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The World Summit on the Information Society. UPDATES: March 11, 2002. by Eun-Ju Kim, Ph.D. Senior Advisor for Asia and the Pacific. Agenda. Updates of Background & Progress Objectives with Expected Results Structures & Processes of the WSIS Who should participate in ?
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The World Summit on the Information Society UPDATES: March 11, 2002 by Eun-Ju Kim, Ph.D. Senior Advisor for Asia and the Pacific
Agenda • Updates of Background & Progress • Objectives with Expected Results • Structures & Processes of the WSIS • Who should participate in ? • When & Where to participate in ? • How to proceed at regions ? • What & How to prepare at regions ? • What are the proposed themes ? • Checklist for Asia & Pacific Region • Latest Developments
Updates of Background & Progress • ITU/PP-98 adopted Res. 73 to hold WSIS • UN/GA-01 adopted Res. A/RES/56/183 endorsing to hold the WSIS • Executive Secretariat was set up at the ITU HQ, Geneva • UNESCAP has initiated to prepare for the WSIS in the Asia and Pacific Region • Japan proposed to host the AP Regional Meeting of WSIS in 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”
Preparatory Meetings (Prepcom) World Summit Geneva 10-12 Dec. 2003 Preparatory Meetings (Prepcom) World Summit Tunis 2005 Structure & Processes of WSIS ECOSOC ICT Task Force States ITU/WTDC ITU/PP-02 Regional Meetings G8 Dot Force High Level Summit Organizing committee (HLSOC) Heads of UN Agencies Private Sector Host Country Secretariat NGOs & Civil Society • Executive Secretariat • Government staff • UN Agencies staff • Private Sector staff • NGO’s & Civil Society • staff
Who should participate in ? • Heads & representatives of the States • Heads & representatives of of the UN Agencies • CEO’s & representatives from private industries with small, medium and large sizes beyond the information & communications sectors • NGOs & academics, and • Representatives from various civil societies and public interest groups
When & Where to participate in ? PrepCom 1, Geneva 1-5 Jul. 2002 Regional Preps e.g., Japan, 2003 ? 2002-3 e.g, Thematic Prep PrepCom 2-3 2003 1st Ph. WSIS, Geneva 10-12 Dec.2003 PrepComs 2004-5 2nd Ph. WSIS, Tunis 2005
How to proceed at regions ? • The initiative to hold a regional conference may come from any government in the region; • The host country should send out invitation letters to the other governments of the region, once fixed; • Host countries should base the themes, which will be decided at the PrepCom-1, for discussion; • Closer coordination among host countries, the Executive Secretariat and UN Regional Economic Commissions; and • 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 ? • 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 • Regional Thematic Meetings • define regional priorities on the theme(s) • define content and • identify regional positions on issues, if possible
What are the proposed themes ? • Building the infrastructure • Opening the gates: universal and equitable access • Services and Applications: the implications of the IS for economic, social and cultural development • The needs of the users (consumer protection, privacy & security); Content and the freedom to communicate • Developing a Framework • ICT and Education
Checklist for Asia and Pacific Region Q. STRUCTURE: A focal point or team ? Q. STAKEHOLERS: Identified & integrated potential stakeholders ? Q. HOST(S): For the ministerial and/or thematic regional conferences ? Q. PLANNING & TIMING: For the relevant meetings and coordination ? Q. MECHANISMS: For identifying regional constraints/successful practices and integrating them to the PrepComs etc.
Flow Chart For Regional Inputs/Processes PrepComs Integrating inputs from all the regional meetings Thematic M. Utilizing existing meetings Regional M. Planning, coordinating & preparing for regional meetings Focal Point
Latest Developments:Executive Secretariat • Based in ITU HQs, Geneva; • Started work August 2001 • Acting Executive Director – Mr. M. Harbi <harbi@itu.int> • With various focal points at www.itu.int/ wsis/index.htm
Latest Developments:Regional Preparatory Meetings • Ministerial level • Africa: Bamako, Mali, 28-30 May 2002 • Asia: Tokyo, Japan, ??? 2003 • Europe: invitation from Romania • Thematic Meeting • Africa: Dakar, Senegal, 7-9 April 2002 • Asia: ??
Contact information: Mr. Yoshio Utsumi ITU Secretary-General email sg@itu.int http://www.itu.int/wsis/index.htm