1. International Telecommunication Union
WSIS: Building the Information Society: a global challenge in the new Millennium
Your excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is the final day of the Forum at ITU TELECOM World Over the last six days, eminent figures from the fields of business, from government, from the media, from academia and from civil society have come together to debate the future of our industry.
In this, the last session before the closing, it is appropriate that we now pass the baton to the next major event that will fill these halls at Palexpo, namely the World Summit on the Information Society.
The Information Society is a concept that engages us all. We are all stakeholders in our common future. Today, I want to focus on the critical role that the private sector must be play in building the Information Society.
International Telecommunication Union
January 2004
world summit on the information society

2. WSIS: Origins and status
WSIS originally proposed by ITU PP in 1998
Formally endorsed by the UN in 2001
Regional meetings, 2002 – 2003
PrepCom process, started in July 2002
First phase, Geneva December 2003
Second phase, Tunis, November 2005
As this is the first presentation in the special session devoted the the WSIS, I hope you will allow me to provide a little of the background to this important process.
The concept for holding a World Summit on the Information Society was launched at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 1998, by Tunisia. It was enthusiastically endorsed by the UN in 2001 as a Summit that would take place in two phases, in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.
I am delighted that senior representatives of both the host countries are here with us today.
Regional meetings were held and a PrepCom process, involving all stakeholders, was launched in 2002.
We are now just six weeks away from the first phase, and I am happy to report that we are in good shape.
More than 50 Heads of State have already confirmed their participation in Geneva.
We also have good drafts of the two basic working documents for the Summit, the declaration of principles and the plan of action, although more work remains to be done on removing square brackets.
world summit on the information society

3. WSIS first phase: some numbers
More than 11,000 participants
176 UN member states
About 50 Head of States and Governments and Vice-Presidents
3,300 representatives of from civil society
514 business representatives from 98 organizations
87 international organizations
1000 media representatives
More than 300 Summit events
world summit on the information society

4. WSIS results: A common vision of the Information Society
world summit on the information society

5. Adoption of a Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action which:
Create a common vision of the information society
Set out an agenda for building an inclusive development-oriented Information Society
Establish a framework which will involve all stakeholders
Request the UN Secretary General to initiate action in a number of crucially important areas such as the creation of a Digital Solidarity Fund and Internet Governance
world summit on the information society

6. Declaration of principles and action plan – major challenges
world summit on the information society

7. A common vision of the Information society
“We […] declare our common desire and commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life…” (Declaration, Paragraph 1)
world summit on the information society

8. Tackling the injustices of the digital divide
“We are fully committed to turning this digital divide into a digital opportunity for all…”
Connectivity, access, capacity building, partnership and cooperation among different stakeholders, financing
Financial mechanism: better utilisation of existing financial mechanisms, possible future creation of a voluntary digital solidarity fund
So why do we need a World Summit and why now?
I think there are three broad issues that can only be resolved though a World Summit. The first is to propose concrete actions that will address the long-standing injustice of the digital divide. As Pascal Couchepin said at the Opening Ceremony six days ago, “The Digital Divide is a blemish on the New Millennium”.
As Information and Communication Technologies become more important in all aspects of our lives, is it important that no one should be left behind.
The draft plan of action for the Summit contains a commitment to connect all the world’s villages with ICTs, by 2015 at the latest, and to connect at least half the world’s inhabitants by that date.
world summit on the information society

9. Meeting the MDGs, promote development and improve the quality of life
“Our challenge is to harness the potential of the ICT to promote the development goals of the Millennium Declaration…”
ICTs applications and content, access, etc.
ICTs are considered as fundamental working tools and tools for development
world summit on the information society

10. Promote access and use
“…everyone can create, access, utilize, share information and knowledge”
Freedom of expression, enabling environment, content and language, but also IPRs
Mutual respect for diverse cultures and traditions is also important (UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity).
The third reason why we need a World Summit is to alert world leaders to the challenges that lie ahead with the Information Society. There will be many benefits, especially in terms of creating new jobs and driving wealth creation. But the Information Society also gives citizens legitimate concerns. These include fundamental freedoms and human rights, specially children’s rights, security, privacy and the lifestyles.
The World Summit can address some of these concerns by establishing a common understanding among stakeholders about what matters in the Information Society.
world summit on the information society

11. Building confidence, trust and security in ICTs
Privacy and data protection, cybersecurity, protection of children, spam
Professional, governments, and private citizens have legitimate concerns over the respect of fundamental freedoms, security, loss of privacy and protecting children.
A second reason why we need a WSIS is because of the critical role that ICTs can play in achieving the broader goals of humanity, in particular the Millennium Development Goals. These include a commitment to cut by half the number of people that were living on less than one US dollar per day in 1990 by 2015.
Telephones will not feed the poor. Computers will not replace textbooks. But ICTs can be used effectively as part of the toolbox for addressing problems of a global nature. The Summit can give the momentum that is necessary to achieve this.
world summit on the information society

12. Pending issues: Internet governance
The UN Secretary General is asked to set up a working group on Internet governance, in an open and inclusive process that ensures a mechanism for the full and active participation of governments, the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries, involving relevant intergovernmental and international organizations and forums, to investigate and make proposals for action, as appropriate, on the governance of Internet by 2005 (Paragraph C6, 13 b) Plan of Action)
world summit on the information society

13. Pending issues: Digital solidarity fund
A review – to be completed by the end of of the adequacy of current financial mechanisms and the possibility to create a voluntary Digital Solidarity Fund will be be conducted by a Task Force under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and will be submitted for consideration to the second phase of this summit (Paragraph D2 f) Plan of action)
world summit on the information society

14. From Geneva to Tunis
The second phase of the summit will take place in Tunis from November 16th to 18th, 2005
Preparatory work:
Re-establish the WSIS bureau
Held a preparatory meeting in the first part of 2004:
to review those issues of the information society which should form the focus of the Tunis phase
to agree on the structure of the process for the second phase
Reference document: “Arrangements for the Tunis Phase of the Summit”
world summit on the information society

15. Role of the ITU in WSIS ITU is lead UN Agency for Summit
Providing financial and human resources
SG chairs HLSOC of Summit
Implementation of the Summit outcome
Possible role of the ITU as mechanism for coordination and follow up
Implementation of ITU-related Principles and Actions
What role can the ITU play in the Summit process?
Given our mandate to play the leading role in preparing for the Summit within the UN family, the ITU has contributed significant human and financial resources to the process.
As Secretary General of the ITU, I head the coordinating body of UN organizations established to give strategic direction to the Summit preparations, the High Level Summit Organizing Committee, or HLSOC.
As well, the ITU Council established a working group, chaired by Mr Yuri Grin (our chairman today) to identify ways that we could contribute to the Summit. From this came recommendations that have contributed to the Declaration and Action Plan.
Finally, at the Summit in December, the ITU is also organizing workshops and roundtables and will sponsor a high level panel to debate some of the broad themes of the Summit. We will also sponsor a stand in the exhibition hall to showcase some of our projects and those of our members.
world summit on the information society

16. website: www.itu.int/wsis contact: wsis@itu.int
Thank you
Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to seeing you in Geneva.
world summit on the information society