From: direccion@...
Organization: ActivArte A.C.
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 09:44:20 -0600
To: Ricardo Ocampo <redanahuak@...>
Subject: RV: [Derechos-comunicacion] Documento aprobado en Tunez CMSI

Amigos,

Les reenvío la experiencia de una compañera que esta viviendo el proceso de
Túnez y que nos la está compartiendo en tiempo real.

Mil gracias Gaby!


Lic. Julio Garduño Colín
Dirección General
ActivArte A.C.


Asunto: [Derechos-comunicacion] Documento aprobado en Tunez CMSI

Estimad@s,

Les copio el documento aprobado en Tunez, ayer por la
noche en pdf y algunas notas acumuladas en el dia
(16nov05).

1100-12:30 Presentación del libro “Reforming Internet
Governance. Perspectives from the Working Group on
Internet Governance”, editado por William J. Drake con
auspicio del grupo de trabajo en TICs de Naciones
Unidas, WGIG, y es el numero 12 de la serie de
publicaciones ICT Task Force Series.

1400-1600 ICTs y Desarrollo, organizado por Global
Knowledge Partnership (www.globalknowledge.org) y la
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Ideas
Generales: No perder de vista la sustentabilidad
necesaria para cualquier modelo de desarrollo. Se
trata de mover inteligencias rumbo a la era de la
sociedad del conocimiento. Hay que pensar en la
creación de riqueza a través de las TICs, en lugar de
luchar contra la pobreza (enfoque diferente del
fenómeno). Desafío: integrar al sector privado al
desarrollo; el costo del uso de las redes de
telecomunicaciones debe bajar con la competencia, pero
alguien tiene que pagar. En relación con las zonas
rurales, estas solían ser soportadas por el tráfico;
hoy en día, el uso del teléfono celular es un fenómeno
general. Hay problemas que no son ocasionados por la
pobreza, porque si hubiera el dinero, el problema
seguiría ahí, como el problema de la calidad de los
políticos y sus malas decisiones. Regular el acceso
general a las TICs, relacionado con las políticas
publicas, en las que se tiene que participar, lo que
requiere de un pensamiento creativo que busque nuevas
soluciones. La tecnología es importante y se tiene que
romper con modelos pasados que muchas veces no son
conciliables. Los introductores de nuevas tecnologías
están ocasionando enormes problemas tanto a
reguladores como a la base instalada; el problema es
legal y que las empresas de telecomunicaciones están
perdiendo a sus clientes, razón por la que no se ha
legalizado en muchos países la telefonía IP. Esta
presionando a cambiar a diversos modelos de negocio
(ver caso Ericsson), pero al final las personas son
las beneficiadas. Las tecnologías inalámbricas han
roto el modelo anterior y se requiere voluntad
política, además del trabajo efectivo de la sociedad
civil. En países como India y África (son pobres, pero
son muchos y están organizándose en estructuras, con
la oportunidad de usar TICs como herramienta) son las
mujeres las que están liderando las nuevas formas de
organización. El sentido de pertenencia (cooperativas
de mujeres, radios comunitarias, centros de
conocimiento con computadoras, comunicación con
teléfonos celulares, etc.) y sustentabilidad se
requiere para que sean empresas exitosas.


1800-2000 Panel. Utsumi se refirió a la necesidad de
crear conciencia desde el foco multipartito (all
stakeholders). Erradicación de la pobreza. TICs son
herramienta para impulsar el desarrollo económico y
lograr los objetivos de desarrollo del Milenio. La
brecha digital es un síntoma y no un resultado, por lo
que si no se implementan correctamente las TICs, se
pueden convertir en obstáculo. Brinkhorst considera
que las TICs son elementos de cambio. Samara,
empresario de radio via satelite, hizo una ampliación
del informe de INFODET, existiendo el riesgo de
confundir los medios con el fin. La transmisión de la
comunicación per-se no significa que se realizara un
buen uso de esta. La información tiene que
transmitirse por los medios que sean y la posibilidad
de transmitir la información debe ser lo que determine
las politicas. El Ministro de Telecomunicaciones de
Jamaica, Paulwell, hablando de la complejidad de
privatizar ante el avance de las TICs. Si hablamos de
Internet, todo esta interrelacionado.
Participaciones:
• Los sistemas de la sociedad de la información
(Internet y telecomunicaciones) pueden y deben
evolucionar mano a mano.
• Debe llamarse sociedad de la comunicación y el
conocimiento. Monopolio vs. “anarquía” de Internet, y
éticamente hay que crear un contrato social (desde la
sociología, el derecho, las religiones, etc.)
• William Dutton: que hacer para que sea un dialogo
real.
• Libertad de expresión y abuso del Internet.
El cambio de mentalidad en el entorno rural y de como
se pretende resolver los problemas de desarrollo

El Centro Kram, enmedio del desierto, parece un
hormiguero. Se maneja la cifra de 17000 personas de
todo el mundo, acudiendo a la CMSI. La seguridad es
impactante (no se si justificable, pues acuden mas de
60 jefes de estados y de gobiernos). De la Delegacion
de Mexico he visto a los Jorges Alvarz Hoth y
Rodriguez Castaneda (SCT), Pablo Hinojosa (COFETEL),
Juan Gonzalez (SRE) y Javier Perez Mazatan (e-mexico).

