The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United nations -sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis.
Find out the latest developments on WSIS and also briefly discuss in your own words the feasibility of the eleven WSIS action lines.
Lecturer: Obanua Ada Sonia
Find out the latest developments on WSIS and also briefly discuss in your own words the feasibility of the eleven WSIS action lines.
Lecturer: Obanua Ada Sonia
62 comments:
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
* Full texts of the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action
* More on the first phase of WSIS
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events.
WSIS Action Lines
*1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
*2. Information and communication infrastructure
* 3. Access to information and knowledge
* 4. Capacity building
* 5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
* 6. Enabling environment
* 7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environ
ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP held the last wsis meeting from 18 to 22 May 2009, at the ITU Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland. This event builds upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its new format is a result of the open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders.
The Forum offered participants a series of highest level panels addressing critical issues to the WSIS implementation and follow-up in multi-stakeholder set-ups. Structured opportunities to network, to learn and to participate in the multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on the WSIS implementation was made available.
The WSIS has had various meetings after its establishment, after the meetings that took place December 2003 in Geneva and November 2005 in Tunis, there have been series of meetings, In 2008 they held close to 15 meeting meetings, in 2007 close to 13 and many others in 2006. These meetings were held in preparation for the realization of these action lines. The eleven action lines are:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
Personally, I believe that these action lines are very achievable. But first of all, certain things have to be put in place for these to become a reality of any sort. Every thing has to start from somewhere I believe if they should start from the basic area, and then these lines or goals would become reality.
07BE05547 UMOLU KOSISOCHUKWU ONYINYE.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world.
In 14 July 2006, Implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) gathered momentum with the launch of the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS). The Group will enable synergies aimed at resolving substantive and policy issues, avoiding redundancies and enhancing effectiveness of the system while raising public awareness about the goals and objectives of the global Information Society. ECOSOC adopted resolution on the follow-up to WSIS and review of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, 28 July 2006. UNESCO is organized a series of consultations from 16 to 22 October in Paris and Beijing at which partnerships for implementing a number of WSIS action lines are expected to be brokered.
The WSIS Action lines and their different moderators and facilitators includes:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development (ECOSOC/UN Regional Commissions/ITU/[UN DESA])
С2. Information and communication infrastructure (ITU/[APC])
C3. Access to information and knowledge (ITU/UNESCO/[FAO/UNIDO])
C4. Capacity building (UNDP/UNESCO/ITU/UNCTAD/[UN DESA/FAO/UNIDO)
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs (ITU)
C6. Enabling environment (ITU/UNDP/UN REGIONAL COMMISSIONS/UNCTAD/[UN DESA/UNIDO/APC])
C7. ICT Applications: E-government (UN DESA]/UNDP/ITU), E-business (WTO/UNCTAD/ITU/UPU/ITC), E-learning UNESCO/ITU/UNIDO, E-health (WHO/ITU), E-employment (ILO/ITU), E-environment (WHO/WMO/UNEP/UN-Habitat/ITU/ICAO), E-agriculture FAO/ITU, E-science (UNESCO/ITU/UNCTAD/[WHO]), C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content (UNESCO)
C9. Media (UNESCO)
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society(UNESCO/ECOSOC/[WHO/ECPAT Int’l])
C11. International and regional cooperation (UN Regional Commissions/ UNDP/ITU/UNESCO/ECOSOC/[UN DESA])
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society states that the WSIS implementation mechanism at the international level should be organised taking into account the themes and action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate. It also states that ITU, UNESCO and UNDP should play a leading facilitating role in the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action.
However, meetings on the implementation of the action lines have been organized by UNESCO with the aim of Facilitate the initial contacts and sharing of information among multistakeholders on their priorities and expertise in the implementation of the action lines; Consolidate a team of stakeholders for the action lines; Designate facilitator(s)/moderator(s) for the multistakeholder team; Agree on the working methods of the multistakeholder team including its activities and expected outcome.
CHIDINMA OKAFOR 07BE05530
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society says that the WSIS implementation mechanism at the international level should be organised taling into account the themesand action lines of the Geneva Plan of Action facilitated by the UN agencies.These Plan of Action will be moderated at the WSIS forum that will be held in Geneva Switzerland from the 10-14 of May.These Action lines are said to help in developing the society and they are lines the government must really look into if they want to make the world a better place for all citizens
1)The role of public governance aythorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2)Information and communication infrastructure.
3)Access to information and knowledge
4)Capacity building
5)Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6)Enabling environment
7)ICT Applications which are E-government,E-business,E-learning,E-health,E-employment,E-environment,E-agriculture,E-science
8)Cultural diversity and identity,linguistic diversity and local content.
9)Media
10)Ethical dimensons of the information society
11)International and regionl cooperation.
Well if these action lines are really implemented and put in place and they are given the chance to work effectively then the world is heading for greatness.
Etidiakaba Blessing 07BE05507
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is the latest in a long series of world summits organized by the United Nations that deal with central questions of humanity. Especially in the decade from 1992 to 2002, starting with the world summit on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro and ending with the Rio+10 conference in Johannesburg, there have been a number of world conferences organized around UN-related themes. At the WSIS, information and communication are on the agenda for the first time. The world summit is supposed to develop a common understanding of the information society. In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology issues. The International Telecommunications Union took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO.The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva.In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.When the 2003 summit failed to agree on the future of Internet governance, the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) was formed to come up with ideas on how to progress.The second phase took place 2005-11-16 to 2005-11-18 in Tunis, Tunisia. It resulted in agreement on the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, and the creation of the Internet Governance Forum.The WSIS Follow up works towards achieving the indicative targets, set out in the Geneva Plan of Action and 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. The WSIS Plan of Action are as follows:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications and under this they have other items listed under like:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
These plans are very good but it is impossible to run when we have not crawled or even walked. These plans are achievable but we need to get the little things that do not really matter straight before we delve into the big ones like curbing the alarming rate of unemployment,hunger and poverty.Yes i sincerely believe that these actions are workable and achievable by taking the actions one step at a time. TOMBIA ONYEKA 07BE05545.
On the 21st of December, 2001, the United Nations general assembly during its 90th plenary meeting adopted resolution 56/183 endorsed the holding of the world summit on the information society in two phases. The first phase held on 12 December 2003 with more than 11000 participants from 175 countries in attendance with the aim of building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge to promote their sustainable development and improve their quality of life based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations most especially the millennium development goals. The second phase took place 16th – 18th November, 2005 in Tunis with 19000 participants from 174 countries in attendance. It was aimed at putting Geneva’s Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of internet governance, financing mechanisms, follow up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents. In 2009, the United Nations organized a forum in Geneva between the 18th and 22nd of May to discuss communication issues.
The next forum will be held in Switzerland from 10th to 14th may, 2010. This conference will be held based on the themes and suggestions of communicators around the world. The topics for the forum include
1. World Telecommunication Development Report 2010: Monitoring the WSIS Targets.
2. Fostering information and communication for development: UNESCO's follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society.
3. National e-Strategies for Development: Global Perspective.
4. WSIS Stocktaking Report. The purpose of this report is to update stakeholders on actions undertaken by governments, private sector, civil society and other organizations with regard to the achievement WSIS goals in the period from the end of 2008 to the mid 2010.
5. ITU's WSIS Plus 5 Reports.
6. Digital outreach for a better future. A UN/ITU publication for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 17th May 2010.
7. ITU-D Publication: Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2009.
8. ITU-D Publication: ICT Regulation Toolkit.
9. The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010. ICT for Sustainability.
In order to fulfill its objectives, the WSIS created the following action lines:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of information communication technologies for development.
2. Information and communication infrastructure.
3. Access to information and knowledge.
4. Capacity building.
5. Building confidence and security in the use of information communication technologies.
6. Enabling environment.
7. Information communication technologies applications: theses include E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture and E-science.
8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content.
9. Media.
10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society.
11. International and regional cooperation.
I believe that the action lines projected are 100% feasible if they are planned for and followed up with required actions. This is because every nation in the world as at present do not operate the same form of communication system or media because of their various religious, political, cultural and economic differences. These action lines are also feasible in that they aim at ensuring that communication is developed more at national levels through the creation of necessary infrastructure and the development of information communication technologies that will aid the easy access and distribution of information and knowledge across all borders. Jacobs Babafemi 06BE03908
In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO. In November 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a Challenge to Silicon Valley[1] to create nearly up-to-date computers and communications systems that would enable villages to afford Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D).
In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.[2] This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action [3] sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.Before the November 2005 Tunis event, the Association for Progressive Communications came out with its stand. (APC is an international network of civil society organizations — whose goal is to empower and support groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the internet).
UNESCO with its unique mandate to promote the free exchange of ideas and knowledge has played a key role in WSIS. UNESCO’s contribution incorporated the ethical, legal and sociocultural dimensions of the Information Society and helped to grasp the opportunities offered by the ICTs by placing the individual at its centre.
The latest development is the WSIS Forum 2010. The Forum is expected to unite an unprecedented number of high-level participants and experts in a new format. It will include a meeting of representatives of 28 international organizations, all members of the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS), who will discuss ways to enhance coordination. WSIS is working on achieving a number of things known as their action lines:
1)The role of public governance aythorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2)Information and communication infrastructure.
3)Access to information and knowledge
4)Capacity building
5)Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6)Enabling environment
7)ICT Applications which are E-government,E-business,E-learning,E-health,E-employment,E-environment,E-agriculture,E-science
8)Cultural diversity and identity,linguistic diversity and local content.
9)Media
10)Ethical dimensons of the information society
11)International and regional cooperation.
If this is all they are working on then we might have the same problem as we did NWICO because they are still focusing on the same thing which is communication. There are other things to tackle, a hungry man is not interested in any information and communication infrastructure of any sort. yes it is true that the difference between the rich and the poor is the level of information received but I also feel communication is not our sole problem in this world. Communication is the same thing NWICO addressed but where is NWICO today? Ngwodo MaryJane 07BE05520
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.One of its main aims was to bridge the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day. TheInternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state.In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.
