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WSIS Executive Secretariat |
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REPORT OF THE GENEVA PHASE OF THE
WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
GENEVA-PALEXPO, 10-12 December 2003 |
| Chapter I |
Resolutions adopted by the Summit |
2 |
| Chapter II |
Attendance and organization of work |
27 |
| Chapter III |
General debate |
35 |
| Chapter IV |
Round tables |
40 |
| Chapter V |
Report of the Credentials Committee |
43 |
| Chapter VI |
Report from Multi-stakeholder Events |
46 |
| Chapter VII |
Adoption of the Declaration of Principles |
47 |
| ChapterVIII |
Adoption of the Plan of Action |
50 |
| Chapter IX |
Arrangements for the Tunis phase of the Summit |
51 |
| Chapter X |
Adoption of the Draft Report of the Geneva phase of the Summit |
52 |
| Chapter XI |
Closing of the Geneva phase of the Summit |
53 |
| Annex 1 |
List of Documents before the Summit |
54 |
| Annex 2A |
Chairperson's summary of Round table 1:
Creating Digital Opportunities |
55 |
| Annex 2B |
Chairperson’s summary of Round table 2
Opportunities and Challenges – Diversity in cyberspace |
57 |
| Annex 2C |
Chairperson’s summary of Round table 3:
ICTs as a tool to achieve the Millennium Development goals |
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60 |
CHAPTER I
Resolutions adopted by the Summit
A. Declaration of Principles
The World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva Phase, at its Fifth
Plenary Meeting, 12 December 2003, adopted the following Declaration of
Principles (WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/4):
Declaration of Principles
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-centred, 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 mortality; 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 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 right 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, endeavour 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 favourable 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 ICTs. We are also committed to ensuring
that the development of 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 evolution of the Information Society, particular attention
must be given to the special situation of indigenous peoples, 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 of 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 construed 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
instrument 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 the 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-centred 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
and other innovative technologies where possible, can accelerate the social
and economic progress of countries, and the well-being of all individuals,
communities and peoples.
23. Policies that create a favourable climate for stability, predictability
and fair competition at all levels should be developed and implemented
in a manner that not only attracts more private investment for ICT infrastructure
development but also enables universal service obligations to be met in
areas where traditional market conditions fail to work. In disadvantaged
areas, the establishment of ICT public access points in places such as
post offices, schools, libraries and archives, can provide effective means
for ensuring universal access to the infrastructure and services of the
Information Society.
3) Access to information and knowledge
24. The ability for all to access and contribute information, ideas and
knowledge is essential in an inclusive Information Society.
25. The sharing and strengthening of global knowledge for development
can be enhanced by removing barriers to equitable access to information
for economic, social, political, health, cultural, educational, and scientific
activities and by facilitating access to public domain information, including
by universal design and the use of assistive technologies.
26. A rich public domain is an essential element for the growth of the
Information Society, creating multiple benefits such as an educated public,
new jobs, innovation, business opportunities, and the advancement of sciences.
Information in the public domain should be easily accessible to support
the Information Society, and protected from misappropriation. Public institutions
such as libraries and archives, museums, cultural collections and other
community-based access points should be strengthened so as to promote
the preservation of documentary records and free and equitable access
to information.
27. Access to information and knowledge can be promoted by increasing
awareness among all stakeholders of the possibilities offered by different
software models, including proprietary, open-source and free software,
in order to increase competition, access by users, diversity of choice,
and to enable all users to develop solutions which best meet their requirements.
Affordable access to software should be considered as an important component
of a truly inclusive Information Society.
28. We strive to promote universal access with equal opportunities for
all to scientific knowledge and the creation and dissemination of scientific
and technical information, including open access initiatives for scientific
publishing.
4) Capacity building
29. Each person should have the opportunity to acquire the necessary
skills and knowledge in order to understand, participate actively in,
and benefit fully from, the Information Society and the knowledge economy.
Literacy and universal primary education are key factors for building
a fully inclusive information society, paying particular attention to
the special needs of girls and women. Given the wide range of ICT and
information specialists required at all levels, building institutional
capacity deserves special attention.
30. The use of ICTs in all stages of education, training and human resource
development should be promoted, taking into account the special needs
of persons with disabilities and disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
31. Continuous and adult education, re-training, life-long learning,
distance-learning and other special services, such as telemedicine, can
make an essential contribution to employability and help people benefit
from the new opportunities offered by ICTs for traditional jobs, self-employment
and new professions. Awareness and literacy in ICTs are an essential foundation
in this regard.
32. Content creators, publishers, and producers, as well as teachers,
trainers, archivists, librarians and learners, should play an active role
in promoting the Information Society, particularly in the Least Developed
Countries.
33. To achieve a sustainable development of the Information Society,
national capability in ICT research and development should be enhanced.
Furthermore, partnerships, in particular between and among developed and
developing countries, including countries with economies in transition,
in research and development, technology transfer, manufacturing and utilization
of ICT products and services are crucial for promoting capacity building
and global participation in the Information Society. The manufacture of
ICTs presents a significant opportunity for creation of wealth.