Un abrazo,

Gaby





__________________________________
h
Original: English
Document: WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6(Rev.1)-E
15 November 2005
President of the PrepCom of the Tunis Phase
TUNIS AGENDA FOR THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
INTRODUCTION
1. We recognise that it is now time to move from principles to action,
considering the work already
being done in implementing the Geneva Plan of Action and identifying those
areas where progress has
been made, is being made, or has not taken place.
2. We reaffirm the commitments made in Geneva and build on them in Tunis by
focusing on
Financial Mechanisms for bridging the digital divide, on Internet Governance
and related issues, as well
as on Implementation and Follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis decisions.
FINANCIAL MECHANISMS FOR MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF
ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT
3. We thank the UN Secretary-General for his efforts in creating the Task
Force on Financial
Mechanisms (TFFM) and we commend the members on their report.
4. We recall that the mandate of the TFFM was to undertake a thorough review
of the adequacy of
existing financial mechanisms in meeting the challenges of ICT for
development.
5. The TFFM report sets out the complexity of existing mechanisms, both
private and public, which
provide financing for ICTs in developing countries. It identifies areas
where these could be improved and
where ICTs could be given higher priority by developing countries and their
development partners.
6. Based on the conclusion of the review of the report, we have considered
the improvements and
innovations of financing mechanisms, including the creation of a voluntary
Digital Solidarity Fund, as
mentioned in the Geneva Declaration of Principles.
7. We recognise the existence of the digital divide and the challenges that
this poses for many countries,
which are forced to choose between many competing objectives in their
development planning and in
demands for development funds whilst having limited resources.
8. We recognise the scale of the problem in bridging the digital divide,
which will require adequate and
sustainable investments in ICT infrastructure and services, and capacity
building, and transfer of
technology over many years to come.€- 2 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
____________________
9. We call upon the international community to promote the transfer of
technology on mutually
agreed terms, including ICTs, to adopt policies and programmes with a view
to assisting developing
countries to take advantage of technology in their pursuit of development
through, inter alia, technical
cooperation and the building of scientific and technological capacity in our
efforts to bridge the digital
and development divides.
10. We recognise that the internationally-agreed development goals and
objectives, including the
Millennium Development Goals, are fundamental. The Monterrey Consensus on
Financing for
Development is the basis for the pursuit of adequate and appropriate
financial mechanisms to promote
ICT for development, in accordance with the Digital Solidarity Agenda of the
Geneva Plan of Action.
11. We recognise and acknowledge the special and specific funding needs of
the developing world, as
referred to in paragraph 16 of the Geneva Declaration of Principles * ,
which faces numerous challenges in
the ICT sector, and that there is strong need to focus on their special
financing needs to achieve the
internationally-agreed development goals and objectives, including the
Millennium Development Goals.
12. We agree that the financing of ICT for development needs to be placed in
the context of the growing
importance of the role of ICTs, not only as a medium of communication, but
also as a development
enabler, and as a tool for the achievement of the internationally-agreed
development goals and objectives,
including the Millennium Development Goals.
13. In the past, financing of ICT infrastructure in most developing
countries has been based on public
investment. Lately, a significant influx of investment has taken place where
private sector participation
has been encouraged, based on a sound regulatory framework, and where public
policies aimed at
bridging the digital divide have been implemented.
14. We are greatly encouraged by the fact that advances in communication
technology, and high-speed
data networks are continuously increasing the possibilities for developing
countries, and countries with
economies in transition, to participate in the global market for ICT-enabled
services on the basis of their
comparative advantage. These emerging opportunities provide a powerful
commercial basis for ICT
infrastructural investment in these countries. Therefore, Governments should
take action, in the
framework of national development policies, in order to support an enabling
and competitive environment
for the necessary investment in ICT infrastructure and for the development
of new services. At the same
time, countries should pursue policies and measures that would not
discourage, impede or prevent the
continued participation of these countries in the global market for
ICT-enabled services.
15. We take note that the challenges for expanding the scope of useful
accessible information content in
the developing world are numerous, in particular, the issue of financing for
various forms of content and
applications requires new attention, as this area has often been overlooked
by the focus on ICT
infrastructure.
16. We recognise that attracting investment in ICTs has depended crucially
upon an enabling
environment, including good governance at all levels, and a supportive,
transparent and pro-competitive
policy and regulatory framework, reflecting national realities.
* For reference, Paragraph 16 of the Geneva Declaration of Principles reads
as follows:
We continue to pay special attention to the particular needs of people of
developing countries, countries with economies in
transition, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States,
Landlocked Developing Countries, Highly Indebted
Poor Countries, countries and territories under occupation, countries
recovering from conflict and countries and regions
with special needs as well as to conditions that pose severe threats to
development, such as natural disasters.€- 3 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
17. We endeavour to engage in a proactive dialogue on matters related to
corporate social responsibility
and good corporate governance of Trans-national Corporations and their
contribution to the economic and
social development of developing countries in our efforts to bridge the
digital divide.
18. We underline that market forces alone cannot guarantee the full
participation of developing
countries in the global market for ICT-enabled services. Therefore, we
encourage the strengthening of
international cooperation and solidarity aimed at enabling all countries,
especially those referred to in
paragraph 16 of the Geneva Declaration of Principles, to develop ICT
infrastructure and ICT-enabled
services that are viable and competitive at national and international
levels.
19. We recognise that, in addition to the public sector, financing of ICT
infrastructure by the private
sector has come to play an important role in many countries and that
domestic financing is being
augmented by North-South flows and South-South co-operation.
20. We recognise that, as a result of the growing impact of sustainable
private sector investment in
infrastructure, multilateral and bilateral public donors are redirecting
public resources to other
development objectives, including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and
related Programmes, policy
reforms and mainstreaming of ICTs and capacity development. We encourage all
governments to give
appropriate priority to ICTs, including traditional ICTs such as broadcast
radio and television, in their
national development strategies. We also encourage multilateral institutions
as well as bilateral public
donors to consider also providing more financial support for regional and
large-scale national ICT
infrastructure projects and related capacity development. They should
consider aligning their aid and
partnership strategies with the priorities set by developing countries and
countries with economies in
transition in their national development strategies including their poverty
reduction strategies.
21. We recognise that public finance plays a crucial role in providing ICT
access and services to rural
areas and disadvantaged populations including those in Small Island
Developing States and Landlocked
Developing Countries.
22. We note that ICT-related capacity building needs represent a high
priority in all developing countries
and the current financing levels have not been adequate to meet the needs,
although there are many
different funding mechanisms supporting ICTs for Development.
23. We recognise that there are a number of areas in need of greater
financial resources and where
current approaches to ICT for development financing have devoted
insufficient attention to date. These
include:
a) ICT capacity building programmes, materials, tools, educational funding
and specialized training
initiatives, especially for regulators and other public sector employees and
organisations;
b) Communications access and connectivity for ICT services and applications
in remote rural areas,
Small Island Developing States, Landlocked Developing Countries and other
locations presenting