Just on the eve of the November 2005 Tunis event, the Association for Progressive Communications came out with its standactions in each of the following five areas:
The establishment of an Internet Governance Forum;The transformation of ICANN into a global body with full authority over DNS management,and an appropriate form of accountability to its stakeholders in government, private sector and civil society;
APC argued: "The internet is a global public space that should be open and accessible to all on a non-discriminatory basis. The internet, therefore, must be seen as a global public infrastructure. In this regard we recognize the internet to be a global public good related to the concept of the common heritage of humanity and access to it is in the public interest, The summit itself attracted 1500 people from International Organizations, 6200 from NGOs, 4800 from the private sector, and 980 from the media.[
and 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. The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: -government-business-learning-health-employment
-environment-agriculture-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
personally, i am of the opinion that these action lines can be achieved, it might take a while but it will definetly work. remember rome wasn't built in a day. sao, slowly but surely! EMEFIELE ANITA- 05BE02358
One of its chief aims of the WSIS was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day. An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making. The most radical ideas about devolving this authority were those supporting a civil society approach to Internet governance. UNESCO’s contribution incorporated the ethical, legal and sociocultural dimensions of the Information Society and helped to grasp the opportunities offered by the ICTs by placing the individual at its centre.
2010’s Forum, which will be held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 10 to 14 May 2010, is an important opportunity to review the progress made in the WSIS implementation during the last five years and to reconsider strategies for the remaining five years. The Forum will offer participants a series of diverse interactions, including high-level debates addressing critical issues to the WSIS implementation and follow-up in multi-stakeholder set-ups, WSIS Action Line facilitation meetings, thematic workshops, kick-off meetings for new initiatives and projects, knowledge exchanges facilitating networking among the participants, and others. The forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and to participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation.
The WSIS The new format of the 2010 meeting is the result of last year’s open consultations with all WSIS stakeholders. The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for developments
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
Action line C8 which is cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content has led in the organizing of the following subgroups when Geneva hosted the May 2007 Geneva second consultation meeting. These subgroups were: memory and heritage, local content, contemporary cultural expressions, linguistic diversity, transversal research.
Action line C7 has to do with the preservation of data, open access, standardized metadata.
The implementation of action line C3 which is the access to information and knowledge will foster freedom of expression, universal access to information, access to quality education as well as cultural and linguistic diversity of content.
I believe these action lines will serve as global references for improving connectivity and universal, ubiquitous, equitable, non-discriminatory and affordable access to, and use of, ICTs in our world today. These action lines i think serve a good purpose. UDOCOR EMEM BASSEY.-06BE03936
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva hosted by the Government of Switzerland from 10 to 12 December 2003, and the second phase took place in Tunis hosted by the Government of Tunisia, from 16 to 18 November 2005
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles. This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding. The Information Society is an evolving concept that has reached different levels across the world, reflecting the different stages of development.
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society states that the WSIS implementation mechanism at the international level should be organized taking into account the themes and action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate. It also states that ITU, UNESCO and UNDP should play a leading facilitating role in the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action.
The main aim of second phase was to put Geneva’s Plan of action into motion and also to find solutions and reach necessary agreements in the field of issues like Internet governance, financing mechanism, as well as on implementation and follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
WSIS Action Lines.
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: government, business, learning, health, employment, environment, agriculture, science.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
The main aim of the Action Lines 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. EKEZIE JUDITH, 07BE05505.
THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENED THE WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY (WSIS) TO DEVELOP A "COMMON VISION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY AND THE ADOPTION OF A DECLARATION AND PLAN OF ACTION FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY GOVERNMENTS, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND ALL SECTORS OF CIVIL SOCIETY".
WSIS WAS HELD IN TWO PHASES: THE FIRST IN GENEVA, HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SWITZERLAND FROM 10 TO 12 DECEMBER 2003, AND THE SECOND IN TUNIS HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF TUNISIA, FROM 16 TO 18 NOVEMBER 2005.
WSIS IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL SHOULD BE ORGANIZED TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE THEMES AND ACTION LINES IN THE GENEVA PLAN OF ACTION, AND MODERATED OR FACILITATED BY UN AGENCIES WHEN APPROPRIATE. IT ALSO STATES THAT ITU, UNESCO AND UNDP SHOULD PLAY A LEADING FACILITATING ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENEVA PLAN OF ACTION AND THE ACTION LINES ARE:
С1. THE ROLE OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE AUTHORITIES AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROMOTION OF ICTS FOR DEVELOPMENT
С2. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
C3. ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
C4. CAPACITY BUILDING
C5. BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY IN THE USE OF ICTS
C6. ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
C7. ICT APPLICATIONS: E-GOVERNMENT, E-BUSINESS, E-LEARNING, E-HEALTH, E-EMPLOYMENT, E-ENVIRONMENT, E-AGRICULTURE, E-SCIENCE
C8. CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND IDENTITY, LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY AND LOCAL CONTENT
C9. MEDIA
C10. ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
C11. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION
PERSONALLY, I REALLY DO THINK THAT IS NOT JUST ABOUT SAYING IS ABOUT STARTING AND NOT JUST STARTING AND THEN STOP HALF WAY BUT TO IMPLEMENT IT TO THE LETTERS. WE HAVE SEEN SITUATIONS WHEREBY ACTION LINES ARE WRITTEN BUT NOT IMPLEMENTED. AND FOR THIS ACTION LINE TO BE IMPLEMENTED EFFECTIVELY IT SHOULD BE MANAGED BY GOOD AND EFFECTIVE HANDS NOT THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THE ISSUE AT HAND. IF THIS ACTION LINES ARE BEEN WORKED ON PROPERLY AND THERE IS UNITY AMONGST THOSE INVOLVED THEN IT WILL JUST BE A STEPPING STONE.
07BE05513 IWEHA GLORY CHIDIADI
The World summit on the information society (WSIS) was held in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10-12 dec.2003. and its objectives was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake. Presidents, Heads of States, Governors and other important dignitaries from all over the world were in attendance.
The second phase was held in Tunis in 2005 and it was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
The latest developments of WSIS are the following:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation, etc.
Personally, l feel that these goals are attainable
if they can start putting them to implementation. YES, THEY CAN!!.
07BE05503. Blessing Nnenna Chinweuba.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, the information society that took place in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. Its main aim was to bridge the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries and this was done by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The WSIS Follow up works towards achieving the indicative targets, set out in the Geneva Plan of Action. It also serves 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 using ICTs, as a tool to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals. The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2. Information and communication infrastructure.
3. Access to information and knowledge.
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications, such as:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
8. Cultural diversity and identity,linguistic diversity and local content.
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensons of the information society
11. International and regional cooperation.
In my own words, yes, these plans are feasible, i mean, they would be successfully achieved with no hinderances, if adequate efforts are put into it. Before delving into these plans, some basic things, which are regarded as nothinng, but really mean a whole lot, need to be taken care of. First of all, the economy, mostly of the developing countries e.g Nigeria, needs to be put in place, being that the economy is the infrastructure, upon which all other superstructures are built (Karl Marx). Another major thin that has to be put in order is the issue of Hunger and Poverty, mostly also in the developing nations. NWICO (New World Information and Communication Order) is another example of a body, that started bridging the communication gap between the developed and developing countries, without putting these basic things in place, that was why they failed.
APAPA YETUNDE 07BE05496
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
WSIS has had several developments in the past, but the latest and most current one has to do with the forum coming up between the 10th – 14th of May, 2010 at ITU headquarters, Geneva, Switerzerland. This forum is sponsored by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP. This event is aimed at building upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its new format is the result of open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders.
The Forum will offer participants a series of diverse interactions, including high-level debates addressing critical issues to the WSIS implementation and follow-up in multi-stakeholder set-ups, WSIS Action Line facilitation meetings, thematic workshops, kick-off meetings for new initiatives and projects, knowledge exchanges facilitating networking among the participants, and others. The forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and to participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation.
Feasibility is the process of seeing if the plans and ideas laid down are achievable and if one should proceed with it. The eleven WSIS action plans are aimed at building 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. The action lines are as follows;
The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development (The effective participation of governments and all stakeholders is vital in developing the Information Society requiring cooperation and partnerships among all of them)
Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for the Information Society
Access to information and knowledge. (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)
Capacity building
Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs.
Enabling environment (Confidence and security are among the main pillars of the Information Society.)
ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life (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)
Media (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)
Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
International and regional cooperation
Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
In my own opinion, these plans are too much first and foremost because in my own understanding, WSIS is advanced NWICO and the problems that NWICO was stationed to solve are still in existence, so why then waste our time trying to build the first floor of a house when the foundation hasn’t being strongly built, when we know that sooner or later this house will come crashing.
I think that NWICO should first be treated and solved properly before we start thinking of WSIS and its action plans and other things. OLUBOYEDE OLUWADAMILOLA, 07BE05535.
The world Summit on Information Society is a United Nations sponsored conference. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day. The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003. An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making. The most radical ideas about devolving this authority were those supporting a civil society approach to Internet governance. And the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005. It resulted in agreement on the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, and the creation of the Internet Governance Forum.
The WSIS follow up works to achieve the targets set out in the Geneva Plan of Action. And 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.
The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
o E-government
o E-business
o E-learning
o E-health
o E-employment
o E-environment
o E-agriculture
o E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content.
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the information society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
The UN has good intentions in bringing about WSIS and yes these plans are feasible but I am of the opinion that their time frame is too short. 2015 is too short a time this plan. Look at how long it took NWICO and yet it failed. I would suggest that they review their follow up plan again and set a more realistic time frame for themselves, then this follow up plan would become further feasible. Also I think that the realization of NWEO {New World Economic Order} will help them realize their follow up action better.