34. The attainment of our shared aspirations, in particular for developing
countries and countries with economies in transition, to become fully-fledged
members of the Information Society, and their positive integration into
the knowledge economy, depends largely on increased capacity building
in the areas of education, technology know-how and access to information,
which are major factors in determining development and competitiveness.
5) Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
35. Strengthening the trust framework, including information security
and network security, authentication, privacy and consumer protection,
is a prerequisite for the development of the Information Society and for
building confidence among users of ICTs. A global culture of cyber-security
needs to be promoted, developed and implemented in cooperation with all
stakeholders and international expert bodies. These efforts should be
supported by increased international cooperation. Within this global culture
of cyber-security, it is important to enhance security and to ensure the
protection of data and privacy, while enhancing access and trade. In addition,
it must take into account the level of social and economic development
of each country and respect the development-oriented aspects of the Information
Society.
36. While recognizing the principles of universal and non-discriminatory
access to ICTs for all nations, we support the activities of the United
Nations to prevent the potential use of ICTs for purposes that are inconsistent
with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security,
and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure within States,
to the detriment of their security. It is necessary to prevent the use
of information resources and technologies for criminal and terrorist purposes,
while respecting human rights.
37. Spam is a significant and growing problem for users, networks and
the Internet as a whole. Spam and cyber-security should be dealt with
at appropriate national and international levels.
6) Enabling environment
38. An enabling environment at national and international levels is essential
for the Information Society. ICTs should be used as an important tool
for good governance.
39. The rule of law, accompanied by a supportive, transparent, pro-competitive,
technologically neutral and predictable policy and regulatory framework
reflecting national realities, is essential for building a people-centred
Information Society. Governments should intervene, as appropriate, to
correct market failures, to maintain fair competition, to attract investment,
to enhance the development of the ICT infrastructure and applications,
to maximize economic and social benefits, and to serve national priorities.
40. A dynamic and enabling international environment, supportive of
foreign direct investment, transfer of technology, and international cooperation,
particularly in the areas of finance, debt and trade, as well as full
and effective participation of developing countries in global decision-making,
are vital complements to national development efforts related to ICTs.
Improving global affordable connectivity would contribute significantly
to the effectiveness of these development efforts.
41. ICTs are an important enabler of growth through efficiency gains
and increased productivity, in particular by small and medium sized enterprises
(SMEs). In this regard, the development of the Information Society is
important for broadly-based economic growth in both developed and developing
economies. ICT-supported productivity gains and applied innovations across
economic sectors should be fostered. Equitable distribution of the benefits
contributes to poverty eradication and social development. Policies that
foster productive investment and enable firms, notably SMEs, to make the
changes needed to seize the benefits from ICTs, are likely to be the most
beneficial.
42. Intellectual Property protection is important to encourage innovation
and creativity in the Information Society; similarly, the wide dissemination,
diffusion, and sharing of knowledge is important to encourage innovation
and creativity. Facilitating meaningful participation by all in intellectual
property issues and knowledge sharing through full awareness and capacity
building is a fundamental part of an inclusive Information Society.
43. Sustainable development can best be advanced in the Information Society
when ICT-related efforts and programmes are fully integrated in national
and regional development strategies. We welcome the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and encourage the international community
to support the ICT-related measures of this initiative as well as those
belonging to similar efforts in other regions. Distribution of the benefits
of ICT-driven growth contributes to poverty eradication and sustainable
development.
44. Standardization is one of the essential building blocks of the Information
Society. There should be particular emphasis on the development and adoption
of international standards. The development and use of open, interoperable,
non-discriminatory and demand-driven standards that take into account
needs of users and consumers is a basic element for the development and
greater diffusion of ICTs and more affordable access to them, particularly
in developing countries. International standards aim to create an environment
where consumers can access services worldwide regardless of underlying
technology.
45. The radio frequency spectrum should be managed in the public interest
and in accordance with principle of legality, with full observance of
national laws and regulation as well as relevant international agreements.
46. In building the Information Society, States are strongly urged to
take steps with a view to the avoidance of, and refrain from, 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.
47. Recognizing that ICTs are progressively changing our working practices,
the creation of a secure, safe and healthy working environment, appropriate
to the utilisation of ICTs, respecting all relevant international norms,
is fundamental.
48. 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 organizations.
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.
49. The management of the Internet encompasses both technical and public
policy issues and should involve all stakeholders and relevant intergovernmental
and international organizations. In this respect it is recognized 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 organizations have had and should continue to have
a facilitating role in the coordination of Internet-related public policy
issues;
e) International organizations have also had and should continue to have
an important role in the development of Internet-related technical standards
and relevant policies.
50. International Internet governance issues should be addressed in a
coordinated manner. We ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations
to set up a working group on Internet governance, in an open and inclusive
process that ensures a mechanism for the full and active participation
of governments, the private sector and civil society from both developing
and developed countries, involving relevant intergovernmental and international
organizations and forums, to investigate and make proposals for action,
as appropriate, on the governance of Internet by 2005.
7) ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life
51. The usage and deployment of ICTs should seek to create benefits in
all aspects of our daily life. ICT applications are potentially important
in government operations and services, health care and health information,
education and training, employment, job creation, business, agriculture,
transport, protection of environment and management of natural resources,
disaster prevention, and culture, and to promote eradication of poverty
and other agreed development goals. ICTs should also contribute to sustainable
production and consumption patterns and reduce traditional barriers, providing
an opportunity for all to access local and global markets in a more equitable
manner. Applications should be user-friendly, accessible to all, affordable,
adapted to local needs in languages and cultures, and support sustainable
development. To this effect, local authorities should play a major role
in the provision of ICT services for the benefit of their populations.
8) Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and
local content
52. Cultural diversity is the common heritage of humankind. The Information
Society should be founded on and stimulate respect for cultural identity,
cultural and linguistic diversity, traditions and religions, and foster
dialogue among cultures and civilizations. The promotion, affirmation
and preservation of diverse cultural identities and languages as reflected
in relevant agreed United Nations documents including UNESCO's Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity, will further enrich the Information
Society.
53. The creation, dissemination and preservation of content in diverse
languages and formats must be accorded high priority in building an inclusive
Information Society, paying particular attention to the diversity of supply
of creative work and due recognition of the rights of authors and artists.
It is essential to promote the production of and accessibility to all
content—educational, scientific, cultural or recreational—in diverse languages
and formats. The development of local content suited to domestic or regional
needs will encourage social and economic development and will stimulate
participation of all stakeholders, including people living in rural, remote
and marginal areas.
54. The preservation of cultural heritage is a crucial component of identity
and self–understanding of individuals that links a community to its past.
The Information Society should harness and preserve cultural heritage
for the future by all appropriate methods, including digitisation.
9) Media
55. We reaffirm our commitment to the principles of freedom of the press
and freedom of information, as well as those of the independence, pluralism
and diversity of media, which are essential to the Information Society.
Freedom to seek, receive, impart and use information for the creation,
accumulation and dissemination of knowledge are important to the Information
Society. We call for the responsible use and treatment of information
by the media in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards.
Traditional media in all their forms have an important role in the Information
Society and ICTs should play a supportive role in this regard. Diversity
of media ownership should be encouraged, in conformity with national law,
and taking into account relevant international conventions. We reaffirm
the necessity of reducing international imbalances affecting the media,
particularly as regards infrastructure, technical resources and the development
of human skills.
10) Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
56. The Information Society should respect peace and uphold the fundamental
values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, shared responsibility,
and respect for nature.
57. We acknowledge the importance of ethics for the Information Society,
which should foster justice, and the dignity and worth of the human person.
The widest possible protection should be accorded to the family and to
enable it to play its crucial role in society.
58. The use of ICTs and content creation should respect human rights
and fundamental freedoms of others, including personal privacy, and the
right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in conformity with
relevant international instruments.
59. All actors in the Information Society should take appropriate actions
and preventive measures, as determined by law, against abusive uses of
ICTs, such as illegal and other acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia, and related intolerance, hatred, violence, all forms of child
abuse, including paedophilia and child pornography, and trafficking in,
and exploitation of, human beings.
11) International and regional cooperation
60. We aim at making full use of the opportunities offered by ICTs in
our efforts to reach the internationally agreed development goals, including
those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to uphold the key principles
set forth in this Declaration. The Information Society is intrinsically
global in nature and national efforts need to be supported by effective
international and regional cooperation among governments, the private
sector, civil society and other stakeholders, including the international
financial institutions.
61. In order to build an inclusive global Information Society, we will
seek and effectively implement concrete international approaches and mechanisms,
including financial and technical assistance. Therefore, while appreciating
ongoing ICT cooperation through various mechanisms, we invite all stakeholders
to commit to the “Digital Solidarity Agenda” set forth in the Plan of
Action. We are convinced that the worldwide agreed objective is to contribute
to bridge the digital divide, promote access to ICTs, create digital opportunities,
and benefit from the potential offered by ICTs for development. We recognize
the will expressed by some to create an international voluntary “Digital
Solidarity Fund”, and by others to undertake studies concerning existing
mechanisms and the efficiency and feasibility of such a Fund.
62. Regional integration contributes to the development of the global
Information Society and makes strong cooperation within and among regions
indispensable. Regional dialogue should contribute to national capacity
building and to the alignment of national strategies with the goals of
this Declaration of Principles in a compatible way, while respecting national
and regional particularities. In this context, we welcome and encourage
the international community to support the ICT-related measures of such
initiatives.
63. We resolve to assist developing countries, LDCs and countries with
economies in transition through the mobilization from all sources of financing,
the provision of financial and technical assistance and by creating an
environment conducive to technology transfer, consistent with the purposes
of this Declaration and the Plan of Action.
64. The core competences of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) in the fields of ICTs—assistance in bridging the digital divide,
international and regional cooperation, radio spectrum management, standards
development and the dissemination of information—are of crucial importance
for building the Information Society.
