The World Summit on the Information Society

1
The World Summit on the Information Society

• Geneva, 10-12 December 2003

2
The Background

• International Telecommunications Union (ITU),
  Resolution 73 in 1998
• ITU Council decision in 2001
• United Nations General Assembly Resolution 56/183
  in 2001

3
Proposed Themes

• Providing access to the Information and
  Communication Technologies (ICTs) for all
• ICTs as a tool for economic and social development

4
Challenges and Opportunities

• The Challenge accelerating convergence, new
  markets and globalization
• The Opportunities A high-level gathering of all
  stakeholders.

5
The participants

• Governments
• Private Sector
• Civil society
• United Nations Family

6
Practical Organization

• 2 Phases Geneva, 2003 and Tunis 2005
• Preparatory Process Regional meetings and 3
  PrepCom meetings.
• IFLA Meeting  Libraries _at_the Heart of the
  Information Society , November 2003

7
Major Themes

• Widely accepted Capacity Building,
  Inclusiveness, Enabling Environment
• Developing Countries Accepted legislation and
  Information for all, oral tradition and
  indigenous knowledge
• Developed Countries Interoperability,
  Democratization of the Information Society and
  Open Access to Scientific Information

8
IFLA Role and Activities

• At the PreComs.
•  Libraries _at_ the Heart of the Information
  Society , November 2003
• Publications and Press Releases
• Overall Presence during the Summit

9
WSIS Main Documents

• Declaration of Principles
• Draft Plan of Action
• Civil Society Declaration
• Round up Document summarizing the WSIS results

10
The Summit itself

• 9 December 2003
• 1O December 2003
• 11 December 2003
• 12 December 2003

11
Business Opportunities

• Business-led preparatory Events organized by the
  International Chamber of Commerce
• Coordinating Committee of Business Interlocutors
  (CCBI) declaration  Business Recommendations
  and Actions for the Summit 

12
Conclusion

• The World Summit on the Information Society is
  only the beginning of a process to make sure that
  people across the globe have the information they
  need for their lives, prosperity and freedom.
  (Kay Raseroka, IFLA President)

13
Questions?