Bamgboye Moyinoluwa ) 07BE05501.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) can be said to have being develop by the United Nations which was about information, communication. in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. The world summit on information technology was created to bridge the gap in the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. It deals with central questions of humanity. Especially in the decade from 1992 to 2002, starting with the world summit on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro and ending with the Rio+10 conference in Johannesburg, there have been a number of world conferences organized around UN-related themes. At the WSIS, information and communication are on the agenda for the first time. The world summit is supposed to develop a common understanding of the information society. These forum that was held in Geneva Switzerland from the 10-14 of May, outlined some actions that have be said to be an helping had in the society, by explaining that the government in charge looking into it to provide a better world for their people. The WSIS Action lines are
C1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
C2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs (ITU)
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
1. E-government
2. E-business
3. E-learning
4. E-health
5. E-employment
6. E-environment
7. E-agriculture
8. E-science.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content (UNESCO)
C9. Media (UNESCO)
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
The importance of this series of world summits lies not only in dealing with central themes for humanity, but also in involving new actors. Since Rio 1992, not only government delegations have been discussing with each other. Non-governmental organizations, e.g. from the environmental or human rights context, are now present and involved as well as business sector associations. This is recognition of the fact that governments alone can not solve the present problems anymore. The negotiations for the WSIS include the three actor group’s state, private sector and civil society. International institutions, especially the relevant UN bodies, are involved in the summit process.
The implementation of the action lines have been organized by UNESCO with the aim of Facilitate the initial contacts and sharing of information among multi-stakeholders on their priorities and expertise in the implementation of the action lines; Consolidate a team of stakeholders for the action lines; Designate facilitator(s)/moderator(s) for the multi-stakeholder team; Agree on the working methods of the multi-stakeholder team including its activities and expected outcome.
I would say that the planned feasible would have being a success, if only the major steps that have being hindering their efforts have being eradicated, things like the economy, Hunger, Political situation of this nations and Poverty. if it can be can be solved to a ratio of 70:30, where by the rate of hunger, poverty, unemployment has been reduced to 30 percentage, WSIS can take its full cause and the information gap can be bridge, if not all their efforts will be put to waste.
OGUNKUA FOLUWAKEMI 07BE05527.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day. The practical meaning of WSIS is that it encourages country to formulate its own national policy and strategy for implementing ICT on governmental level.
Latest development of WSIS
The meeting held on 1 September 2009, by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, on information meeting for Permanent Delegations on the follow-up to, and implementation of, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was the latest in a series of meetings convened to provide Member States with a comprehensive briefing on the status of UNESCO’s involvement in the WSIS process.
in the meeting, The Director-General also emphasized the important contribution of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the Information for All Programme (IFAP) to the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines. Mr Matsuura highlighted that the WSIS goals, along with other internationally agreed development goals, could not be achieved by UNESCO working alone. This is why UNESCO had established a number of partnerships with private sector, civil society and other UN agencies.
in his speech, he said “We will continue our engagement with the Summit to maintain the momentum among stakeholders, to create new partnerships and to build on numerous WSIS-related activities. UNESCO will continue to facilitate WSIS implementation at regional and country levels, including through advocating the integration of WSIS related issues in UN wide common country planning exercises. And we will continue to address the major new trends in building knowledge societies that have emerged since the two Summit events in Geneva and Tunis”.
WSIS Action Lines
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
SUSAN ERHIRHIE 07BE05506
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a United Nations (UN) conference managed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The aim of the WSIS is to develop a global framework to tackle the challenges posed by the information society.
In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO. In November 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a Challenge to Silicon Valley[1] to create nearly up-to-date computers and communications systems that would enable villages to afford Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). Some examples from around the world were:
the Simputer movement in India
Pocket PC from Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, United States
free metropolitan wireless systems
the MIT Media Lab program to create a $100 laptop
localization of Linux into languages not supported by commercial vendors
The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva. The summit process began with the first "Prepcom" in July 2002. The last Prepcom, held from 19-30 September 2005 in Geneva, ended without securing final agreement on Internet governance, with the U.S. rejecting a European Union proposal to relinquish control of ICANN. An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making. The most radical ideas about devolving this authority were those supporting a civil society approach to Internet governance.
The forum coming up 10th – 14th of May, 2010 at ITU headquarters, Geneva, Switerzerland is WSIS latest development. ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP are the sponsors of this event that aimed at building upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its new format is the result of open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders.
The Forum will offer participants a series of diverse interactions, including high-level debates addressing critical issues to the WSIS implementation and follow-up in multi-stakeholder set-ups, WSIS Action Line facilitation meetings, thematic workshops, kick-off meetings for new initiatives and projects, knowledge exchanges facilitating networking among the participants, and others. The forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and to participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation.
The WSIS eleven action plans are aimed at building 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. They are as follows;
ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life
The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for the Information Society
Access to information and knowledge.
Capacity building
Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs.
Enabling environment
Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
International and regional cooperation
Media
Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
These plans aren’t realistic in nature in the sense that WSIS is just like NWICO, they only give the plans without giving ways to achieve these plans, which just makes it all cosmetic plans with no result to show. ALOKOLARO ADEOLA, 07BE05494
part 2...
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
C12 Achieving the WSIS targets (Plan of Action, Section B)
C13 Digital solidarity agenda (Plan of Action, Section D)
C14 Follow-up and evaluation (Plan of Action, Section E)
C15 Towards WSIS Phase 2 (Tunis) (Plan of Action, Section F)
Feasibility of WSIS plans of action
Because of these WSIS plans of action, there is no longer information darkness as everyone and all sector is now left in the “KNOW”. As a result of this ICT craze by WSIS, villages are now connected with ICTs and community access points have been established; a good number of universities, colleges, research centres, archives, health centres, secondary schools and primary schools are now connected with ICTs; also, all local and central government departments now have established websites and email addresses because we all must belong to an information society.
This plan of action has ensured that all of the world's population have access to television and radio services; and t has also encouraged 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 e.g. wikipidia has almost 200 world languages. They have also ensured that more than half the world’s inhabitants have access to ICTs within their reach. Looking at the above objectives of WSIS one cannot but say that the feasibility of the above plan of action is very possible and has been manifesting in different nations especially the third worlds’. One reason why these plans of action are manifesting is because WSIS is not the only one involved, i.e. not one singular person is carrying the whole thing on his head. they have various units and organization that caters for each action. Take for instance action plan 1: it is been facilitated by (ECOSOC/UN REGIONAL COMMISSIONS/ ITU/ UN DESA), and the focal point or contact person is Ms. Haiyan Qian of UN DESA). In achieving the plan of actions, all stakeholders of the economy of every nation involved has been called upon, including the grassroot.
Without much ado, one cannot but say that the action plans of WSIS is very possible and it is working for everyone who needs it to work for them.
SUSAN ERHIRHIE 07BE5506
The major aims of the world summit on the information society is to bridge the gap caused by digital technologies between the 1st worlds and the 3rd worlds. This, they intend on doing by making the internet accessible for developing countries, they intend on building the information society through the use of ICT; the internet precisely.
In November 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a Challenge to Silicon Valley to create nearly up-to-date computers and communications systems that would enable villages to afford Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). Some examples from around the world were: the Simputer movement in India, the Pocket PC from Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, United States, free metropolitan wireless systems, the MIT Media Lab program to create a $100 laptop and localization of Linux into languages not supported by commercial vendors
The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva. The latest developments on the world summit on the information society WSIS are as follows
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: this includes E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture and E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
I believe these action lines are practicable as well as achievable. But we need to take a look into NWICO, which is like an elder brother to WSIS and ask our selves if its lines have been achieved. But the truth is its action lines have not been achieved. I believe that NWICO should be sorted out before looking into the WSIS. If NWICO can be achieved which I believe can be achieved, then surely, the WSIS is feasible. Adubi Tope. 07BE05487
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was created by United Nations which was about information, communication. The information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. The world summit on information technology was created to amend the division of information in the developing world. It deals with central questions of humanity. The forum that was held in Geneva Switzerland from the 10-14 of May brought about the creation of their latest development, their action lines are
C1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
C2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs (ITU)
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
1. E-government
2. E-business
3. E-learning
4. E-health
5. E-employment
6. E-environment
7. E-agriculture
8. E-science.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content (UNESCO)
C9. Media (UNESCO)
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
I conclude by say that development in this nation should first looked at afer which the plans of the WSIS can take its full course. Implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) gathered momentum with the launch of the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS). The Group will enable synergies aimed at resolving substantive and policy issues, avoiding redundancies and enhancing effectiveness of the system while raising public awareness about the goals and objectives of the global Information Society.
LAWAL CYNTHIA 07BE05517
In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO.
The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva. The summit process began with the first "Prepcom" in July 2002. The last Prepcom, held from 19-30 September 2005 in Geneva, ended without securing final agreement on Internet governance, with the U.S. rejecting a European Union proposal to relinquish control of ICANN.
An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making. The most radical ideas about devolving this authority were those supporting a civil society approach to Internet governance.
The Action Lines and its feasibility
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development:
This will enhance 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. 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.
С2. Information and communication infrastructure :
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.
C3. Access to information and knowledge :
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.Develop policy guidelines for the development and promotion of public domain information as an important international instrument promoting public access to information.
C4. Capacity building:
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.
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs:
Confidence and security are among the main pillars of the Information Society.It tends to 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.
C6. Enabling environment:
Confidence and security are among the main pillars of the Information Society. Governments would 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.