C. Towards an Information Society for All Based on Shared Knowledge
65. We commit ourselves to strengthening cooperation
to seek common responses to the challenges and to the implementation of
the Plan of Action, which will realize the vision of an inclusive Information
Society based on the Key Principles incorporated in this Declaration.
66. We further commit ourselves to evaluate and follow-up
progress in bridging the digital divide, taking into account different
levels of development, so as to reach internationally agreed development
goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to
assess the effectiveness of investment and international cooperation efforts
in building the Information Society.
67. We are firmly convinced that we
are collectively entering a new era of enormous potential, that of the
Information Society and expanded human communication. In this emerging
society, information and knowledge can be produced, exchanged, shared
and communicated through all the networks of the world. All individuals
can soon, if we take the necessary actions, together build a new Information
Society based on shared knowledge and founded on global solidarity and
a better mutual understanding between peoples and nations. We trust that
these measures will open the way to the future development of a true knowledge
society.
B. Plan of Action
The World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva Phase, at its Fifth
Plenary Meeting, 12 December 2003, adopted the following Plan of Action
(WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/5):
Plan of Action
A. Introduction
1. The common vision and guiding principles
of the Declaration are translated in this Plan of Action into concrete
action lines to advance the achievement of the internationally-agreed
development goals, including those in the Millennium Declaration, the
Monterrey Consensus and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation,
by promoting the use of ICT-based products, networks, services and applications,
and to help countries overcome the digital divide. The Information Society
envisaged in the Declaration of Principles will be realized in cooperation
and solidarity by governments and all other stakeholders.
2. The Information Society is an evolving
concept that has reached different levels across the world, reflecting
the different stages of development. Technological and other change is
rapidly transforming the environment in which the Information Society
is developed. The Plan of Action is thus an evolving platform to promote
the Information Society at the national, regional and international levels.
The unique two-phase structure of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) provides an opportunity to take this evolution into account.
3. All stakeholders have an important role
to play in the Information Society, especially through partnerships:
a) Governments have a leading role in developing and implementing
comprehensive, forward looking and sustainable national e-strategies.
The private sector and civil society, in dialogue with governments, have
an important consultative role to play in devising national e-strategies.
b) The commitment of the private sector is important in
developing and diffusing information and communication technologies (ICTs),
for infrastructure, content and applications. The private sector is not
only a market player but also plays a role in a wider sustainable development
context.
c) The commitment and involvement of civil society is equally
important in creating an equitable Information Society, and in implementing
ICT-related initiatives for development.
d) International and regional institutions, including international
financial institutions, have a key role in integrating the use of ICTs
in the development process and making available necessary resources for
building the Information Society and for the evaluation of the progress
made.
B. Objectives, goals and targets
4. The objectives of the Plan of Action are to build
an inclusive Information Society; to put the potential of knowledge and
ICTs at the service of development; to promote the use of information
and knowledge for the achievement of internationally agreed development
goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; and to
address new challenges of the Information Society, at the national, regional
and international levels. Opportunity shall be taken in phase two of the
WSIS to evaluate and assess progress made towards bridging the digital
divide.
5. Specific targets for the Information Society will
be established as appropriate, at the national level in the framework
of national e-strategies and in accordance with national development policies,
taking into account the different national circumstances. Such targets
can serve as useful benchmarks for actions and for the evaluation of the
progress made towards the attainment of the overall objectives of the
Information Society.
6. Based on internationally agreed development goals,
including those in the Millennium Declaration, which are premised on international
cooperation, indicative targets may serve as global references for improving
connectivity and access in the use of ICTs in promoting the objectives
of the Plan of Action, to be achieved by 2015. These targets may be taken
into account in the establishment of the national targets, considering
the different national circumstances:
a) to connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points;
b) to connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools
with ICTs;
c) to connect scientific and research centres with ICTs;
d) to connect public libraries, cultural centres, museums, post offices
and archives with ICTs;
e) to connect health centres and hospitals with ICTs;
f) to connect all local and central government departments and establish
websites and email addresses;
g) to adapt all primary and secondary school curricula to meet the challenges
of the Information Society, taking into account national circumstances;
h) to ensure that all of the world's population have access to television
and radio services;
i) to encourage the development of content and to put in place technical
conditions in order to facilitate the presence and use of all world languages
on the Internet;
j) to ensure that more than half the world’s inhabitants have access
to ICTs within their reach.
7. In giving effect to these objectives, goals and targets,
special attention will be paid to the needs of developing countries, and
in particular to countries, peoples and groups cited in paragraphs 11-16
of the Declaration of Principles.
