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Document WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/4-E
12 December 2003
Original: English Building the Information Society: a
global challenge in the new Millennium
A. Our Common Vision of the Information Society
1. We the representatives of the peoples of the world,
assembled in Geneva from 10 – 12 December 2003 for the first phase of
the World Summit on the Information Society, declare our common
desire and commitment to build a people-centered, inclusive and
development- oriented Information Society, 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.
2. Our challenge is to harness the potential of
information and communication technology to promote the development
goals of the Millennium Declaration, namely the eradication of extreme
poverty and hunger; achievement of universal primary education;
promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of
child morality; improvement of maternal health; to combat HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and
development of global partnerships for development for the attainment of
a more peaceful, just and prosperous world. We also reiterate our
commitment to the achievement of sustainable development and agreed
development goals, as contained in the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan
of Implementation and the Monterrey Consensus, and other outcomes of
relevant United Nations Summits.
3. We reaffirm, the universality, indivisibility,
interdependence and the interrelation of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, as enshrined
in the Vienna Declaration. We also reaffirm that democracy, sustainable
development, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as
well as good governance at all levels are interdependent and mutually
reinforcing. We further resolve to strengthen respect for the rule of
law in international as in national affairs.
4. We reaffirm, as an essential foundation of the
Information Society, and as outlined in Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, that everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression; that this rights includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Communication is a fundamental social process, a basic human need and
the foundation of all social organization. It is central to the
Information Society. Everyone, everywhere should have the opportunity to
participate and no one should be excluded from the benefits the
Information Society offers.
5. We further reaffirm our commitment to the
provisions of Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
that everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and
full development of their personality is possible, and that, in the
exercise of their rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to
such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of
securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of
others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order
and the general welfare in a democratic society. These rights and
freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and
principles of the United Nations. In this way, we shall promote an
Information Society where human dignity is respected.
6. In keeping with the spirit of this declaration, we
rededicate ourselves to upholding the principle of the
sovereign equality of all States.
7. We recognize that science has a central role in
the development of the Information Society. Many of the building blocks
of the Information Society are the result of scientific and technical
advances made possible by the sharing of research results.
8. We recognize that education, knowledge,
information and communication are at the core of human progress,
endeavor and well-being. Further, Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) have an immense impact on virtually all aspects of
our lives. The rapid progress of these technologies opens completely new
opportunities to attain higher levels of development. The capacity of
these technologies to reduce many traditional obstacles, especially
those of time and distance, for the first time in history makes it
possible to use the potential of these technologies for the benefit of
millions of people in all corners of the world.
9. We are aware that ICTs should be regarded as
tools and not as an end in themselves. Under favorable conditions, these
technologies can be a powerful instrument, increasing productivity,
generating economic growth, job creation and employability and improving
the quality of life of all. They can also promote dialogue among people,
nations and civilizations.
10. We are also fully aware that the benefits of the
Information Technology revolution are today unevenly distributed between
the developed and developing countries and within societies. We are
fully committed to turning this digital divide into a digital
opportunity for all, particularly for those who risk being left behind
and being further marginalized.
11. We are committed to realizing our common vision
of the Information Society for ourselves and for future generations. We
recognize that young people are the future workforce and leading
creators and earliest adopters of ICTs. They must therefore be empowered
as learners, developers, contributors, entrepreneurs and
decision-makers. We must focus especially on young people who have not
yet been able to benefit fully from the opportunities provided by the
ICTs. We are also committed to ensuring that the development of ICT
applications provided by ICT applications and operation of services
respects the rights of children as well as their protection and
well-being.
12. We affirm that development of ICTs provides
enormous opportunities for women, who should be an integral part of, and
key actors in the Information Society. We are committed to ensuring that
the Information Society enables women’s empowerment and their full
participation on the basis on equality in all spheres of society and in
all decision-making processes. To this end, we should mainstream a
gender equality perspective and use ICTs as a tool to that end.
13. In building the Information Society, we shall pay
particular attention to the special needs of marginalized and
vulnerable groups of society, including migrants, internally displaced
persons and refugees, unemployed and underprivileged people, minorities
and nomadic people. We shall also recognize the special needs of older
persons and persons with disabilities.
14. We are resolute to empower the poor,
particularly those living in remote, rural and marginalized urban areas,
to access information and to use ICTs as a tool to support their efforts
to lift themselves out of poverty.
15. In the evaluation of the Information Society, particular
attention must be given to the special situation of indigenous people,
as well as to the preservation of their heritage and their cultural
legacy.
16. 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.
17. We recognize that building an inclusive
Information Society requires new forms solidarity, partnership and
cooperation among governments and other stakeholders, i. e. the private
sector, civil society and international organizations. Realizing that
the ambitious goal of this Declaration – bridging the digital divide and
ensuring harmonious, fair and equitable development for all – will
require strong commitment by all stakeholders, we call for digital
solidarity, both at national and international levels.
18. Nothing in this Declaration shall be constructed as impairing,
contradicting, restricting or derogating from the provisions of the
Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, any other international instruments or national laws adopted in
furtherance of these instruments.
B. An Information Society for All: Key Principles
19. We are resolute in our quest to ensure that
everyone can benefit from the opportunities that ICTs can offer. We
agree that to meet these challenges, all stakeholders should work
together to: improve access to information and communication
infrastructure and technologies as well as to information and knowledge;
build capacity; increase confidence and security in this use of ICTs;
create an enabling environment at all levels; develop and widen ICT
applications; foster and respect cultural diversity; recognize the role
of the media; address the ethical dimensions of the Information Society;
and encourage international and regional cooperation. We agree that
these are the key principles for building an inclusive Information
Society.
1) The role of governments and all stakeholders in the
promotion of ICTs for development
20. Governments, as well as private sector, civil society and the
United Nations and other international organizations have an important
role and responsibility in the development of the Information Society
and, as appropriate, in decision-making processes. Building a
people-centered Information Society is a joint effort, which requires
cooperation and partnership among all stakeholders.
2) Information and communication infrastructure: an essential
foundation for an inclusive Information Society
21. Connectivity is a central enabling agent in building the
Information Society. Universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable
access to ICT infrastructure and services, constitutes one of the
challenges of the Information Society and should be an objective of all
stakeholders involved in building it. Connectivity also involves access
to energy and postal services, which should be assured in conformity
with the domestic legislation of each country.
22. A well-developed information and communication network
infrastructure and applications, adapted to regional, national and local
conditions, easily-accessible and affordable, and making greater use of
broadband other innovative technologies wherepossible, can accelerate
the social and economic progress of countries, and the well-being of all
individuals, communities and peoples.
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