unique technological and market challenges;
c) Regional backbone infrastructure, regional networks, Network Access
Points and related regional
projects, to link networks across borders and in economically-disadvantaged
regions which may
require coordinated policies including legal, regulatory and financial
frameworks, and seed
financing and would benefit from sharing experiences and best practices;
d) Broadband capacity to facilitate the delivery of a broader range of
services and applications,
promote investment and provide Internet access at affordable prices to both
existing and new
users;€- 4 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
e) Coordinated assistance, as appropriate, for countries referred to in
paragraph 16 of the Geneva
Declaration of Principles, particularly Least Developed Countries and Small
Island Developing
States, in order to improve effectiveness and to lower transaction costs
associated with the
delivery of international donor support;
f) ICT applications and content aimed at the integration of ICTs into the
implementation of poverty
eradication strategies and in sector programmes, particularly in health,
education, agriculture and
the environment;
In addition, there is a need to consider the following other issues, which
are relevant to ICT for
development and which have not received adequate attention:
g) Sustainability of Information Society related projects, for example the
maintenance of ICT
infrastructure;
h) Special needs of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), such as
funding requirements;
i) Local development and manufacturing of ICT applications and technologies
by developing
countries;
j) Activities on ICT-related institutional reform and enhanced capacity on
legal and regulatory
framework;
k) Improving organisational structures and business process change aimed at
optimizing the impact
and effectiveness of ICT projects and other projects with significant ICT
components;
l) Local government and initiatives based in local communities that deliver
ICT services to
communities in the areas such as education, health and livelihood support.
24. Recognizing that the central responsibility for coordination of public
financing programmes and
public ICT development initiatives rest with governments, we recommend that
further cross-sectoral and
cross-institutional coordination should be undertaken, both on the part of
donors and recipients within the
national framework.
25. Multilateral development banks and institutions should consider adapting
their existing mechanisms,
and where appropriate designing new ones, to provide for national and
regional demands on ICT
development.
26. We acknowledge the following prerequisites for equitable and universal
accessibility to and better
utilisation of financial mechanisms:
a) Creating policy and regulatory incentives aimed at universal access and
the attraction of private
sector investment;
b) Identification and acknowledgement of the key role of ICTs in national
development strategies,
and their elaboration, when appropriate, in conjunction with e-strategies;
c) Developing institutional and implementation capacity to support the use
of national universal
service/access funds, and further study of these mechanisms and those aiming
to mobilize
domestic resources;
d) Encouraging the development of locally relevant information, applications
and services that will
benefit developing countries and countries with economies in transition;€- 5
-
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
e) Supporting the ³scaling-up² of successful ICT-based pilot programmes;
f) Supporting the use of ICTs in government as a priority and a crucial
target area for ICT-based
development interventions;
g) Building human resource and institutional capacity (knowledge) at every
level for achieving
Information Society objectives, especially in the public sector;
h) Encouraging business sector entities to help jump-start wider demand for
ICT services by
supporting creative industries, local producers of cultural content and
applications as well as small
businesses;
i) Strengthening capacities to enhance the potential of securitised funds
and utilising them
effectively.
27. We recommend improvements and innovations in existing financing
mechanisms, including:
a) Improving financial mechanisms to make financial resources become
adequate, more predictable,
preferably untied, and sustainable;
b) Enhancing regional cooperation and creating multi-stakeholder
partnerships, especially by
creating incentives for building regional backbone infrastructure;
c) Providing affordable access to ICTs, by the following measures:
i. Reducing international Internet costs charged by backbone providers,
supporting, inter alia,
the creation and development of regional ICT backbones and Internet Exchange
Points to
reduce interconnection cost and broaden network access;
ii. Encouraging ITU to continue the study of the question of the
International Internet
Connectivity (IIC) as an urgent matter to develop appropriate
Recommendations;
d) Coordinating programmes among governments and major financial players to
mitigate
investment risks and transaction costs for operators entering less
attractive rural and low income
market segments;
e) Helping to accelerate the development of domestic financial instruments
including by supporting
local microfinance instruments, ICT business incubators, public credit
instruments, reverse
auction mechanisms, networking initiatives based on local communities,
digital solidarity and
other innovations;
f) Improving the ability to access financing facilities with a view to
accelerating the pace of
financing of ICT infrastructure and services, including the promotion of
North-South flows as
well as North-South and South-South cooperation;
g) Multilateral, regional and bilateral development organisations should
consider the utility of
creating a virtual forum for the sharing of information by all stakeholders
on potential projects,
on sources of financing and on institutional financial mechanisms.
h) Enabling developing countries to be increasingly able to generate funds
for ICTs and to develop
financial instruments, including trust funds and seed capital adapted to
their economies;€- 6 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
i) Urging all countries to make concrete efforts to fulfil their commitments
under the Monterrey
Consensus;
j) Multilateral, regional and bilateral development organisations should
consider cooperating to
enhance their capacity to provide rapid response with a view to supporting
developing countries
that request assistance with respect to ICT policies;
k) Encouraging increased voluntary contributions;
l) Making, as appropriate, effective use of debt relief mechanisms as
outlined in the Geneva Plan of
Action, including inter alia debt cancellation and debt swapping, that may
be used for financing
ICT for development projects, including those within the framework of
poverty reduction
strategies.
28. We welcome the Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) established in Geneva as an
innovative financial
mechanism of a voluntary nature open to interested stakeholders with the
objective of transforming the
digital divide into digital opportunities for the developing world by
focusing mainly on specific and
urgent needs at the local level and seeking new voluntary sources of
³solidarity² finance. The DSF will
complement existing mechanisms for funding the Information Society, which
should continue to be fully
utilized to fund the growth of new ICT infrastructure and services.
INTERNET GOVERNANCE
29. We reaffirm the principles enunciated in the Geneva phase of the WSIS,
in December 2003, that
the Internet has evolved into a global facility available to the public and
its governance should constitute a
core issue of the Information Society agenda. The international management
of the Internet should be
multilateral, transparent and democratic, with the full involvement of
governments, the private sector,
civil society and international Organisations. It should ensure an equitable
distribution of resources,
facilitate access for all and ensure a stable and secure functioning of the
Internet, taking into account
multilingualism.
30. We acknowledge that the Internet, a central element of the
infrastructure of the Information Society,
has evolved from a research and academic facility into a global facility
available to the public.
31. We recognise that Internet governance, carried out according to the
Geneva principles, is an essential
element for a people-centred, inclusive, development oriented and
non-discriminatory Information
Society. Furthermore, we commit ourselves to the stability and security of
the Internet as a global facility
and to ensuring the requisite legitimacy of its governance, based on the
full participation of all
stakeholders, from both developed and developing countries, within their
respective roles and
responsibilities.
32. We thank the UN Secretary-General for establishing the Working Group on
Internet Governance
(WGIG). We commend the chairman, members and secretariat for their work and
for their report.
33. We take note of the WGIG¹s report that has endeavoured to develop a
working definition of Internet
governance. It has helped identify a number of public policy issues that are
relevant to Internet
governance. The report has also enhanced our understanding of the respective
roles and responsibilities of
governments, intergovernmental and international organisations and other
forums as well as the private
sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries.