OBIESIE OGOCHUKWU O7BE05523
Resolution 73 (Minneapolis, 1998) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) resolved to instruct the ITU Secretary-General to place the question of the holding of a World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) on the agenda of the United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC, now the United Nations System Chief Executive Board - CEB) and to report to the ITU governing body, the Council, on the results of that consultation. In his report to the 1999 session of the Council on that consultation, the Secretary- General indicated that the ACC had reacted positively and that a majority of other organizations and agencies had expressed interest in being associated with the preparation and holding of the Summit. It was decided that the Summit would be held under the high patronage of the UN Secretary-General, with ITU taking the lead role in preparations.
In 2001, the ITU Council decided to hold the World Summit on the Information Society in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva (Switzerland) from 10 to 12 December 200. The second phase will take place in Tunis (Tunisia) from 16 to 18 November 2005.
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 further recommended that preparations for the Summit take place through an open-ended intergovernmental Preparatory Committee that would define the agenda of the Summit, decide on the modalities of the participation of other stakeholders in the Summit, and finalize both the draft Declaration of Principles and the draft Plan of Action. It invited the ITU to assume the leading managerial role in the Executive Secretariat of the Summit and invited Governments to participate actively in the preparatory process of the Summit and to be represented in the Summit at the highest possible level.
A 2010’s Forum, which will be held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 10 to 14 May 2010, is an important opportunity to review the progress made in the WSIS implementation during the last five years and to reconsider strategies for the remaining five years. The Forum will offer participants a series of diverse interactions, including high-level debates addressing critical issues to the WSIS implementation and follow-up in multi-stakeholder set-ups, WSIS Action Line facilitation meetings, thematic workshops, kick-off meetings for new initiatives and projects, knowledge exchanges facilitating networking among the participants, and others. The forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and to participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation.
the WSIS action lines are:
* С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
* С2. Information and communication infrastructure
* C3. Access to information and knowledge
* C4. Capacity building
* C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
* C6. Enabling environment
* C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
* C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
* C9. Media
* C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
* C11. International and regional cooperation
I agree with MJ, all these action lines are very workable, but as Ekeanyanwu always says in class the issue of poverty which is very evident in especially 3rd world nations has to be tackled before other solutions can work. how can a man think of access to information or even security in the use of ICT, when he has no food to eat, the only thing on his mind would be survival . i believe that the issue of poverty should be addressed. Agbanusi Nneka , 07BEo5489
Please this is the continuation
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
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.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content:
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.
C9. Media:
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. Encourage the media - print and broadcast as well as new media - to continue to play an important role in the Information Society.
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society:
The Information Society should be subject to universally held values and promote the common good and to prevent abusive uses of ICTs. Steps are to be taken to promote respect for peace and to uphold the fundamental values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, shared responsibility, and respect for nature.
C11. International and regional cooperation:
International cooperation among all stakeholders is vital in implementation of this plan of action and needs to be strengthened with a view to promoting universal access and bridging the digital divide, inter alia, by provision of means of implementation .Governments of developing countries should raise the relative priority of ICT projects in requests for international cooperation and assistance on infrastructure development projects from developed countries and international financial organizations.
OBIESIE OGOCHUKWU O7BE05523
The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2. Information and communication infrastructure.
3. Access to information and knowledge.
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications, such as:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
8. Cultural diversity and identity,linguistic diversity and local content.
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensons of the information society
11. International and regional cooperation.
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
i think if effectively adhered too, this 11 action line would really work. under the 7th action line, we have the health issue.people die of different diseases everyday, this is as a result of acute poverty in our nation.more focus should be on the rural community where they can barely feed, if these action lines are followed strictly and rural areas are really focused on i dont think this action lines will flop. pat,07BEo5542.
WSIS which stands for World Summit on the Information Society is a committee that was setup to look at several issues that were affecting the southern cause such as imbalance, distortion of contents, lack of freedom, inequality etc. WSIS is an offshoot of NWICO that was setup by UNESCO to look into these issues. Yearly, forums are being held to discuss these issues, proffer solutions and make amendments were necessary. The last WSIS forum was held in Geneva and the next would be held in Geneva Switzerland.
The latest development on WSIS is that the next forum is to be held from 10 to 14 of May 2010. ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP the organizers of WSIS, decided to call for an Open Consultation Process regarding the thematic focus of the Forum in the year 2010. The eleven WSIS action lines for this year are as followed
1 The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
2 Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for the Information Society
3 Access to information and knowledge
4 Capacity building
5 Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6 Enabling environment
7 ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life
8 Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9 Media
10 Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
11 International and regional cooperation
Personally, I think that the WSIS Action Lines are a waste of precious time and efforts, they cannot be realized because there are some things that must be put in place for it to be realized, first of all according to the “Socio-economic Independence Hypothesis as a theoretical for the emancipation of the south in the International Communication System” which was propounded by Dr. Ekeanyanwu (2005) which states that for there to be a change, there must be total independence economically and socially. I believe that the foundation of WSIS is based on the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) which started in 1986 and in turn founded by UNESCO on how the issue of imbalance could be reduced, because it cannot be totally eradicated. For that imbalance to be reduced, economic and social issues must be looked into.
The point am trying to make is that WSIS has not made such provisions in their Action Lines and without them, other solutions on ICTSs, Infrastructure and the media can never be realized in.a thousand years. Ekeanyanwu (2008) says that the gap between the rich and the poor is brought about by the lack of information. Before the average man can get to the level of seeking information, his stomach must be filled.
Finally, WSIS are just giving us things to talk about as NWICO did, because they are well aware that the solution is the social and economic emancipation which they are not ready to dabble into so the WSIS action plans cannot be realized.
KANTIYOK RACHEAL BABOSHIYA 07BE05516
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is the latest in a long series of world summits organized by the United Nations that deal with central questions of humanity. Especially in the decade from 1992 to 2002, starting with the world summit on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro and ending with the Rio+10 conference in Johannesburg, there have been a number of world conferences organized around UN-related themes. At the WSIS, information and communication are on the agenda for the first time. The world summit is supposed to develop a common understanding of the information society. In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology issues. The International Telecommunications Union took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO.The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva.In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.When the 2003 summit failed to agree on the future of Internet governance, the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) was formed to come up with ideas on how to progress.The second phase took place 2005-11-16 to 2005-11-18 in Tunis, Tunisia. It resulted in agreement on the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, and the creation of the Internet Governance Forum.. The WSIS Plan of Action are as follows:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications and under this they have other items listed under like:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
It is believed that anything that is planned for most first be analyzed and structured to see if it will fit into its required curriculum which it has beings created for. Everybody want the information gap to be closed but nobody is looking for what caused the gap and what is making it exist till date, if the solution to this can be created, I have no doubt that WSIS will be a success and it would eradicate the information gap.
ANENE OBIAGELI 07BE05495
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues on January 2002,. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO. In November 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a Challenge to Silicon Valley[1] to create nearly up-to-date computers and communications systems that would enable villages to afford Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). The latest development is the WSIS Forum 2010. The Forum is expected to unite an unprecedented number of high-level participants and experts in a new format. It will include a meeting of representatives of 28 international organizations, all members of the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS), who will discuss ways to enhance coordination. 2010’s Forum, which will be held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 10 to 14 May 2010, is an important opportunity to review the progress made in the WSIS implementation during the last five years and to reconsider strategies for the remaining five years. The Forum will offer participants a series of diverse interactions, including high-level debates addressing critical issues to the WSIS implementation and follow-up in multi-stakeholder set-ups, WSIS Action Line facilitation meetings, thematic workshops, kick-off meetings for new initiatives and projects, knowledge exchanges facilitating networking among the participants, and others. The forum will provide structured opportunities to network, learn and to participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on WSIS implementation.
In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles. This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding. The Information Society is an evolving concept that has reached different levels across the world, reflecting the different stages of development.
The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2. Information and communication infrastructure.
3. Access to information and knowledge.
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications, such as:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
8. Cultural diversity and identity,linguistic diversity and local content.
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensons of the information society
11. International and regional cooperation.
In my own opinion, I feel that these lines of action would go a long way in helping the countries move forward but first, they have to focus on the main thing which is the economic aspect and without this, nothing can work and everything (the 11 lines of action) would just be a mirage. But standing on its own, I think this is a totally good and brave idea and they should be determined to fulfill it. CHUKS-EBOKA AMARA 07CK06330
This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015.
The second phase took place 2005-11-16 to 2005-11-18 in Tunis, Tunisia. It resulted in agreement on the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, and the creation of the Internet Governance Forum.
There however was a dispute over control of the internet and this threatened to derail the conferencce, but a major conflict was avoided when a last-minute decision was made to leave control in the hands of the United States-based ICANN for the time being.Towards meeting a compromise, there was an agreement to set up an international Internet Governance Forum, with a purely consultative role.
Robert Menard, a French reporter and the president of Reporters sans frontieres was refused admission to Tunisia for phase two of the summit because of his participation in the occupation of the Tunisian office of tourism in Paris in 2001, which was organized in protest of the arest of Tunisian human rights activist, Sihem Bensedrine.
The summit itself was marred by criticism of Tunisia for allowing attacks on journalists and human rights defenders to occur in the days leading up to the event.
A Belgian television crew was harassed and forced to hand over footage of Tunisian dissidents, while local human rights defenders were roughed up and prevented from organizing a meeting with international civil society groups.
1) the role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development. for this to actually be acheived, there will have to be cooperation among stakeholders,multi-stakeholder portals for indigenous peoples, Multi stakeholder partnerships and the like.
2) Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for an inclusive information society. this will require, access, accessibility, affordability, assistive technologies, broad network infrastructure, enabling and competitive environment and so on.
3) Access to information and knowledge. This will also require access to public official infromation, access to scientific knowledge,digital public libraries and archives and so on.
4)Capacity building.this will require basic literacy, distance learning, self learning and much more to acheive this.
5)Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs.This will require authentication, building confidene and security, consumer protection, secure and reliable applications, data protection and so on.
