Un Adopts Resolution On The World Summit On Information Society

Online Newsletter, Feb, 2002

The United Nations has taken a major step toward bridging the "Digital Divide" with the adoption, by the General Assembly, of a resolution which welcomes the organization of the World Summit on the Information Society. The Summit, which is expected to promote access by all countries to information, knowledge and communications technologies for development, is to be held in two phases, the first in Geneva in 2003 and the second in Tunisia in 2005 and is being convened under the patronage of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be taking the lead role in the Summit preparations, in cooperation with other interested organizations and partners.

"A technological revolution is transforming society in a profound way. If harnessed and directed properly, information and communication technologies (ICT) have the potential to improve all aspects of our social, economic and cultural life. ICTs can serve as an engine for development in the 21st century, yet the majority of the world's population has yet to benefit from the new technology,", says Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "This global gathering will be a unique opportunity for all key players to develop a shared vision of ways to bridge the digital divide and create a truly global information society."

The resolution [A/RES/56/183] calls on governments to actively participate in Summit preparations and to be represented at the highest possible level. It has also asked for the active participation and effective contribution in the Summit and its preparations by all relevant United Nations and intergovernmental organizations, including international and regional institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, the civil society, and the private sector. ITU will work to create synergies and develop cooperation among the various ICT initiatives at the regional and global level.

The World Summit on the Information Society is an initiative of the 1998 Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU. It is being endorsed by the General Assembly as an effective means to assist the United Nations in fulfilling the goals of the Millennium Declaration.

The proposed themes of the Summit will likely include: Building the infrastructure; Opening the gates: universal and equitable access to the information society; Services and applications; The needs of the user; Developing a framework; and ICT and education. - A series of preparatory meetings will be held in 2002, beginning with the first PrepCom to be held July 1-5 in Geneva.

Additional information on the World Summit is available at: http://wsis.itu.int

The full text of the Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly is available at:

http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2002/UNGA_res-e.html

For further information contact: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. Telephone: 41 22 730-6039. Fax: 41 22 730-5939. Email: pressinfo@itu.int URL: http://www.itu.int/newsroom