34. A working definition of Internet governance is the development and
application by governments, the
private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared
principles, norms, rules, decision-making
procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the
Internet.€- 7 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
35. We reaffirm that the management of the Internet encompasses both
technical and public policy
issues and should involve all stakeholders and relevant intergovernmental
and international
Organisations. In this respect it is recognised that:
a) Policy authority for Internet-related public policy issues is the
sovereign right of States. They have
rights and responsibilities for international Internet-related public policy
issues;
b) The private sector has had and should continue to have an important role
in the development of
the Internet, both in the technical and economic fields;
c) Civil society has also played an important role on Internet matters,
especially at community level,
and should continue to play such a role;
d) Intergovernmental Organisations have had and should continue to have a
facilitating role in the
coordination of Internet-related public policy issues;
e) International Organisations have also had and should continue to have an
important role in the
development of Internet-related technical standards and relevant policies.
36. We recognise the valuable contribution by the academic and technical
communities within those
stakeholder groups mentioned in para 35 to the evolution, functioning and
development of the Internet.
37. We seek to improve the coordination of the activities of international
and intergovernmental
organisations and other institutions concerned with Internet Governance and
the exchange of information
among themselves. A multi-stakeholder approach should be adopted, as far as
possible, at all levels.
38. We call for the reinforcement of specialized regional Internet resource
management institutions to
guarantee the national interest and rights of countries in that particular
region to manage its own Internet
resources, while maintaining global coordination in this area.
39. We seek to build confidence and security in the use of ICTs by
strengthening the trust framework.
We reaffirm the necessity to further promote, develop and implement in
cooperation with all
stakeholders a global culture of cyber-security, as outlined in UNGA
Resolution 57/239 and other
relevant regional frameworks. This culture requires national action and
increased international
cooperation to strengthen security while enhancing the protection of
personal information, privacy and
data. Continued development of the culture of cyber-security should enhance
access and trade and must
take into account the level of social and economic development of each
country and respect the
development-oriented aspects of the Information Society.
40. We underline the importance of the prosecution of cybercrime, including
cybercrime committed in
one jurisdiction but having effects in another. We further underline the
necessity of effective and
efficient tools and actions, at national and international levels, to
promote international cooperation
among, inter alia, law enforcement agencies on cybercrime. We call upon
governments in cooperation
with other stakeholders to develop necessary legislation for the
investigation and prosecution of
cybercrime, noting existing frameworks, for example, UNGA Resolutions 55/63
and 56/121 on
³Combatting the criminal misuse of information technologies² and regional
initiatives including but not
limited to the Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime.
41. We resolve to deal effectively with the significant and growing problem
posed by spam. We take
note of current multilateral, multi-stakeholder frameworks for regional and
international cooperation on
spam, for example, the APEC Anti-Spam Strategy, the London Action Plan, the
Seoul Melbourne Anti­
Spam Memorandum of Understanding and the relevant activities of OECD and
ITU. We call upon all
stakeholders, to adopt a multi-pronged approach to counter spam that
includes, inter alia, consumer and
business education; appropriate legislation, law enforcement authorities and
tools; the continued
development of technical and self regulatory measures; best practices; and
international cooperation.€- 8 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
42. We reaffirm our commitment to the freedom to seek, receive, impart and
use information, in
particular, for the creation, accumulation and dissemination of knowledge.
We affirm that measures
undertaken to ensure Internet stability and security, to fight cybercrime
and to counter spam, must protect
and respect the provisions for privacy and freedom of expression as
contained in the relevant parts of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Declaration of
Principles.
43. We reiterate our commitments to the positive uses of the Internet and
other ICTs and to take
appropriate actions and preventive measures, as determined by law, against
abusive uses of ICTs as
mentioned under the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society of the
Geneva Declaration of
Principles and Plan of Action.
44. We also underline the importance of countering terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations on the
Internet, while respecting human rights and in compliance with other
obligations under international law,
as outlined in UNGA A/60/L.1* with reference to Art. 85 of the 2005 World
Summit Outcome.
45. We underline the importance of the security, continuity and stability of
the Internet, and the need to
protect the Internet and other ICT networks from threats and
vulnerabilities. We affirm the need for a
common understanding of the issues of Internet security, and for further
cooperation to facilitate
outreach, the collection and dissemination of security related information
and exchange of good practice
among all stakeholders on measures to combat security threats, at national
and international level.
46. We call upon all stakeholders to ensure respect for privacy and the
protection of personal
information and data, whether via adoption of legislation, the
implementation of collaborative
frameworks, best practices and self-regulatory and technological measures by
business and users.
We encourage all stakeholders, in particular governments, to reaffirm the
right of individuals to
access information according to Geneva Declaration of Principles and other
mutually-agreed relevant
international instruments, and to coordinate internationally as appropriate.
47. We recognise the increasing volume and value of all e-business, both
within and across national
boundaries. We call for the development of national consumer protection laws
and practices, and
enforcement mechanisms where necessary, to protect the right of consumers
who purchase goods and
services online, and for enhanced international cooperation to facilitate a
further expansion, in a non-discriminatory
way, under applicable national laws, of e-business as well as consumer
confidence in it.
48. We note with satisfaction the increasing use of ICT by governments to
serve citizens and encourage
countries that have not yet done so, to develop national programmes and
strategies for e-Government.
49. We reaffirm our commitment to turning the digital divide into digital
opportunity, and we commit
to ensuring harmonious and equitable development for all. We commit to
foster and provide guidance on
development areas in the broader Internet governance arrangements, and to
include, amongst other issues,
international interconnection costs, capacity-building and technology /
know-how transfer.
We encourage the realization of multilingualism in the Internet development
environment, and
we support the development of software that renders itself easily to
localisation, and enables the user to
choose appropriate solutions from different software models including
open-source, free and proprietary
software.
50. We acknowledge that there are concerns, particularly amongst developing
countries, that the charges
for international Internet connectivity should be better balanced to enhance
access. We therefore call for
the development of strategies for increasing affordable global connectivity,
thereby facilitating improved
and equitable access for all, by:
a) Promoting Internet transit and interconnection costs that are
commercially-negotiated in a
competitive environment and that should be oriented towards objective,
transparent and non-discriminatory
parameters, taking into account ongoing work on this subject;
b) Setting up regional high-speed Internet backbone networks and the
creation of national, sub-regional
and regional Internet Exchange Points (IXPs);€- 9 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
c) Recommending to donor programmes and developmental financing mechanisms
to consider the
need to provide funding for initiatives that advance connectivity, IXPs and
local content for
developing countries;
d) Encouraging ITU to continue the study of the question of the
International Internet Connectivity
(IIC) as a matter of urgency, and periodically provide output for
consideration and possible
implementation. We also encourage other relevant institutions to address
this issue;
e) Promoting the development and growth of low-cost terminal equipment, such
as individual and
collective user devices, especially for use in developing countries;
f) Encouraging ISPs and other parties in the commercial negotiations to