6)Enabling environment. This will require consumer protection, dispute settlement, internet governance, secure storage and archival etc
7)ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life. This involves disaster recovery, E-applications, E-agriculture,E-business, E-commerce, E-employment,E-environment, E-government, E-health, E-publishing, E-science, Ict waste disposal and many more.
8) Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local contentinvolving cultural diversity, cultural exchange and information, cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and so on.
9)Media. this deals with combatting illegal and harmful content in the media, diversity of media ownership, reducing international imbalances and media independence and pluralism.
10)Ethical dimensions the Information Society. this of course deals with the common good, ethics, human rights, preventing abusive uses of ICTs.
11) International and regional cooperation.this deals with financing of ICT networks and services, infrastructure development projects, regional action plan and UN globbal compact.
The truth is until all these are addressed in the way and manner they should, without any politics involved, there can't be a realization of this by 2030 not to talk of 2015.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day. The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003. An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making.
The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
a. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
b. Information and communication infrastructure
c. Access to information and knowledge
d. Capacity building
e. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
f. Enabling environment
g. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
h. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content.
i. Media
j. Ethical dimensions of the information society
k. International and regional cooperation.
Any communication scholar will realize that although these plans are good on paper, the real work comes in the process of executing them. NWICO failed, not only because it was untimely, but because Imbalance, which is the source of the challenges in the global communication scene, will continually abound. So also, unless something is first done to remedy the economic situation between first and third world nations, WSIS will also remain something brilliant on paper and will also not be implementable.
MOJEED RUTH, 07BE05519
In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. In November 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a Challenge to Silicon Valley to create nearly up-to-date computers and communications systems that would enable villages to afford Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva. The summit process began with the first "Prepcom" in July 2002. The last Prepcom, held from 19-30 September 2005 in Geneva, ended without securing final agreement on Internet governance, with the U.S. rejecting a European Union proposal to relinquish control of ICANN. An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making. The most radical ideas about devolving this authority were those supporting a civil society approach to Internet governance.
In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. summit failed to agree on the future of Internet governance, the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) was formed to come up with ideas on how to progress. The second phase took place 2005-11-16 to 2005-11-18 in Tunis, Tunisia. Just on the eve of the November 2005 Tunis event, the Association for Progressive Communications came out with its stand. (APC is an international network of civil society organizations — whose goal is to empower and support groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the internet).
WSIS Action Lines
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science.
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
The feasibility of these eleven plan of action seem to be near impossible because critically looking at these plans one will see that it is not really applicable in the third world country because they are not so ICT driven and don’t have the funds to operate in full ICT capacity. In third world nations were they don’t have political stability like in Zimbabwe where Robert Mugabe has being the president since 1987 and even in Nigeria where today we have democracy and tomorrow we may have military rule where the head of state is in control of the media and all other state operation and ICT is included. The governance and control of ICT will be in the hands of the government even now that we operate a civil rule in Nigeria. In most second and third world countries, the economy is not good so there is no means to provide the information and communication infrastructure and the environment must be good and conducive for the people of the nation.
In conclusion, the governance, control and feasibility of these action plans to be implemented is near impossible. OKAKA SARAH 07BE05532
The World Summit on Information Society as established, is a creation of United Nations. This summit held at Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005. One of its major aims is to facilitate the use of ICT, majorly the internet, in development. Thus, has devised 11 action lines:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
These action lines I must say are very relevant and I think can be achieved provided every party is involved. One very important factor to the fulfillment of this is the government of individual nations. The government should consciously support this cause. For one to be recognized as a real part of the global village, ICT is just very necessary. Therefore, if the government embraces and go every length to support this cause, then it should work.
Also, if those at the topmost part of the ladder would let go of their selfish interests and ensure that they spread the knowledge needed to achieve these goals, then it could work. I say this because I would be less surprised if the information rich nations refuse to offer enough knowledge just in a bid to be monopolistic. But if they do otherwise it would go a long way to ensure the fulfillment of these goals.
However, it should be noted that many of these third world nations that are advantaged by these goals have other priorities such as their economic development. If the economy is nothing to write home about no one would even be interested in this cause. Therefore, I propose that the economic situations of nations involved be put into consideration. I don’t know how they can do this but since United Nations is the anchor of these, they should be able to do something about it. The reason why the western worlds are at the top of the ladder is because most importantly, they have a very good economy in terms of management of resources, governance e.t.c.
So I would say if a good economy is established it can work but at the moment economy development should be primary to third world nations who are the main beneficiary of these action lines.
The chief aim of the WSIS is to make internet access available in the third world nations by bridging the global digital divide that is separating the developed nations from the developing one. According to former UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, the WSIS is set to create an information society through which human capacity is expanded, built up, nourished and liberated, by giving people access to the tools and technologies they need, with the education and training to use them effectively. At the Geneva summit in 2003, an eleven plan of action was set up and they include:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stake holders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. Access to information and knowledge
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications – e government, e-business, e- learning, e-health, e-employment, e-environment, e-agriculture, and e-science
8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensions and of the information society
11. International and regional cooperation
All these plans are good goals set to bridge the gap between these two worlds but according to Karl Marx the economy is the infrastructure and every other thing is superstructure. The first world have a good economy that will establish these plans but not the developing nations who have to address their economy first before thinking of being ICT driven. The issue of underdevelopment, acute poverty, lack of locally produced media software and low level of underdevelopment of indigenous values has to be addressed. If all these are put in consideration by the developing nations, then I believe we would have a global information society. Okafor Ifunanya 07BE05531.
The WSIS (World Summit on Information Society) was an improvement on the NWICO debate which was a problem of international communication especially in the unequal flow of information from the First World to the Second and Third World nations. The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events.
The eleven action lines of the WSIS are:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
According to Uche as cited in Ekeanyanwu (2008) ‘the post-industrial information society will lead to an increased imbalance in information and communication to an alarming level’. Therefore for the actualization or the feasibility of the WSIS action lines if the sociopolitical cum economic situation of developing nations must be addressed. Their resources both human and material must be managed well which will then lead to economic growth and development. According to Watson Sims (1983:185) he states that; ‘There is one problem, which overshadows all others, and it is the yearning of poor nations for a larger share of the earth’s riches. The West understands the problem but rejects the most obvious solution, which is to create a better world for all of mankind’. Therefore by this statement if the West can help in tackling the problem in the economy of developing nations then the action lines can be seen to lead us somewhere if not it would be a theoretical framework like the NWICO debate.
The WSIS (World Summit on Information Society) was an improvement on the NWICO debate which was a problem of international communication especially in the unequal flow of information from the First World to the Second and Third World nations. The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events.
The eleven action lines of the WSIS are:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
According to Uche as cited in Ekeanyanwu (2008) ‘the post-industrial information society will lead to an increased imbalance in information and communication to an alarming level’. Therefore for the actualization or the feasibility of the WSIS action lines if the sociopolitical cum economic situation of developing nations must be addressed. Their resources both human and material must be managed well which will then lead to economic growth and development. According to Watson Sims (1983:185) he states that; ‘There is one problem, which overshadows all others, and it is the yearning of poor nations for a larger share of the earth’s riches. The West understands the problem but rejects the most obvious solution, which is to create a better world for all of mankind’. Therefore by this statement if the West can help in tackling the problem in the economy of developing nations then the action lines can be seen to lead us somewhere if not it would be a theoretical framework like the NWICO debate.
ODIMAYO ABIMBOLA 07BE05525
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The objective of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is to formulate a common vision and understanding of the global information society. It is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles and an Action Plan to facilitate the effective growth of the Information Society and to help bridge the digital divide. It is also regarded as an effective means to assist the United Nations in fulfilling the goals of the Millennium Declaration. The Summit will be held in two phases: Geneva from December 10-12, 2003, and Tunis in 2005, preceded by preparatory meetings - the first of which will be held in Geneva from July 1-5, 2002.
In addition to the preparatory meetings, there will be regional preparatory conferences in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America before the 2003 Summit to assess the key challenges, opportunities and constraints relating to the Information Society, develop a common vision and understanding for the region, and prepare a plan to address the key issues and solve the problems identified.
WSIS Action Lines
* ?1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
* ?2. Information and communication infrastructure
* C3. Access to information and knowledge
* C4. Capacity building
* C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
* C6. Enabling environment
* C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
* C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
* C9. Media
* C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
* C11. International and regional cooperation
Odukale Bowale 07BE05526
On the issue of WSIS, currently various upcoming forums are still being planned and these forums as reinstated by the objective of the institution will serve as opportunities to review the progress the institution has made since 2005.
As established, according to the resource database, Wikipedia, one of the issues that precipitated the introduction of such an summit was the need to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. This essentially to me is a fair resemblance of an attempt to reduce imbalance.
Basically, looking at the action plans of WSIS, they do not seem likely to appropriately tackle the communication problems inherent in the global arena. Frankly, I would bluntly like to go straight to he point by discussing the issues I consider pressing out of the action lines.
Firstly, radically looking at the stipulated Declaration of Principles, slated at the first phase in 2003 at Geneva, it is evident that the working operations and efficacy of impact of the WSIS would definitely work at snail-speed. This is owing to the fact that in presenting a roadmap for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge, consideration were not made to the differences in development of various nations and various levels of technological advancement. Such a plan cannot work as it is evident that a background study as well as localization angle was not taken. Just like NWICO, the summit posits itself as a cosmetic solution.
Secondly, looking at the issue of information and communication structure, in order to institute such a programme in developing nations, before ICT can work, vital lurking issues stifling their anticipated accelerated development must be addressed, even if not completely solved.
Thirdly, on the plan of access to information and knowledge, the issue of equality,( which is non-existent), in the flow and access to information will impend such development because even in most third world countries, some channels of communications are not still adequately in use e.g. in passing information concerning health matters, what might take people in the western world to know in seconds, might take someone in the Third world nation a day to be informed. So , a slight inequality still exists in access to information even basically laying on the fact that even in the same regions ,e.g Southern region, development operates on different levels.
