WSIS – World Summit on the Information Society – Women

 

 

Draft Agenda

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WSIS History – Overview

https://groups.itu.int/wsis-forum2012/Information/WSISOverview.aspx

The World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) is a unique two-phase United Nations (UN) summit that was
initiated in order to create an evolving multi- stakeholder platform aimed at
addressing the issues raised by information and communication technologies
(ICTs) through a structured and inclusive approach at the national, regional
and international levels. The goal of WSIS is to achieve a common vision,
desire and commitment to build a people-centric, inclusive and
development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, access,
utilize and share information. The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183  (21 December 2001) endorsed the
holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases.
The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second
phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005. In 2003, the number of
participants was 11,000 representing 175 countries and in 2005 the number of
participants was more than 19,000 representing 174 countries. Since then, a
cluster of WSIS-related events was held on an annual basis . In 2009, the
cluster of WSIS-related events was rebranded as WSIS Forum.

Geneva Phase: 10-12 December
2003

The objective of the first
phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take
concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all,
reflecting all the different interests at stake.

Nearly 50 Heads of
state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from
175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international
organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of
WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action
that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175
countries attended the Summit and related events.

·        
Full texts of the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva
Plan of Action

·        
More on the first
phase of WSIS

Tunis Phase: 16-18
November 2005

The objective of the second
phase was to put Geneva’s Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions
and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing
mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.

Nearly 50 Heads of
state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy
Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from
international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the
Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174
countries attended the Summit and related events.

·        
Full texts of the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the
Information Society

https://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/tunis/off/7.html

 

WSIS 2005 Tunis Commitment Document

 

23. We recognize that a gender divide exists as partof
the digital divide in society and we reaffirm our commitment to women’s
empowerment and to a gender equality perspective, so that we can overcome this
divide. We further acknowledge that the full participation of women in the
Information Society is necessary to ensure the inclusiveness and respect for
human rights within the Information Society. We encourage all stakeholders to
support women’s participation in decision-making processes and to contribute to
shaping all spheres of the Information Society at international, regional and
national levels. _____________________________________________________________________

 A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE WSIS GENDER CAUCUS
2005

 

The WSIS Gender Caucus is a multi-stakeholder group of women and men
whose main strategic objective is to ensure that gender equality and women’s
rights are integrated into WSIS and its outcome processes. 

The WSIS-Gender Caucus is seriously concerned that only a fraction of the recommendations made in the Tunis Plan of Action reflect the realities on the ground. The opportunity to ensure gender justice and equality in the Information and Knowledge Society was not fully realized.  Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we cannot claim that we are building a World Information Society without assuring the channels and means for the full participation of all women and men . 

On behalf of women from all regions, the WSIS Gender Caucus believes that implementation of the Geneva and Tunis commitments can only be possible through the inclusion of women's skills, leadership, different ways of communication and women’s rights as key values of the operation and implementation mechanisms of the World Information Society.  The members of the WSIS Gender Caucus are committed to continue working with all partners towards equal participation of women and men at all levels in the World Information Society.  

The WSIS Gender Caucus calls on all national governments to adopt a multi-stakeholder consultative approach that will benefit both women and men on equal footing, to provide funding for projects aimed at bridging the gender digital divide, supporting the use of appropriate Information and Communication Technologies such as community radio, and to ensure the participation of women in all Information Society decision making structures.

This is the most effective way to ensure the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and end world poverty.

Lettie Tembo-Longwe

WSIS Gender Caucus Interim Chair

TunisSummit - 18 November 2005