adopt practices towards
attainment of fair and balanced interconnectivity costs.
g) Encouraging relevant parties to commercially negotiate reduced
interconnection costs for Least
Developed Countries (LDCs), taking into account the special constraints of
LDCs.
51. We encourage governments and other stakeholders, through partnerships
where appropriate, to
promote ICT education and training in developing countries, by establishing
national strategies for ICT
integration in education and workforce development and dedicating
appropriate resources. Furthermore,
international cooperation would be extended, on a voluntary basis, for
capacity building in areas relevant
to Internet governance. This may include, in particular, building centres of
expertise and other institutions
to facilitate know-how transfer and exchange of best practices, in order to
enhance the participation of
developing countries and all stakeholders in Internet governance mechanisms.
52. In order to ensure effective participation in global Internet
governance, we urge international
Organisations, including inter-governmental Organisations, where relevant,
to ensure that all
stakeholders, particularly from developing countries, have the opportunity
to participate in policy
decision-making relating to Internet Governance, and to promote and
facilitate such participation.
53. We commit to working earnestly towards multilingualization of the
Internet, as part of a
multilateral, transparent and democratic process, involving governments and
all stakeholders, in their
respective roles. In this context, we also support local content
development, translation and adaptation,
digital archives, and diverse forms of digital and traditional media, and
recognise that these activities can
also strengthen local and indigenous communities. We would therefore
underline the need to:
a) Advance the process for the introduction of multilingualism in a number
of areas including
domain names, email addresses and keyword look-up.
b) Implement programmes that allow for the presence of multilingual domain
names and content on
the Internet and the use of various software models in order to fight
against the linguistic digital
divide and ensure the participation of all in the emerging new society.
c) Strengthen cooperation between relevant bodies for the further
development of technical standards
and to foster their global deployment.
54. We recognise that an enabling environment, at national and international
levels, supportive of
foreign direct investment, transfer of technology, and international
cooperation, particularly in the areas
of finance debt and trade, is essential for the development of the
Information Society, including for the
development and diffusion of the Internet and its optimal use. In
particular, the role of the private sector
and civil society as the driver of innovation and private investment in the
development of the Internet is
critical. Value is added at the edges of the network in both developed and
developing countries when the
international and domestic policy environment encourages investment and
innovation.
55. We recognise that the existing arrangements for Internet governance have
worked effectively to
make the Internet the highly robust, dynamic and geographically diverse
medium that it is today, with the€- 10 -
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private sector taking the lead in day-to-day operations, and with innovation
and value creation at the
edges.
56. The Internet remains a highly dynamic medium and therefore any framework
and mechanisms
designed to deal with Internet Governance should be inclusive and responsive
to the exponential growth
and fast evolution of the Internet as a common platform for the development
of multiple applications.
57. The security and stability of the Internet must be maintained.
58. We recognise that Internet Governance includes more than Internet naming
and addressing. It also
includes other significant public policy issues such as, inter alia,
critical Internet resources, the security
and safety of the Internet, and developmental aspects and issues pertaining
to the use of the Internet.
59. We recognise that Internet Governance includes social, economic and
technical issues including
affordability, reliability and quality of service.
60. We further recognise that there are many cross-cutting international
public policy issues that require
attention and are not adequately addressed by the current mechanisms.
61. We are convinced that there is a need to initiate, and reinforce, as
appropriate, a transparent,
democratic, and multilateral process, with the participation of governments,
private sector, civil society
and international Organisations, in their respective roles. This process
could envisage creation of a
suitable framework or mechanisms, where justified, thus spurring the ongoing
and active evolution of the
current arrangements in order to synergise the efforts in this regard.
62. We emphasize that any Internet Governance approach should be inclusive
and responsive and should
continue to promote an enabling environment for innovation, competition and
investment.
63. Countries should not be involved in decisions regarding another
country¹s country-code Top-Level
Domain (ccTLD). Their legitimate interests, as expressed and defined by each
country, in diverse ways,
regarding decisions affecting their ccTLDs, need to be respected, upheld and
addressed via a flexible and
improved framework and mechanisms.
64. We recognise the need for further development of, and strengthened
co-operation among,
stakeholders for public policies for generic top-level domain names (gTLDs).
65. We underline the need to maximise the participation of developing
countries in decisions regarding
Internet Governance, which should reflect their interests, as well as in
development and capacity-building.
66. In view of the continuing internationalization of the Internet and the
principle of universality,
we agree to implement the Geneva Principles regarding Internet Governance.
67. We agree, inter alia, to invite the UN Secretary-General to convene a
new forum for multi-stakeholder
policy dialogue.
68. We recognise that all governments should have an equal role and
responsibility, for international
Internet governance and for ensuring the stability, security and continuity
of the Internet. We also
recognise the need for development of public policy by governments in
consultation with all
stakeholders.
69. We further recognise the need for enhanced cooperation in the future, to
enable governments, on an
equal footing, to carry out their roles and responsibilities, in
international public policy issues pertaining
to the Internet, but not in the day-to-day technical and operational
matters, that do not impact on
international public policy issues.
70. Using relevant international organisations, such cooperation should
include the development of
globally-applicable principles on public policy issues associated with the
coordination and management€- 11 -
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of critical Internet resources. In this regard, we call upon the
organisations responsible for essential tasks
associated with the Internet to contribute to creating an environment that
facilitates this development of
public policy principles.
71. The process towards enhanced cooperation, to be started by the UN
Secretary-General, involving all
relevant organisations by the end of the first quarter of 2006, will involve
all stakeholders in their
respective roles, will proceed as quickly as possible consistent with legal
process, and will be responsive
to innovation. Relevant organisations should commence a process towards
enhanced cooperation
involving all stakeholders, proceeding as quickly as possible and responsive
to innovation. The same
relevant organisations shall be requested to provide annual performance
reports.
72. We ask the UN Secretary-General, in an open and inclusive process, to
convene, by the second
quarter of 2006, a meeting of the new forum for multi-stakeholder policy
dialogue‹called the Internet
Governance Forum (IGF).The mandate of the Forum is to:
a) Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet
Governance in order to foster the
sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the
Internet;
b) Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with different cross-cutting
international public
policies regarding the Internet and discuss issues that do not fall within
the scope of any existing
body;
c) Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organisations and other
institutions on matters
under their purview;
d) Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and in this
regard make full use of the
expertise of the academic, scientific and technical communities;
e) Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the
availability and
affordability of the Internet in the developing world;
f) Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or
future Internet
Governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing countries;
g) Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the relevant
bodies and the general public,
and, where appropriate, make recommendations;
h) Contribute to capacity-building for Internet Governance in developing
countries, drawing fully on
local sources of knowledge and expertise;
i) Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the embodiment of WSIS
principles in Internet
Governance processes;
j) Discuss, inter alia, issues relating to critical Internet resources;