Although some issues such as capacity building, role of government and all stakeholders as well as cultural and linguistic diversity and local content can efficiently be effected upon,( but with clauses reflecting from diversity in language, culture, ideology, amount of relevance placed on knowledge gathering and updating as well as education), majority of the action plans are just mere speculations and, based on my sincere observations, do not seem to address the information and knowledge gap-bridging situation. This is owing to the fact that before an institution can be breed to solve such long-standing problems , the environment in which the theory would be applied needs to be extensively studied, not just theories based on assumptions and widely known speculations. There is need for a review of some of the actions plans, because based on observation still the time of statement, they have not been adequately effected upon .In committees such as the upcoming WSIS Forum which comes up on May,10th -14th 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland, these issues should be outlined, otherwise in 2015 we would still be singing the same song and applying the same balm on our pains with no progressive relief.CHEERS!!!
IYAOMOLERE MORAYO O. 07be05514
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.WSIS, while recommending representation from governments at the highest level also invited participation of all relevant UN bodies and other international organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector, civil society, and media to establish a truly multi-stakeholder process.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events
The eleven WSIS Action Lines
1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
2. The information and communication infrastructure
3. Access to information and knowledge 4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICT’s
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications (E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment,
E –environment, E- Agriculture, E-science) Medium priority, except E-government
8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
11. International and regional cooperation
On the workability of these plans I don’t think it is possible because the issues discussed at the NWICO debate are still very much present and this WSIS is supposed to be a twin brother to NWICO so if we have not been able to solve the problems that came with nwico then we shouldn’t even start with wsis because the imbalances in the system are too pronounced look at the number seven action line E everything let us ask ourselves how many people even know about the internet talk less of having access to it? I think that action line will be useful for some countries and completely useless for other countries especially the developing nations we all should stop deceiving ourselves n the workability and let’s tackle the visible problems before moving further so all our effforts will not be put to waste.
ADEBISI OMOLOLA 07BE05485
In January 2002, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal for a global summit on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) issues. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) took the lead in organizing the event, which included the participation of more than 50 heads of state. WSIS is also related to UNESCO.
In November 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a Challenge to Silicon Valley[1] to create nearly up-to-date computers and communications systems that would enable villages to afford Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). Some examples from around the world were:the Simputer movement in India, Pocket PC from Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, United States, free metropolitan wireless systems, the MIT Media Lab program to create a $100 laptop
localization of Linux into languages not supported by commercial vendors
The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva. The summit process began with the first "Prepcom" in July 2002. The last Prepcom, held from 19-30 September 2005 in Geneva, ended without securing final agreement on Internet governance, with the U.S. rejecting a European Union proposal to relinquish control of ICANN.
An issue that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making. The most radical ideas about devolving this authority were those supporting a civil society approach to Internet governance.
The eleven action lines of the WSIS are:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
There is a feasibility in the eleven action lines but first and foreost, the cause of the problem must be foundout first inorder for us to determine a solution.also,the sociopolitical cum economic situation of developing nations must be addressed. Their resources both human and material must be properly managed well, then this will lead to economic growth and development.If the West can help in tackling the problem in the economy of developing nations then the action lines will be feasible. 06be03904
The objective of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is to formulate a common vision and understanding of the global information society. It is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles and an Action Plan to facilitate the effective growth of the Information Society and to help bridge the digital divide. It is also regarded as an effective means to assist the United Nations in fulfilling the goals of the Millennium Declaration.
The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
* С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
* С2. Information and communication infrastructure
* C3. Access to information and knowledge
* C4. Capacity building
* C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
* C6. Enabling environment
* C7. ICT Applications:
o E-government
o E-business
o E-learning
o E-health
o E-employment
o E-environment
o E-agriculture
o E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
* C9. Media
* C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
* C11. International and regional cooperation
the WSIS situation can be seen as trying to build a foundation to build a house on water and expecting it to stand. either the house absorbs the water and become weak or it wont be possible at all to build a house on it. for this to work all the problems facing countries involved has to be solved. in relations to the media, imbalance and inequality should be takled. if this is not done there is no feasibility at all, either WSIS succeeds and later crashes because of the underground untackled problems, or it wont even be possible at all.things are better left the way they are not to generate further problems.i think they should let sleeping dogs lie!!!
OYEGBADE OLUFUNMILOLA 07BE05541
The world summit on the information society came from the new world information and commuincation order to have a balanced information society. It is the new generation NWICO.The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day
In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. APC said it had participated extensively in the internet governance process at the World Summit on Information Society. It says: Out of this participation and in collaboration with other partners, including members of the WSIS civil society internet governance caucus, APC has crystallized a set of recommendations with regard to internet governance ahead of the final Summit in Tunis in November 2005. APC proposed specific basis. The internet, therefore, must be seen as a global public infrastructure. In this regard we recognize the internet to be a global public good related to the concept of the common heritage of humanity and access to it is in the public interest, and must be provided as a global public commitment to equality.Measures to promote capacity buildin in "developing" countries with regard to increasing "developing" country participation in global public policy forums on internet governance.The WSIS Follow up works towards achieving the indicative targets, set out in the Geneva Plan of Action and 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. The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
This plans are feasible but i feel that we should leave this WSIS thing alone as there will always be imbalance whether only developed countries are invloved.Are this action lines going to stop the imbalance between countries or worsen the case of imbalance. WSIS grew from NWICO and NWICO has been on for decades and they have not still resolved it.I think this action lines will work for some countries and will not work for others which will make the imbalance worse as it will be termed as being favourable.BEllO AMINAT.07BE05502
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
A dispute over control of the Internet threatened to derail the conference. However, a last-minute decision to leave control in the hands of the United States-based ICANN for the time being avoided a major blow-up.
French reporter Robert Ménard, the president of Reporters sans frontières, was refused admission to Tunisia for phase two of the Summit because of his participation in the occupation of the Tunisian office of tourism in Paris in 2001. The occupation was organized in protest of the arrest in Tunisia of human-rights activist Sihem Bensedrine. Ménard was told that he was not welcome in Tunisia. He is reportedly under judicial instruction and can enter the country only if called by a magistrate.
The summit itself was marred by criticism of Tunisia for allowing attacks on journalists and human rights defenders to occur in the days leading up to the event.the case of a French journalist for Libération who was stabbed and beaten by unidentified men after he reported on local human rights protesters. A Belgian television crew was harassed and forced to hand over footage of Tunisian dissidents, while local human rights defenders were roughed up and prevented from organizing a meeting with international civil society groups.this shows clearly the infringements of human and civic rights of the press as parts of the issues discussed as well as issue of correcting imbalances in riches, rights and power, in which governments do not agree on even the principle of a financial effort to overcome the so-called "digital divide", which was precisely the objective when the summit process was started in 2001.
The eleven WSIS Action Lines are as follows:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
In my own opinion, i'd say that the eleven action lines posed by WSIS can only be made possible only if the economic situation of the nation is looked into. Although these plans are good on paper, the real task comes in the process of carrying them out and maintaining them.
According to Uche as cited in Ekeanyanwu (2008) ‘the post-industrial information society will lead to an increased imbalance in information and communication to an alarming level’.
Therefore,the feasibility of the WSIS action lines to become a reality is for the sociopolitical cum economic situation of developing nations to be addressed.In addition,as nations attempt to build a sustainable ICT sector, commitment to the private sector and rule of law must be emphasized.
Ensuring security on the internet, in electronic communications and in electronic commerce will also ensure peeople feel that the networks are secure from cyber attack,as regards cyber security.
0GUNKO TOLULOPE 06BE03925.
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
WSIS Action Lines
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development:
С2. Information and communication infrastructure:
C3. Access to information and knowledge:
C4. Capacity building:.
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs:
C6. Enabling environment:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content: development.
C9. Media:
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society:
C11. International and regional cooperation:
EZEGWO IFEOMA, 07BE05508
he World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is held in two phases. The first phase of WSIS took place in Geneva hosted by the Government of Switzerland from 10 to 12 December 2003. The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
At the Geneva Phase of WSIS nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers and Heads of delegation as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society provided political support to the WSIS Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
The second phase of WSIS took place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005.
The information imbalance in the world today is the reason for the WSIS and with the eleven action lines below they intend to achieve a balance:
* С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
* С2. Information and communication infrastructure
* C3. Access to information and knowledge
* C4. Capacity building
* C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
* C6. Enabling environment
* C7. ICT Applications:
o E-government
o E-business
o E-learning
o E-health
o E-employment
o E-environment
o E-agriculture
o E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
* C9. Media
* C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
* C11. International and regional cooperation
I think that the success of this action lines are visible if only the WSIS is sincere enough and are ready to tackle the odds.
BANKE AKINSUNLOLA 07BE05682
The world summit on the information society, was brought about as a result of the failure of the NWICO debate. it was realized that the agenda of the debate has changed since the world of communication and life in general was now based on ICT. Information communication technologies (ICT) have changed the way we pass across information and interact with ourselves in general. The digital revolution has changed the way people think, behave, communicate, work and earn their livelihood. It has restructured the way the world conducts economic and business practices, runs governments and engages politically. It has provided for the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid and healthcare, and a new vision for environmental protection. It has even created new avenues for entertainment and leisure. As access to information and knowledge is a prerequisite to achieving the Millennium Development Goals – or MDGs -, it has the capacity to improve living standards for millions of people around the world. Moreover, better communication between peoples helps resolve conflicts and attain world peace. Therefore the world summit on the information society –was born. The summit in the past has been held in two phases:
1.Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
2. Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
According to resolution (2006/46) passed on 28 July 2006, entitled “Follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society and review of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development”, ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council)indicated how it will oversee the system-wide follow-up of the Summit outcomes, as requested in the Tunis outputs. This is in the context of the annual consideration by ECOSOC of the integrated and coordinated implementation and follow-up of major United Nations conferences. To this end, ECOSOC decided that the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will assist the Council as the focal point in the system-wide follow-up of WSIS.