C. Action Lines
C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion
of ICTs for development
8. The effective participation of governments and all
stakeholders is vital in developing the Information Society requiring
cooperation and partnerships among all of them.
a) Development of national e-strategies, including the necessary human
capacity building, should be encouraged by all countries by 2005, taking
into account different national circumstances.
b) Initiate at the national level a structured dialogue involving all
relevant stakeholders, including through public/private partnerships,
in devising e-strategies for the Information Society and for the exchange
of best practices.
c) In developing and implementing national e-strategies, stakeholders
should take into consideration local, regional and national needs and
concerns. To maximize the benefits of initiatives undertaken, these should
include the concept of sustainability. The private sector should be engaged
in concrete projects to develop the Information Society at local, regional
and national levels.
d) Each country is encouraged to establish at least one functioning Public/Private
Partnership (PPP) or Multi-Sector Partnership (MSP), by 2005 as a showcase
for future action.
e) Identify mechanisms, at the national, regional and international levels,
for the initiation and promotion of partnerships among stakeholders of
the Information Society.
f) Explore the viability of establishing multi-stakeholder portals for
indigenous peoples at the national level.
g) By 2005, relevant international organizations and financial institutions
should develop their own strategies for the use of ICTs for sustainable
development, including sustainable production and consumption patterns
and as an effective instrument to help achieve the goals expressed in
the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
h) International organizations should publish, in their areas of competence,
including on their website, reliable information submitted by relevant
stakeholders on successful experiences of mainstreaming ICTs.
i) Encourage a series of related measures, including, among other things:
incubator schemes, venture capital investments (national and international),
government investment funds (including micro-finance for Small, Medium-sized
and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), investment promotion strategies, software
export support activities (trade counseling), support of research and
development networks and software parks.
C2. Information and communication infrastructure: an essential
foundation for the Information Society
9. Infrastructure is central in achieving the goal of
digital inclusion, enabling universal, sustainable, ubiquitous and affordable
access to ICTs by all, taking into account relevant solutions already
in place in developing countries and countries with economies in transition,
to provide sustainable connectivity and access to remote and marginalized
areas at national and regional levels.
a) 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.
b) In the context of national e-strategies, devise appropriate universal
access policies and strategies, and their means of implementation, in
line with the indicative targets, and develop ICT connectivity indicators.
c) In the context of national e-strategies, provide and improve ICT connectivity
for all schools, universities, health institutions, libraries, post offices,
community centres, museums and other institutions accessible to the public,
in line with the indicative targets.
d) Develop and strengthen national, regional and international broadband
network infrastructure, including delivery by satellite and other systems,
to help in providing the capacity to match the needs of countries and
their citizens and for the delivery of new ICT-based services. Support
technical, regulatory and operational studies by the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) and, as appropriate, other relevant international organizations
in order to:
i) broaden access to orbital resources, global frequency harmonization
and global systems standardization;
ii) encourage public/private partnership;
iii) promote the provision of global high-speed satellite services for
underserved areas such as remote and sparsely populated areas;
iv) explore other systems that can provide high-speed connectivity.
e) In the context of national e-strategies, address the special requirements
of older people, persons with disabilities, children, especially marginalized
children and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including by appropriate
educational administrative and legislative measures to ensure their full
inclusion in the Information Society.
f) Encourage the design and production of ICT equipment and services
so that everyone, has easy and affordable access to them including older
people, persons with disabilities, children, especially marginalized children,
and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, and promote the development
of technologies, applications, and content suited to their needs, guided
by the Universal Design Principle and further enhanced by the use of assistive
technologies.
g) In order to alleviate the challenges of illiteracy, develop affordable
technologies and non-text based computer interfaces to facilitate people’s
access to ICT,
h) Undertake international research and development efforts aimed at
making available adequate and affordable ICT equipment for end users.
i) Encourage the use of unused wireless capacity, including satellite,
in developed countries and in particular in developing countries, to provide
access in remote areas, especially in developing countries and countries
with economies in transition, and to improve low-cost connectivity in
developing countries. Special concern should be given to the Least Developed
Countries in their efforts in establishing telecommunication infrastructure.
j) Optimize connectivity among major information networks by encouraging
the creation and development of regional ICT backbones and Internet exchange
points, to reduce interconnection costs and broaden network access.
k) Develop strategies for increasing affordable global connectivity,
thereby facilitating improved access. Commercially negotiated Internet
transit and interconnection costs should be oriented towards objective,
transparent and non-discriminatory parameters, taking into account ongoing
work on this subject.
l) Encourage and promote joint use of traditional media and new technologies.
C3. Access to information and knowledge
10. ICTs allow people, anywhere in the world, to access
information and knowledge almost instantaneously. Individuals, organizations
and communities should benefit from access to knowledge and information.
a) Develop policy guidelines for the development and promotion of public
domain information as an important international instrument promoting
public access to information.
b) Governments are encouraged to provide adequate access through various
communication resources, notably the Internet, to public official information.