k) Help to find solutions to the issues arising from the use and misuse of
the Internet, of particular
concern to everyday users;
l) Publish its proceedings.
73. The Internet Governance Forum, in its working and function, will be
multilateral, multi-stakeholder,
democratic and transparent. To that end, the proposed IGF could:
a) Build on the existing structures of Internet Governance, with special
emphasis on the
complementarity between all stakeholders involved in this process ­
governments, business
entities, civil society and inter-governmental organisations;
b) Have a lightweight and decentralised structure that would be subject to
periodic review;
c) Meet periodically, as required. IGF meetings, in principle, may be held
in parallel with major
relevant UN conferences, inter alia, to use logistical support.€- 12 -
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74. We encourage the UN Secretary-General to examine a range of options for
the convening of the
Forum, taking into consideration the proven competencies of all stakeholders
in Internet Governance and
the need to ensure their full involvement.
75. The UN Secretary-General would report to UN Member States periodically
on the operation of the
Forum.
76. We ask the UN Secretary-General to examine the desirability of the
continuation of the Forum, in
formal consultation with Forum participants, within five years of its
creation, and to make
recommendations to the UN Membership in this regard.
77. The IGF would have no oversight function and would not replace existing
arrangements,
mechanisms, institutions or organisations, but would involve them and take
advantage of their expertise.
It would be constituted as a neutral, non-duplicative and non-binding
process. It would have no
involvement in day-to-day or technical operations of the Internet.
78. The UN Secretary-General should extend invitations to all stakeholders
and relevant parties to
participate at the inaugural meeting of the IGF, taking into consideration
balanced geographical
representation. The UN Secretary-General should also:
a) draw upon any appropriate resources from all interested stakeholders,
including the proven
expertise of ITU, as demonstrated during the WSIS process; and
b) establish an effective and cost-efficient bureau to support the IGF,
ensuring multi-stakeholder
participation.
79. Diverse matters relating to Internet Governance would continue to be
addressed in other relevant
fora.
80. We encourage the development of multi-stakeholder processes at the
national, regional and
international levels to discuss and collaborate on the expansion and
diffusion of the Internet as a means to
support development efforts to achieve internationally-agreed development
goals and objectives,
including the Millennium Development Goals.
81. We reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of the Geneva
Principles.
82. We welcome the generous offer of the Government of Greece to host the
first meeting of the IGF in
Athens no later than 2006 and we call upon the UN Secretary-General to
extend invitations to all
stakeholders and relevant parties to participate at the inaugural meeting of
the IGF.
IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP
83. Building an inclusive development-oriented Information Society will
require unremitting multi-stakeholder
effort. We thus commit ourselves to remain fully engaged‹nationally,
regionally and
internationally‹to ensure sustainable implementation and follow-up of the
outcomes and commitments
reached during the WSIS process and its Geneva and Tunis phases of the
Summit. Taking into account
the multifaceted nature of building the Information Society, effective
cooperation among governments,
private sector, civil society and the United Nations and other international
organisations, according to
their different roles and responsibilities and leveraging on their
expertise, is essential.
84. Governments and other stakeholders should identify those areas where
further effort and resources
are required, and jointly identify, and where appropriate develop,
implementation strategies, mechanisms
and processes for WSIS outcomes at international, regional, national and
local levels, paying particular
attention to people and groups that are still marginalized in their access
to and utilization of ICTs.€- 13 -
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____________________
85. Taking into consideration the leading role of governments in partnership
with other stakeholders in
implementing the WSIS outcomes, including the Geneva Plan of Action, at the
national level,
we encourage those governments that have not yet done so to elaborate, as
appropriate, comprehensive,
forward looking and sustainable national e-strategies, including ICT
strategies and sectoral e-strategies as
appropriate 1 , as an integral part of national development plans and
poverty reduction strategies, as soon
as possible and before 2010.
86. We support regional and international integration efforts aimed at
building a people-centred,
inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, and we reiterate
that strong cooperation within
and among regions is indispensable to support knowledge-sharing. Regional
cooperation should
contribute to national capacity-building and to the development of regional
implementation strategies.
87. We affirm that the exchange of views and sharing of effective practices
and resources is essential to
implementing the outcomes of WSIS at the regional and international levels.
To this end, efforts should
be made to provide and share, among all stakeholders, knowledge and
know-how, related to the design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of e-strategies and policies, as
appropriate. We recognise as
fundamental elements to bridge the digital divide in developing countries,
in a sustainable way, poverty
reduction, enhanced national capacity-building and the promotion of national
technological development.
88. We reaffirm that through the international cooperation of governments
and the partnership of all
stakeholders, it will be possible to succeed in our challenge of harnessing
the potential of ICTs as a tool,
at the service of development, to promote the use of information and
knowledge to achieve the
internationally-agreed development goals and objectives, including the
Millennium Development Goals,
as well as to address the national and local development priorities, thereby
further improving the socio-
economic development of all human beings.
89. We are determined to improve international, regional and national
connectivity and affordable
access to ICTs and information through an enhanced international cooperation
of all stakeholders that
promotes technology exchange and technology transfer, human resource
development and training, thus
increasing the capacity of developing countries to innovate and to
participate fully in, and contribute to,
the Information Society.
90. We reaffirm our commitment to providing equitable access to information
and knowledge for all,
recognizing the role of ICTs for economic growth and development. We are
committed to working
towards achieving the indicative targets, set out in the Geneva Plan of
Action, that serve as global
references for improving connectivity and universal, ubiquitous, equitable,
non-discriminatory and
affordable access to, and use of ICTs, considering different national
circumstances, to be achieved by
2015, and to using ICTs, as a tool to achieve the internationally-agreed
development goals and objectives,
including the Millennium Development Goals, by:
a) mainstreaming and aligning national e-strategies, across local, national,
and regional action plans, as
appropriate and in accordance with local and national development
priorities, with in-built time-bound
measures;
b) developing and implementing enabling policies that reflect national
realities and that promote a
supportive international environment, foreign direct investment as well as
the mobilization of
domestic resources, in order to promote and foster entrepreneurship,
particularly Small, Medium and
Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), taking into account the relevant market and
cultural contexts. These
1 Throughout this text, further references to ³e-strategies² are interpreted
as including also ICT strategies
and Sectoral e-strategies, as appropriate.€- 14 -
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policies should be reflected in a transparent, equitable regulatory
framework to create a competitive
environment to support these goals and strengthen economic growth;
c) building ICT capacity for all and confidence in the use of ICTs by all --
including youth, older
persons, women, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and remote and
rural communities --
through the improvement and delivery of relevant education and training
programmes and systems
including lifelong and distance learning;
d) implementing effective training and education, particularly in ICT
science and technology, that
motivates and promotes participation and active involvement of girls and
women in the decision-making
process of building the Information Society;
e) paying special attention to the formulation of universal design concepts
and the use of assistive
technologies that promote access for all persons including those with
disabilities;
f) promoting public policies aimed at providing affordable access at all
levels, including community-level,
to hardware as well as software and connectivity through an increasingly
converging
technological environment, capacity-building and local content;
