WSIS BACKGROUND WSIS Context • Towards the end of the 20th century, the transformative power of the digital revolution was being counter-balanced by the ever-widening digital divide. Recognizing that this new dynamic requires global discussion, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency, following a proposal by the Government of Tunisia, resolved at its Plenipotentiary Conference in 1998 (Resolution 73) to hold a World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and place it on the agenda of the United Nations. • The WSIS was endorsed by the UN General Assembly (Resolution 56/183) while according the lead role to ITU for managing the entire process. WSIS Goals • The goal of the WSIS is to establish a road-map for future national and international initiatives on the Information Society. The Information Society is one “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, premised on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respecting fully and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” • The WSIS intends to raise the awareness of political leaders on the importance of an Information Society and on the role that ICTs play in many aspects of development. • It also intends to promote the deployment of communications infrastructure and encourage the application of ICTs across all social and economic sectors. WSIS Structure • The WSIS is being held in two phases. The first phase was held in Geneva from Dec 10-12, 2003; the second phase will be held in Tunis from Nov 16-18, 2005. • Summit participants include: government representatives, UN and other intergovernmental agencies, the private sector, and civil society (ie, NGOs). o Like all UN Summits, WSIS is basically an intergovernmental process. Decisions are taken by States. Ultimately, if it comes to voting, only Government delegations can vote.  Everyone else participates in WSIS as observers. Observers have a standing invitation to participate in the sessions and work of the General Assembly-this includes the UN Secretariat, UN specialized agencies, other intergovernmental organizations, accredited civil society entities, and accredited private sector entities (including all ITU Sector Members, which are automatically accredited). • Observers from the UN Secretariat, UN specialized agencies, and intergovernmental organizations can participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations in the plenary and, as appropriate, in committees orsubcommittees on questions within the scope of their activities. This is also valid for closed sessions. • Observers from accredited civil society and private entities can sit as observers in public meetings (plenary, committee or subcommittee meetings). Upon the invitation of the presiding officer of the body concerned, and subject to the approval of that body, such observers may make oral statements on questions in which they have special competence. If the number of requests to speak is too large, they will be asked to form themselves into constituencies, which will then speak through their respective spokespersons. • Each phase of the Summit marks the culmination of many months of consultations and negotiations among government representatives, UN experts, the private sector, and civil society, who review vast amounts of information and share a broad spectrum of experiences in issues related to the Information Society. These consultations and negotiations take place prior to the Summit itself and are referred to as the Preparatory Process. The Preparatory Process is run by an intergovernmental Preparatory Committee (PrepCom). • The general tasks of the PrepCom are to: o Define the agenda of each Summit, o Decide who would participate and how, and o Prepare final documents for ratification at each Summit. WSIS Phase I • The events occurring during WSIS Phase I included: o PrepCom 1 o PrepCom 2 o Intersessional meeting (between PrepCom 2 and 3) o PrepCom 3 o Regional conferences o Thematic workshops o Geneva Summit PrepCom 1 (Geneva, July 1-5, 2002) • Government representatives, IGOs, and certain private and civil society groups made general statements. • Various groups provided reports on their activities related to WSIS. • Two subcommittees were developed: o Subcommittee 1: draft rules of procedure for the PrepCom and Summit, and accreditation rules o Subcommittee 2: examine proposed themes for the Summit and possible outcomes • Draft rules of procedure for the PrepCom were developed. Draft rules for the Summit were tabled until PrepCom 2. • Draft rules of participation were developed.• Accreditation rules were developed. • Draft principles and themes guiding the preparatory work and WSIS were developed. PrepCom 2 (Geneva, February 17-28, 2003) • Regional conferences provided reports. • 8 roundtables were held based on the themes identified by Subcommittee 2. Reports on the outcome of these roundtables were given. • A small working group was set up within Subcommittee 2 to draft a Declaration of Principles and Action Plan for WSIS. The working group developed draft documents, but was unable to synthesize all inputs from observers. Although the working group recommended to PrepCom that these inputs be ultimately included, the PrepCom decided that the observers’ inputs be reflected in a separate section, with the understanding that government representatives would constitute the basis of negotiations. • The PrepCom identified additional work that needed to be completed over the inter-sessional period, between PrepComs 2 and 3. PrepCom 3 (Geneva, September 15-26, November 10-14, December 5-9, 2003) • Various groups provided reports on their activities related to WSIS. • Draft rules of procedure for the Summit were adopted. • Draft versions of the Declaration of Principles and Action Plan were further developed. • The draft agenda and proposed format for the Geneva Summit continued to be developed. Finally, on December 9, negotiations completed and final versions of the documents were prepared for submission to the Geneva Summit for adoption. Geneva Summit (Geneva, December 10-12, 2003) • PrepCom made a statement about the work done during the