Establishing legislation on access to information and the preservation
of public data, notably in the area of the new technologies, is encouraged.
c) Promote research and development to facilitate accessibility of ICTs
for all, including disadvantaged, marginalized and vulnerable groups.
d) Governments, and other stakeholders, should establish sustainable
multi-purpose community public access points, providing affordable or
free-of-charge access for their citizens to the various communication
resources, notably the Internet. These access points should, to the extent
possible, have sufficient capacity to provide assistance to users, in
libraries, educational institutions, public administrations, post offices
or other public places, with special emphasis on rural and underserved
areas, while respecting intellectual property rights (IPRs) and encouraging
the use of information and sharing of knowledge.
e) Encourage research and promote awareness among all stakeholders of
the possibilities offered by different software models, and the means
of their creation, including proprietary, open-source and free software,
in order to increase competition, freedom of choice and affordability,
and to enable all stakeholders to evaluate which solution best meets their
requirements.
f) Governments should actively promote the use of ICTs as a fundamental
working tool by their citizens and local authorities. In this respect,
the international community and other stakeholders should support capacity
building for local authorities in the widespread use of ICTs as a means
of improving local governance.
g) Encourage research on the Information Society, including on innovative
forms of networking, adaptation of ICT infrastructure, tools and applications
that facilitate accessibility of ICTs for all, and disadvantaged groups
in particular.
h) Support the creation and development of a digital public library and
archive services, adapted to the Information Society, including reviewing
national library strategies and legislation, developing a global understanding
of the need for “hybrid libraries”, and fostering worldwide cooperation
between libraries.
i) Encourage initiatives to facilitate access, including free and affordable
access to open access journals and books, and open archives for scientific
information.
j) Support research and development of the design of useful instruments
for all stakeholders to foster increased awareness, assessment, and evaluation
of different software models and licences, so as to ensure an optimal
choice of appropriate software that will best contribute to achieving
development goals within local conditions.
C4. Capacity building
11. Everyone should have the necessary skills to benefit
fully from the Information Society. Therefore capacity building and ICT
literacy are essential. ICTs can contribute to achieving universal education
worldwide, through delivery of education and training of teachers, and
offering improved conditions for lifelong learning, encompassing people
that are outside the formal education process, and improving professional
skills.
a) Develop domestic policies to ensure that ICTs are fully integrated
in education and training at all levels, including in curriculum development,
teacher training, institutional administration and management, and in
support of the concept of lifelong learning.
b) Develop and promote programmes to eradicate illiteracy using ICTs
at national, regional and international levels.
c) Promote e-literacy skills for all, for example by designing and offering
courses for public administration, taking advantage of existing facilities
such as libraries, multipurpose community centres, public access points
and by establishing local ICT training centres with the cooperation of
all stakeholders. Special attention should be paid to disadvantaged and
vulnerable groups.
d) In the context of national educational policies, and taking into account
the need to eradicate adult illiteracy, ensure that young people are equipped
with knowledge and skills to use ICTs, including the capacity to analyse
and treat information in creative and innovative ways, share their expertise
and participate fully in the Information Society.
e) Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders, should create
programmes for capacity building with an emphasis on creating a critical
mass of qualified and skilled ICT professionals and experts.
f) Develop pilot projects to demonstrate the impact of ICT-based alternative
educational delivery systems, notably for achieving Education for All
targets, including basic literacy targets.
g) Work on removing the gender barriers to ICT education and training
and promoting equal training opportunities in ICT-related fields for women
and girls. Early intervention programmes in science and technology should
target young girls with the aim of increasing the number of women in ICT
careers. Promote the exchange of best practices on the integration of
gender perspectives in ICT education.
h) Empower local communities, especially those in rural and underserved
areas, in ICT use and promote the production of useful and socially meaningful
content for the benefit of all.
i) Launch education and training programmes, where possible using information
networks of traditional nomadic and indigenous peoples, which provide
opportunities to fully participate in the Information Society.
j) Design and implement regional and international cooperation activities
to enhance the capacity, notably, of leaders and operational staff in
developing countries and LDCs, to apply ICTs effectively in the whole
range of educational activities. This should include delivery of education
outside the educational structure, such as the workplace and at home.
k) Design specific training programmes in the use of ICTs in order to
meet the educational needs of information professionals, such as archivists,
librarians, museum professionals, scientists, teachers, journalists, postal
workers and other relevant professional groups. Training of information
professionals should focus not only on new methods and techniques for
the development and provision of information and communication services,
but also on relevant management skills to ensure the best use of technologies.
Training of teachers should focus on the technical aspects of ICTs, on
development of content, and on the potential possibilities and challenges
of ICTs.
l) Develop distance learning, training and other forms of education and
training as part of capacity building programmes. Give special attention
to developing countries and especially LDCs in different levels of human
resources development.
m) Promote international and regional cooperation in the field of capacity
building, including country programmes developed by the United Nations
and its Specialized Agencies
n) Launch pilot projects to design new forms of ICT-based networking,
linking education, training and research institutions between and among
developed and developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
o) Volunteering, if conducted in harmony with national policies and local
cultures, can be a valuable asset for raising human capacity to make productive
use of ICT tools and build a more inclusive Information Society. Activate
volunteer programmes to provide capacity building on ICT for development,
particularly in developing countries.
p) Design programmes to train users to develop self-learning and self-development
capacities.