g) improving access to the world's health knowledge and telemedicine
services, in particular in areas
such as global cooperation in emergency response, access to and networking
among health
professionals to help improve quality of life and environmental conditions;
h) building ICT capacities to improve access and use of postal networks and
services;
i) using ICTs to improve access to agricultural knowledge, combat poverty,
and support production of
and access to locally-relevant agriculture-related content;
j) developing and implementing e-government applications based on open
standards in order to enhance
the growth and interoperability of e-government systems, at all levels,
thereby furthering access to
government information and services, and contributing to building ICT
networks and developing
services that are available anywhere and anytime, to anyone and on any
device;
k) supporting educational, scientific, and cultural institutions, including
libraries, archives and
museums, in their role of developing, providing equitable, open and
affordable access to, and
preserving diverse and varied content, including in digital form, to support
informal and formal
education, research and innovation; and in particular supporting libraries
in their public service role of
providing free and equitable access to information and of improving ICT
literacy and community
connectivity, particularly in underserved communities;
l) enhancing the capacity of communities in all regions to develop content
in local and/or indigenous
languages;
m) strengthening the creation of quality e-content, on national, regional
and international levels;
n) promoting the use of traditional and new media in order to foster
universal access to information,
culture and knowledge for all people, especially vulnerable populations and
populations in
developing countries and using, inter alia, radio and television as
educational and learning tools;
o) Reaffirming the independence, pluralism and diversity of media, and
freedom of information
including through, as appropriate, the development of domestic legislation.
We reiterate our call for
the responsible use and treatment of information by the media in accordance
with the highest ethical
and professional standards. We reaffirm the necessity of reducing
international imbalances affecting€- 15 -
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the media, particularly as regards infrastructure, technical resources and
the development of human
skills. These reaffirmations are made with reference to Geneva Declaration
of Principles paragraphs
55 to 59.
p) strongly encouraging ICT enterprises and entrepreneurs to develop and use
environment-friendly
production processes in order to minimise the negative impacts of the use
and manufacture of ICTs
and disposal of ICT waste on people and the environment. In this context, it
is important to give
particular attention to the specific needs of the developing countries;
q) incorporating regulatory, self-regulatory, and other effective policies
and frameworks to protect
children and young people from abuse and exploitation through ICTs into
national plans of action
and e-strategies;
r) promoting the development of advanced research networks, at national,
regional and international
levels, in order to improve collaboration in science, technology and higher
education;
s) promoting voluntary service, at the community level, to help maximise the
developmental impact of
ICTs;
t) promoting the use of ICTs to enhance flexible ways of working, including
teleworking, leading to
greater productivity and job creation.
91. We recognise the intrinsic relationship between disaster reduction,
sustainable development and the
eradication of poverty and that disasters seriously undermine investment in
a very short time and remain a
major impediment to sustainable development and poverty eradication. We are
clear as to the important
enabling role of ICTs at the national, regional and international levels
including:
a) Promoting technical cooperation and enhancing the capacity of countries,
particularly developing
countries, in utilizing ICT tools for disaster early warning, management and
emergency
communications, including dissemination of understandable warnings to those
at risk;
b) Promoting regional and international cooperation for easy access to and
sharing of information
for disaster management, and exploring modalities for the easier
participation of developing countries;
c) Working expeditiously towards the establishment of standards-based
monitoring and worldwide
early-warning systems linked to national and regional networks and
facilitating emergency disaster
response all over the world, particularly in high-risk regions.
92. We encourage countries, including all other interested parties, to make
available child helplines,
taking into account the need for mobilization of appropriate resources. For
this purpose, easy-to-remember
numbers, accessible from all phones and free of charge, should be made
available.
93. We seek to digitize our historical data and cultural heritage for the
benefit of future generations. We
encourage effective information management policies in the public and
private sectors, including the use
of standards-based digital archiving and innovative solutions to overcome
technological obsolescence, as
a means to ensure long-term preservation of, and continued access to,
information.
94. We acknowledge that everyone should benefit from the potential that the
Information Society
offers. Therefore, we invite governments to assist, on a voluntary basis,
those countries affected by any
unilateral measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter
of the United Nations that
impedes the full achievement of economic and social development by the
population of the affected
countries, and that hinders the well-being of their population.€- 16 -
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95. We call upon international and intergovernmental organisations to
develop, within approved
resources, their policy analysis and capacity-building programmes, based on
practical and replicable
experiences of ICT matters, policies and actions that have led to economic
growth and poverty
alleviation, including through the improved competitiveness of enterprises.
96. We recall the importance of creating a trustworthy, transparent and
non-discriminatory legal,
regulatory and policy environment. To that end, we reiterate that ITU and
other regional Organisations
should take steps to ensure rational, efficient and economic use of, and
equitable access to, the radio-frequency
spectrum by all countries, based on relevant international agreements.
97. We acknowledge that multi-stakeholder participation is essential to the
successful building of a
people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society and
that governments could play
an important role in this process. We underline that the participation of
all stakeholders in implementing
WSIS outcomes, and following them up on national, regional and international
levels with the
overarching goal of helping countries to achieve internationally-agreed
development goals and objectives,
including the Millennium Development Goals, is key to that success.
98. We encourage strengthened and continuing co-operation between and among
stakeholders to ensure
effective implementation of the Geneva and Tunis outcomes, for instance
through the promotion of
national, regional and international multi-stakeholder partnerships
including Public Private Partnerships
(PPPs), and the promotion of national and regional multi-stakeholder
thematic platforms, in a joint effort
and dialogue with developing and less developed countries, development
partners and actors in the ICT
sector. In that respect, we welcome partnerships such as the ITU-led
³Connect the World² initiative.
99. We agree to ensure the sustainability of progress towards the goals of
WSIS after the completion of
its Tunis phase and we decide, therefore, to establish a mechanism for
implementation and follow-up at
national, regional and international levels.
100. At the national level, based on the WSIS outcomes, we encourage
governments, with the
participation of all stakeholders and bearing in mind the importance of an
enabling environment, to set up
a national implementation mechanism, in which:
a) National e-strategies, where appropriate, should be an integral part of
national development plans,
including Poverty Reduction Strategies, aiming to contribute to the
achievement of internationally-agreed
development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development
Goals;
b) ICTs should be fully mainstreamed into strategies for Official
Development Assistance (ODA)
through more effective information-sharing and co-ordination among
development partners, and through
analysis and sharing of best practices and lessons learned from experience
with ICT for development
programmes;
c) Existing bilateral and multilateral technical assistance programmes,
including those under the UN
Development Assistance Framework, should be used whenever appropriate to
assist governments in
their implementation efforts at the national level;
d) Common Country Assessment reports should contain a component on ICT for
development.
101. At the regional level:
a) Upon request from governments, regional inter-governmental Organisations
in collaboration with
other stakeholders should carry out WSIS implementation activities,
exchanging information and
best practices at the regional level, as well as facilitating policy debate
on the use of ICT for