As a follow up to these two phases action lines were developed to help structure the objectives and make for easier achievement of goals.
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development .С2. Information and communication infrastructure. C3. Access to information and knowledge .C4. Capacity building .C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs .C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment,
E-agriculture,E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
All these action lines were developed because it is believed that their implementation will actually create a way that the world as a global village can come together as one using the ICT’s available to them.
I believe that all these can help achieve their goal of broadening the information society and helping the WSIS achieve what they set out to achieve. With time, encouragement, proper planning and proper introduction to the countries in the world these action lines are bound to create a global village which is ICT oriented.
07BE05539.ONU-OKPARA CHIAMAKA
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is held in two phases. The first phase of WSIS took place in Geneva hosted by the Government of Switzerland from 10 to 12 December 2003. The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
At the Geneva Phase of WSIS nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers and Heads of delegation as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society provided political support to the WSIS Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
The second phase of WSIS took place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005.
The information imbalance in the world today is the reason for the WSIS and with the eleven action lines below they intend to achieve a balance:
* С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
* С2. Information and communication infrastructure
* C3. Access to information and knowledge
* C4. Capacity building
* C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
* C6. Enabling environment
* C7. ICT Applications:
o E-government
o E-business
o E-learning
o E-health
o E-employment
o E-environment
o E-agriculture
o E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
* C9. Media
* C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
* C11. International and regional cooperation
I think that the success of this action lines are visible if only the WSIS is sincere enough and are ready to tackle the odds.
BANKE AKINSUNLOLA 07BE05482
April 23, 2010 5:16 AM
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The first phase of WSIS was in Geneva in the year 2003, there were delegats from 175 countries in attendance. This was when they adopted a Declaration of principles a road map for achieving an information society accessible to everyone and based on knowledge. A Plan of Action [3] sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.
The second phase of the summit took place 11-16th of November 2005, The summit itself attracted 1500 people from International Organizations, 6200 from NGOs, 4800 from the private sector, and 980 from the media. Association for Progressive Communications (APC) came out with their own stand. APC has crystallized a set of recommendations with regard to internet governance ahead of the final Summit in Tunis in November 2005. APC proposed specific actions in each of the following five areas: The establishment of an Internet Governance Forum, The transformation of ICANN into a global and body, the initiation of a multi-stakeholder convention on internet governance and universal human rights, ensuring internet access is universal and affordable and Measures to promote capacity building in "developing" countries. The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents. The action lines of WSIS include
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. Access to information and knowledge
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications such as
- E-government
- E-business
- E-learning
- E-health
- E-employment
- E-environment
- E-agriculture
- E-science
All these efforts and plans to make things right are well appreciated and very good, but we should take one step at a time. Firstly, we must understand that there are lot of economic. OLORUNNIWO DAMILOLA 06BF03953
The World Summit on Information Society is an initiation of United Nations. This summit, held in two phases was first held at Geneva in 2003 and then in Tunis in 2005. One of the major issues that emerged was Internet governance and the dominant role that the USA in policy making.
The WSIS Plan of Action to meet all set goals includes:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.
2. Information and communication infrastructure.
3. Access to information and knowledge.
4. Capacity building.
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs.
6. Enabling environment.
7. ICT Applications:
- e-government
- e-business
- e-learning
- e-health
- e-employment
- e-environment
- e-agriculture
- e-science
8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content.
9. The media.
10. Ethical dimensions of the information society.
11. International and regional cooperation.
These plans of action sound very good and possible, though on paper. The issue here now is can they be achieved? Before the WSIS action plans can be achieved, there has to be a certain level of equality or balance in the world today. Something should first be done about the economic variance between the developed and the underdeveloped nations. All the nations of the world should be regarded as same. NWICO failed, not only because it was untimely, but because of imbalance, which is the source of the problems in the communication sector of the world. Personally, i feel that these action plans set by WSIS are not feasible, meaning that they cannot be achieved basically because of the imbalance situation in the world. We can be at this WSIS for a really long time if priorities are not turned the right way.
AGUDA AMIOLA O. 07BE05490
he World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
In 2003 at Geneva, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.[2] This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action [3] sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.
When the 2003 summit failed to agree on the future of Internet governance, the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) was formed to come up with ideas on how to progress.
ust on the eve of the November 2005 Tunis event, the Association for Progressive Communications came out with its stand. (APC is an international network of civil society organizations — whose goal is to empower and support groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the internet).
The reason for these summits is the issue of Information Balance and through the eleven lines of action they intend to achieve a balance, which are:
1.The role of public governance and all stakeholders in promotion of ICT
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. access to information and knowledge
4. capacity building
5. building confidence and security in the use of icts
6. enabling environs
7. ICT applications:
E-government, E-business, E-health, E-learning, E-employment, E-agriculture, E-science, E-environment.
8. cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9. the media
10. ethical dimensions of information society
11. International and regional co-operation.
With all these lines of actions, the issue isnt wether or not it can be achieved. Infact, it can be achieve, but i think that the issue is, to what extent will the impact be made. Will all these really make the BIG difference that we hope for. The WSIS can achieve this if they are not political about this and are fair in all righteousness.
07BE05486, ADELEKE DOLAPO
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis. One of its chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The first phase of WSIS was in Geneva in the year 2003, there were delegats from 175 countries in attendance. This was when they adopted a Declaration of principles a road map for achieving an information society accessible to everyone and based on knowledge. A Plan of Action [3] sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. It does not spell out any specifics of how this might be achieved. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.
The second phase of the summit took place 11-16th of November 2005, The summit itself attracted 1500 people from International Organizations, 6200 from NGOs, 4800 from the private sector, and 980 from the media. Association for Progressive Communications (APC) came out with their own stand. APC has crystallized a set of recommendations with regard to internet governance ahead of the final Summit in Tunis in November 2005. APC proposed specific actions in each of the following five areas: The establishment of an Internet Governance Forum, The transformation of ICANN into a global and body, the initiation of a multi-stakeholder convention on internet governance and universal human rights, ensuring internet access is universal and affordable and Measures to promote capacity building in "developing" countries. The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents. The action lines of WSIS include
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. Access to information and knowledge
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications such as
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
All these efforts and plans to make things right are well appreciated and very good, but we should take one step at a time. Firstly, we must understand that there are lot of economic problems in affecting lot of nations, and I believe that if economic issues are being tackled from the grassroot then we will be able to achieve all these.
OLORUNNIWO DAMILOLA 06BF03953
The WSIS is a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society. One of its chief aims was to bridge the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. Access to information and knowledge
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications: E-government,E-business, E-learning ,E-health ,E-employment ,E-environment ,E-agriculture ,E-science
8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
11. International and regional cooperation
On the 10 to 14 of May 2010, the WSIS forum will be holding in Switzerland.
How can WSIS action lines work in nations were most of its people are battling poverty? Most of the guys we see under the bridge don’t care about information, politics, ICT or any of that stuff their major aim is where they are going to get their next meal, or where to sleep, Some people don’t even know how to use the Internet so how can all these E-health, E- agriculture and the rest be useful? We should first address our economy before we talk of ICT. Karl Marx said “the economy is the infrastructure and every other thing is a superstructure” The WSIS to me will further widen the gap between developing and developed nations especially since the development is in the area of ICT. To me WSIS is another NWICO the NEWO (New Economic World Order) should come first. Even if to me all nations can’t be equal but the NEWO will help reduce the gap to an appreciable level.
Aina Oluwadamilola Elizabeth07BE05491
January 2002 marked the endorsement for a global summit by United Nations General Assemblyon Information and Communication Technology (ICT) . The Summit's first phase took place in December 2003 in Geneva. The summit process began with the first "Prepcom" in July 2002. The World Summit on Information Society has action lines set.
WSIS Action Lines:
1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. Access to information and knowledge
4. Capacity building
5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
6. Enabling environment
7. ICT Applications: this encompasses E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science.
8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9. Media
10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
11. International and regional cooperation
The feasibility of this seems dim to me. The steps and action lines are relevant ones that seek to answer pressing questions however, they would all lead to what we are running away from-imbalance. If the West is still going to be in charge of producing solutions to the problems at hand there would still be a lot of inequality. At the stage where things are in the so-called global society there cannot be equal contribution because of the level of information available to the different societies. In all of this someone is trying to help another and this shows that the two parties cannot be equal. While third world countries are trying to make internet a fundamental human right, the West is going to another level of ICT development. Where then is t he feasibility of this actions?.The problem of the world must be solved from the foundational issues, which whether we accept it or not began from the days of the colonial masters and slave trade. These action points may end up like NWICO and NEIO. Omu Ibada.07BE05537.
After the endorsement by The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) that the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) be held, In 2003 and 2005 WSIS meeting held in Geneva and Tunis respectively, both of which were aimed at achieving an information society with technology accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. It was in a bid to achieve this that the world’s information society day was established. Recently, another meeting has been planned to achieve this feat and make the world an information society and to improve 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. At this recent meeting, the WSIS came up with the following action points to help achieve this goal. The action points include:
•1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
•2. Information and communication infrastructure
•3. Access to information and knowledge
•4. Capacity building
•5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
•6. Enabling environment
•7. ICT Applications: in E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E- employment, E-environment, E-agriculture E-science
•8. Cultural diversity and identity. Linguistic Diversity and local content.
•9. The media
•10. Ethical dimensions of the information society.
•11. International and Regional Corporation.
This latest development is however to us a reminder that the WSIS is very much still in mind. However the question to be asked is how feasible are these plans. If equality and balance in technological advancement is to be achieved on the basis of these plans, then I think that this action is not possible and feasible.