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
12. Confidence and security are among the main pillars
of the Information Society.
a) Promote cooperation among the governments at the United Nations and
with all stakeholders at other appropriate fora to enhance user confidence,
build trust, and protect both data and network integrity; consider existing
and potential threats to ICTs; and address other information security
and network security issues.
b) Governments, in cooperation with the private sector, should prevent,
detect and respond to cyber-crime and misuse of ICTs by: developing guidelines
that take into account ongoing efforts in these areas; considering legislation
that allows for effective investigation and prosecution of misuse; promoting
effective mutual assistance efforts; strengthening institutional support
at the international level for preventing, detecting and recovering from
such incidents; and encouraging education and raising awareness.
c) Governments, and other stakeholders, should actively promote user
education and awareness about online privacy and the means of protecting
privacy.
d) Take appropriate action on spam at national and international levels.
e) Encourage the domestic assessment of national law with a view to overcoming
any obstacles to the effective use of electronic documents and transactions
including electronic means of authentication.
f) Further strengthen the trust and security framework with complementary
and mutually reinforcing initiatives in the fields of security in the
use of ICTs, with initiatives or guidelines with respect to rights to
privacy, data and consumer protection.
g) Share good practices in the field of information security and network
security and encourage their use by all parties concerned.
h) Invite interested countries to set up focal points for real-time incident
handling and response, and develop a cooperative network between these
focal points for sharing information and technologies on incident response.
i) Encourage further development of secure and reliable applications
to facilitate online transactions.
j) Encourage interested countries to contribute actively to the ongoing
United Nations activities to build confidence and security in the use
of ICTs.
C6. Enabling environment
13. To maximize the social, economic and environmental
benefits of the Information Society, governments need to create a trustworthy,
transparent and non-discriminatory legal, regulatory and policy environment.
Actions include:
a) Governments should foster a supportive, transparent, pro-competitive
and predictable policy, legal and regulatory framework, which provides
the appropriate incentives to investment and community development in
the Information Society.
b) We ask the Secretary General of the United Nations to set up a working
group on Internet governance, in an open and inclusive process that ensures
a mechanism for the full and active participation of governments, the
private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries,
involving relevant intergovernmental and international organizations and
forums, to investigate and make proposals for action, as appropriate,
on the governance of Internet by 2005. The group should, inter alia:
i) develop a working definition of Internet governance;
ii) identify the public policy issues that are relevant to Internet governance;
iii) develop a common understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities
of governments, existing intergovernmental and international organisations
and other forums as well as the private sector and civil society from
both developing and developed countries;
iv) prepare a report on the results of this activity to be presented
for consideration and appropriate action for the second phase of WSIS
in Tunis in 2005.
c) Governments are invited to:
i) facilitate the establishment of national and regional Internet Exchange
Centres;
ii) manage or supervise, as appropriate, their respective country code
top-level domain name (ccTLD);
iii) promote awareness of the Internet.
d) In cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, promote regional root
servers and the use of internationalized domain names in order to overcome
barriers to access.
e) Governments should continue to update their domestic consumer protection
laws to respond to the new requirements of the Information Society.
f) Promote effective participation by developing countries and countries
with economies in transition in international ICT forums and create opportunities
for exchange of experience.
g) Governments need to formulate national strategies, which include
e-government strategies, to make public administration more transparent,
efficient and democratic.
h) Develop a framework for the secure storage and archival of documents
and other electronic records of information.
i) Governments and stakeholders should actively promote user education
and awareness about online privacy and the means of protecting privacy.
j) Invite stakeholders to ensure that practices designed to facilitate
electronic commerce also permit consumers to have a choice as to whether
or not to use electronic communication.
k) Encourage the ongoing work in the area of effective dispute settlement
systems, notably alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which can promote
settlement of disputes.
l) Governments, in collaboration with stakeholders, are encouraged to
formulate conducive ICT policies that foster entrepreneurship, innovation
and investment, and with particular reference to the promotion of participation
by women.
m) Recognising the economic potential of ICTs for Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises (SMEs), they should be assisted in increasing their competitiveness
by streamlining administrative procedures, facilitating their access to
capital and enhancing their capacity to participate in ICT-related projects.
n) Governments should act as model users and early adopters of e-commerce
in accordance with their level of socio-economic development.
o) Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders, should raise
awareness of the importance of international interoperability standards
for global e-commerce.
p) Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders, should promote
the development and use of open, interoperable, non-discriminatory and
demand-driven standards.
q) ITU, pursuant to its treaty capacity, coordinates and allocates frequencies
with the goal of facilitating ubiquitous and affordable access.
r) Additional steps should be taken in ITU and other regional organisations
to ensure rational, efficient and economical use of, and equitable access
to, the radio-frequency spectrum by all countries, based on relevant international
agreements.