development, with a focus on attaining the internationally-agreed
development goals and
objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals;€- 17 -
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b) UN Regional Commissions, based on request of Member States and within
approved budgetary
resources, may organize regional WSIS follow-up activities in collaboration
with regional and
sub-regional Organisations, with appropriate frequency, as well as assisting
members states with
technical and relevant information for the development of regional
strategies and the
implementation of the outcomes of regional conferences;
c) We consider a multi-stakeholder approach and the participation in
regional WSIS implementation
activities by the private sector, civil society, and the United Nations and
other international
organisations to be essential.
102. At the international level, bearing in mind the importance of the
enabling environment:
a) Implementation and follow-up of the outcomes of the Geneva and Tunis
phases of the Summit
should take into account the main themes and action lines in the Summit
documents;
b) Each UN agency should act according to its mandate and competencies, and
pursuant to decisions
of their respective governing bodies, and within existing approved
resources;
c) Implementation and follow-up should include inter-governmental and
multi-stakeholder
components.
103. We invite UN agencies and other intergovernmental organisations, in
line with
UNGA Resolution 57/270 B, to facilitate activities among different
stakeholders, including civil society
and the business sector, to help national governments in their
implementation efforts. We request the
UN Secretary-General, in consultation with members of the UN system Chief
Executives Board for
coordination (CEB), to establish within the CEB, a UN group on the
Information Society consisting of the
relevant UN bodies and Organisations with the mandate to facilitate the
implementation of WSIS
outcomes and to suggest to CEB that, in considering lead agency(ies) of this
group, it takes into
consideration the experience of and activities in the WSIS process
undertaken by ITU, UNESCO and
UNDP.
104. We further request the UN Secretary-General to report to the UNGA
through ECOSOC by
June 2006, on the modalities of the interagency coordination of the
implementation of WSIS outcomes
including recommendations on the follow up process.
105. We request that ECOSOC oversees the system- wide follow-up of the
Geneva and Tunis
outcomes of WSIS. To this end, we request that ECOSOC, at its substantive
session of 2006, reviews the
mandate, agenda and composition of the Commission on Science and Technology
for Development
(CSTD), including considering the strengthening of the Commission, taking
into account the multi-stakeholder
approach.
106. WSIS implementation and follow-up should be an integral part of the UN
integrated follow-up to
major UN conferences and should contribute to the achievement of
internationally-agreed development
goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals. It should
not require the creation of
any new operational bodies.
107. International and regional Organisations, should assess and report
regularly on universal
accessibility of nations to ICTs, with the aim of creating equitable
opportunities for the growth of ICT
sectors of developing countries.
108. We attach great importance to multi-stakeholder implementation at the
international level,
which should be organised taking into account the themes and action lines in
the Plan of Action, and
moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate. An Annex to this
document offers an
indicative and non exhaustive list of facilitators/moderators for the action
lines of the Geneva Plan of
Action.
109. The experience of, and the activities undertaken by, UN agencies in the
WSIS process‹notably
ITU, UNESCO and UNDP‹should continue to be used to their fullest extent.
These three agencies€- 18 -
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should play leading facilitating roles in the implementation of the Plan of
Action and organise a meeting
of moderators/facilitators of action lines, as mentioned in the Annex.
110. The coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities would
help to avoid duplication
of activities. This should include, inter alia, information exchange,
creation of knowledge, sharing of best
practices, and assistance in developing multi-stakeholder and public/private
partnerships.
111. We request United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to make an overall
review of the
implementation of WSIS outcomes in 2015.
112. We call for periodic evaluation, using an agreed methodology, such as
described in paragraphs
113-120.
113. Appropriate indicators and benchmarking, including community
connectivity indicators, should
clarify the magnitude of the digital divide, in both its domestic and
international dimensions, and keep it
under regular assessment, and tracking global progress in the use of ICTs to
achieve internationally-agreed
development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development
Goals.
114. The development of ICT indicators is important for measuring the
digital divide. We note the
launch, in June 2004, of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development,
and its efforts:
a) to develop a common set of core ICT indicators; to increase the
availability of internationally
comparable ICT statistics as well as to establish a mutually-agreed
framework for their
elaboration, for further consideration and decision by the UN Statistical
Commission;
b) to promote capacity building in developing countries for monitoring the
Information Society;
c) to assess the current and potential impact of ICTs on development,
poverty reduction;
d) to develop specific gender-disaggregated indicators to measure the
digital divide in its various
dimensions.
115. We also note the launch of the ICT Opportunity Index and the Digital
Opportunity Index, which will
build upon the common set of core ICT indicators as they were defined within
the Partnership on
Measuring the ICT for Development.
116. We stress that all indices and indicators must take into account
different levels of development and
national circumstances.
117. The further development of these indicators should be undertaken in a
collaborative, cost-effective
and non-duplicative fashion.
118. We invite the international community to strengthen the statistical
capacity of developing countries
by giving appropriate support at national and regional levels.
119. We commit ourselves to review and follow-up progress in bridging the
digital divide, taking into
account the different levels of development among nations, so as to achieve
the internationally-agreed
development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development
Goals, assessing the
effectiveness of investment and international cooperation efforts in
building the Information Society,
identifying gaps as well as deficits in investment and devising strategies
to address them.
120. The sharing of information related to the implementation of WSIS
outcomes is an important element
of evaluation. We note with appreciation the report on the Stocktaking of
WSIS-related activities, which
will serve as one of the valuable tools for assisting with the follow-up,
beyond the conclusion of the Tunis
Phase of the Summit, as well as the ³Golden Book² of initiatives launched
during the Tunis phase.
We encourage all WSIS stakeholders to continue to contribute information on
their activities to the€- 19 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
public WSIS stocktaking database, maintained by ITU. In this regard, we
invite all countries to gather
information at the national level with the involvement of all stakeholders,
to contribute to the stocktaking.
121. There is a need to build more awareness on the Internet in order to
make it a global facility which is
truly available to the public. We call upon the UNGA to declare 17 May as
World Information Society
Day to help to raise awareness, on an annual basis, of the importance of
this global facility, on the issues
dealt with in the Summit, especially the possibilities that the use of ICT
can bring for societies and
economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.
122. We request the Secretary-General of the Summit to report to the General
Assembly of the United
Nations on its outcome, as requested in UNGA Resolution 59/220.€- 20 -
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (Rev. 1)-E
Annex
Action Line Possible
moderators/facilitators
€ 1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in
the promotion of ICTs for development
ECOSOC/UN Regional
Commissions/ITU
€ 2. Information and communication infrastructure ITU
C3. Access to information and knowledge ITU/UNESCO
C4. Capacity building UNDP/UNESCO/ITU/
UNCTAD
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs ITU
C6. Enabling environment ITU/UNDP/UN REGIONAL
COMMISSIONS/UNCTAD
C7. ICT Applications
€ E-government
€ E-business
€ E-learning
€ E-health
€ E-employment
€ E-environment
€ E-agriculture
€ E-science
UNDP/ITU
WTO/UNCTAD/ITU/UPU
UNESCO/ITU/UNIDO
WHO/ITU
ILO/ITU
WHO/WMO/UNEP/UN-Habitat/
ITU/ICAO
FAO/ITU
UNESCO/ITU/UNCTAD
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local
content
UNESCO
C9. Media UNESCO
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society UNESCO/ECOSOC
C11. International and regional cooperation UN REGIONAL
COMMISSIONS/
UNDP/ITU/UNESCO/ECOSOC

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