul, adopted 4-year programs: i.e., IsAP Development Programs ITU Development Sector’s Global Activities & Programs

IsAP Development Programs (2003-7)  regulatory reform  technologies and telecommunication/network development  e-strategies and e-services/applications  economics and finance incl. costs and tariffs  human capacity building  special program for least developed countries  special initiatives –private sector initiatives –gender issues –youth initiatives –assistance to indigenous peoples

Detailed programs/projects to be implemented at Asia & Pacific region in 2003 & plus based on the IsAP Development Programs ITU Development Sector’s Regional Activities & Programs Related to TheWSIS

Special Initiatives – ICT & Gender Preparing for the WSIS at Asia & the Pacific Region, Malaysia, June ; Preparing for the WSIS at Asia & the Pacific Region, Malaysia, June ; Inviting policy-makers, regulators, industry, and various civil society in Asia & the Pacific as well as Commonwealth countries; Inviting policy-makers, regulators, industry, and various civil society in Asia & the Pacific as well as Commonwealth countries; Focusing especially on the five themes: e.g., Focusing especially on the five themes: e.g.,  Education, human resources development and training  Access to information and communication technologies  Information network security  Development of a policy and regulatory framework  ICT applications (e.g., education, health, culture, poverty eradication, government, employment and business) Partnering among the ITU, UNESCAP, UNESCO, APT, APWIN, GKP, COL etc. Partnering among the ITU, UNESCAP, UNESCO, APT, APWIN, GKP, COL etc.

Contact information: For the WSIS For the ITU activities

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