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life
14. ICT applications can support sustainable development,
in the fields of public administration, business, education and training,
health, employment, environment, agriculture and science within the framework
of national e-strategies. This would include actions within the following
sectors:
15. E-government
a) Implement e-government strategies focusing on applications aimed at
innovating and promoting transparency in public administrations and democratic
processes, improving efficiency and strengthening relations with citizens.
b) Develop national e-government initiatives and services, at all levels,
adapted to the needs of citizens and business, to achieve a more efficient
allocation of resources and public goods.
c) Support international cooperation initiatives in the field of e-government,
in order to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency at all
levels of government.
16. E-business
a) Governments, international organizations and the private sector, are
encouraged to promote the benefits of international trade and the use
of e-business, and promote the use of e-business models in developing
countries and countries with economies in transition.
b) Through the adoption of an enabling environment, and based on widely
available Internet access, governments should seek to stimulate private
sector investment, foster new applications, content development and public/private
partnerships.
c) Government policies should favour assistance to, and growth of SMMEs,
in the ICT industry, as well as their entry into e-business, to stimulate
economic growth and job creation as an element of a strategy for poverty
reduction through wealth creation.
17. E-learning (see section C4)
18. E-health
a) Promote collaborative efforts of governments, planners, health professionals,
and other agencies along with the participation of international organizations
for creating a reliable, timely, high quality and affordable health care
and health information systems and for promoting continuous medical training,
education, and research through the use of ICTs, while respecting and
protecting citizens’ right to privacy.
b) Facilitate access to the world’s medical knowledge and locally-relevant
content resources for strengthening public health research and prevention
programmes and promoting women’s and men’s health, such as content on
sexual and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections, and
for diseases that attract full attention of the world including HIV/AIDS,
malaria and tuberculosis.
c) Alert, monitor and control the spread of communicable diseases, through
the improvement of common information systems.
d) Promote the development of international standards for the exchange
of health data, taking due account of privacy concerns.
e) Encourage the adoption of ICTs to improve and extend health care and
health information systems to remote and underserved areas and vulnerable
populations, recognising women’s roles as health providers in their families
and communities.
f) Strengthen and expand ICT-based initiatives for providing medical
and humanitarian assistance in disasters and emergencies.
19. E-employment
a) Encourage the development of best practices for e-workers and e-employers
built, at the national level, on principles of fairness and gender equality,
respecting all relevant international norms.
b) Promote new ways of organizing work and business with the aim of raising
productivity, growth and well-being through investment in ICTs and human
resources.
c) Promote teleworking to allow citizens, particularly in the developing
countries, LDCs, and small economies, to live in their societies and work
anywhere, and to increase employment opportunities for women, and for
those with disabilities. In promoting teleworking, special attention should
be given to strategies promoting job creation and the retention of the
skilled working force.
d) Promote early intervention programmes in science and technology that
should target young girls to increase the number of women in ICT carriers.
20. E-environment
a) Governments, in cooperation with other stakeholders are encouraged
to use and promote ICTs as an instrument for environmental protection
and the sustainable use of natural resources.
b) Government, civil society and the private sector are encouraged to
initiate actions and implement projects and programmes for sustainable
production and consumption and the environmentally safe disposal and recycling
of discarded hardware and components used in ICTs.
c) Establish monitoring systems, using ICTs, to forecast and monitor
the impact of natural and man-made disasters, particularly in developing
countries, LDCs and small economies.
21. E-agriculture
a) Ensure the systematic dissemination of information using ICTs on agriculture,
animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry and food, in order to provide ready
access to comprehensive, up-to-date and detailed knowledge and information,
particularly in rural areas.
b) Public-private partnerships should seek to maximize the use of ICTs
as an instrument to improve production (quantity and quality).
22. E-science
a) Promote affordable and reliable high-speed Internet connection for
all universities and research institutions to support their critical role
in information and knowledge production, education and training, and to
support the establishment of partnerships, cooperation and networking
between these institutions.
b) Promote electronic publishing, differential pricing and open access
initiatives to make scientific information affordable and accessible in
all countries on an equitable basis.
c) Promote the use of peer-to-peer technology to share scientific knowledge
and pre-prints and reprints written by scientific authors who have waived
their right to payment.
d) Promote the long-term systematic and efficient collection, dissemination
and preservation of essential scientific digital data, for example, population
and meteorological data in all countries.
e) Promote principles and metadata standards to facilitate cooperation
and effective use of collected scientific information and data as appropriate
to conduct scientific research.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and
local content
23. Cultural and linguistic diversity, while stimulating respect for
cultural identity, traditions and religions, is essential to the development
of an Information Society based on the dialogue among cultures and regional
and international cooperation. It is an important factor for sustainable
development.
a) Create policies that support the respect, preservation, promotion
and enhancement of cultural and linguistic diversity and cultural heritage
within the Information Society, as reflected in relevant agreed United
Nations documents, including UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity. This includes encouraging governments to design cultural policies
to promote the production of cultural, educational and scientific content
and the development of local cultural industries suited to the linguistic
and cultural context of the users.
b) Develop national policies and laws to ensure that libraries, archives,
museums and other cultural institutions can play their full role of content—including
traditional knowledge—providers in t | 