First of all, these plans are been measures by the standard of the developed countries without taking into cognizance people who are out of the global village who don’t even know Jack about what is happening around them. Whether we like it or not, these people are still part of this “global” village.
Besides even if every body is a member of this global village, I think if we are going to achieve a totally equal and balanced level in technology, then developed countries will have to hold up their development processes, so that developing countries can ride up to where they are now, then every body continues this development race together at the same level. But how many of these countries are ready to that since developing countries cannot just wake up one day to say they want to be at par with these developed countries. This therefore leaves me with no option but to conclude that the action lines proposed by the WSIS are not feasible. ADEBAYO BUKOLA 07BE05484
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms,the world summit on the information society is held in two phases.this first was in Geneva, 10-12 december 2003 the second phase of WSIS took place in Tunis from 16 to 18 november 2005
One of the sumits chief aims was to bridge the so-called global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society states that the WSIS implementation mechanism at the international level should be organised taking into account the themes and action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate. It also states that ITU, UNESCO and UNDP should play a leading facilitating role in the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action.
WSIS Action Lines
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
First off, I believe that this eleven point action line is not very practical. It is a good effort, but just not practical. You can not cut yourself on a piece of glass, and think a Band-Aid could it. Imbalance is the developing nations gapping wound and the WSIS’s eleven point agenda is the band aid.
NWICO tried to sort this out and are still trying. These action points would never work until the NWICO debates’ own gets sorted out first.
So we go back to the roots, we have to fix the economies of the developing worlds, we have to concentrate on harnessing our resources and developing our nations before any of these action lines can work.
We must also face the fact that though we are a global world, we are of very diverse cultures and trends. There would always be an imbalance.
Mahogany Obodozie 07BE05524
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events.
The eleven action lines are:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
When talking about the feasibility of this action lines these actions are not really possible because these lines will further promote imbalance which was a problem during the NWICO debate and therefore if the issue of the economy is not tackled these action plans cannot work.
ORIBHABOR ANDREA 07BE05540
The WSIS is a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society. One of its chief aims was to bridge the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world. The conferences established 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.Governance (WGIG) was formed to come up with ideas on how to progress.
ust on the eve of the November 2005 Tunis event, the Association for Progressive Communications came out with its stand. (APC is an international network of civil society organizations — whose goal is to empower and support groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), including the internet).
The reason for these summits is the issue of Information Balance and through the eleven lines of action they intend to achieve a balance, which are:
1.The role of public governance and all stakeholders in promotion of ICT
2. Information and communication infrastructure
3. access to information and knowledge
4. capacity building
5. building confidence and security in the use of icts
6. enabling environs
7. ICT applications:
E-government, E-business, E-health, E-learning, E-employment, E-agriculture, E-science, E-environment.
8. cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
9. the media
10. ethical dimensions of information society
11. International and regional co-operation. Now all these goals are very good but the feasibility of achieving this goals is not exactly one that i can see. we must try to take everything step step as they must try to adress the immediate needs of the nations involved especially the third world nations like Nigeria. they must make sure that people are not hungry, they must eradicate poverty, unemployment and finally the economic situation of such nations must improve before we can see any of these goals as feasible. 07BE05499 Atuluku Ajifa
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a modification of the famous NWICO debate; a look into solving the issues which the debate could not effectively solve. One of its major aims was to bridge the global digital divide separating rich countries from poor countries by spreading access to the Internet in the developing world.
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
In the first phase, delegates from 175 countries took part in the first phase of WSIS where they adopted a Declaration of Principles.This is a road map for achieving an information society accessible to all and based on shared knowledge. A Plan of Action sets out a goal of bringing 50 percent of the world's population online by 2015. The Geneva summit left many controversial issues unresolved, including the question of Internet governance and funding.
It majorly consisted of 12 major plans or lines of action, this include;
The eleven WSIS Action Lines and the IFLA ranking for them are:
C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
C2. The information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications (E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E- agriculture, E-science) Medium priority, except E-government
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media Low priority
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
Finally,to solve a problem, we cant keep proposing different things to tackle it without first looking into the full fledged causes with a view to stopping the challenge from there..Proposing of theory upon theory or planned action patterns would not help anything, it would only lead into the prolongation of issues. A proper look into the countries affected by these lack of information would be something to start with. Economies in Africa like that of Zimbabwe would be something of interest here; why not look into how to develop this economy first and every other thing shall be added unto them; internet and all. Without the development of these countries infrastructure and economies, all we would have are horses on paper that would never run, redundant horses to say the least.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was endorsed by The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) to hold in two phases.
Its initial phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Its objective was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events.
The eleven action lines as outlined by the WSIS therefore are:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation.
These eleven action points seems to be clearly immersed in the use of ICT to develop the world and make it a better place. in my opinion there is so much building up of the communication and technological aspects of the world. It looks like a technological and more advanced version of its predecessor NWICO.
Its feasibility is quite blurry, the action points are quite necessary but i would not hesitate to say they are not the solutions to the basic problem except these action lines apply to only the developed societies. If if should cover the world, then it is pretty unrealistic. problems like food, education, shelter and so on are having sketchy solutions. ICT is important but it should not be the one to steal the show.If all the lines of actions are still going to remain ICT based, the developing countries will be left out and the proposed solution will only be widening g the information gap as we all know that developing regions like Africa are no where near being called Information societies as illiteracy is a big problem still looming in the region and the likes.
SETON FOLU; 07BE05544.
The objective of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is to formulate a common vision and understanding of the global information society. It is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles and an Action Plan to facilitate the effective growth of the Information Society and to help bridge the digital divide. The Summit was held in two phases: Geneva from December 10-12, 2003, and Tunis in 2005
. The Geneva summit also left unresolved more controversial issues, including the question of Internet governance and funding.
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society states that the WSIS implementation mechanism at the international level should be organized taking into account the themes and action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate.
Below are the WSIS Action lines outlined;
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation
The feasibility of WSIS action lines, is unrealistic, this is because the various action lines outlined cannot tackle the root problem, the Economy, which was the reason for the failure of NWICO also failed, because it failed to address the issue of the economy. Looking at the first action line; the role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development . Due to the financial abilities of various Countries, it might be impossible to have a balanced information society. A country like the US has the capacity to promote ICT to enhance the sourcing and distribution of news, but a country like Nigeria may not be able to afford the latest technology in ICT to enhance its news coverage, thereby increasing imbalance in news flow.
Also looking at the issue of access to information and knowledge, it is not possible for everyone to have the same access to information, because we lack equal education or equal economic status, which makes balanced information society an illusion. Looking at the action line of building Confidence and security in the use of ICT, the western countries invest largely in training their manpower to operate latest technology, but southern countries due to their economic instability may not be able to afford these communication technologies, talk more of training necessary manpower.
Cultural diversity and identity is another issue, the southern countries have being so marginalized to the extent that they have lost their identities, I put it to you that if we continue to depend on the west for technological devices, media content e.t.c then we can never appreciate our indigenous culture. I would also like to take a look at the media, being free, thinking if the media is free, information will spread across countries thereby bringing about balanced information society, but this freedom if not checked could hamper the development of a society, and besides there is no totally free press in any country of the world, even US; the free press proponent restricts its press; a good example was when the US Government banned the Taliban broadcast on TV.
With this analysis, I do not think this action lines are feasible without the stability of the economy of these third-world countries being put in place , because according to Karl Max ‘The Economy is the infrastructure, while every other thing is a superstructure. JEJELOYE TOLULOPE 07BE05515
The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005.
Geneva Phase: 10-12 December 2003
The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action that were adopted on 12 December 2003. More than 11,000 participants from 175 countries attended the Summit and related events.
Tunis Phase: 16-18 November 2005
The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents.
Nearly 50 Heads of state/government and Vice-Presidents and 197 Ministers, Vice Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 174 countries as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, private sector, and civil society attended the Tunis Phase of WSIS and gave political support to the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society that were adopted on 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants from 174 countries attended the Summit and related events.
plan of action
The WSIS Follow up works towards achieving the indicative targets, set out in the Geneva Plan of Action[6] and 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. The WSIS Plan of Action includes:
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development, С2. Information and communication infrastructure, C3. Access to information and knowledge, C4. Capacity building, C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs, C6. Enabling environment, C7. ICT Applications: E-government, E-business, E-learning, E-health, E-employment, E-environment, E-agriculture, E-science. c8. cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content, c9. media, c10. ethical dimensions of the information society, c11. international and regional cooperation WSIS stocktaking.
in my own thought, like Nwico failed, because the socio-economic cum political issues of the third world wasnt addressed, i think this will still not come to pass and even if it does it's just going to be at the periphery because international politics will constantly and forever come into play in anything that has to do with international cooperation
Susan Erhirhie 07BE05506
The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society states that the WSIS implementation mechanism at the international level should be organised taking into account the themes and action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate. It also states that ITU, UNESCO and UNDPshould play a leading facilitating role in the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action
С1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
This action line may be feasible depending only the on the country or region. For some governments, especially in third world countries that are facing war, stakeholders would first seek to provide food, shelter before dreaming of ICT.
С2. Information and communication infrastructure
The feasibility of this will most likely finds its bearing in the economic prowess of the Nations involved. However, it is necessary to ask ourselves, what sort of infrastructure we are talking about: whether it is copying of first world infrastructure whish will lead again to dependence and cultural imperialism or our own home grown infrastructure? Some countries such as Nigeria has been struggling with basic infrastructure such as electricity, how much more communication?
C3. Access to information and knowledge
This is just a restructuring of the nwico issue of access. It is not an action point, but more or less a goal-one that is far from being achieved.
C4. Capacity building
Capacity building, well this could be achieved, if wsis does it themselves. However, if you teach someone to fish, you would do well to provide a place for him to fish.
C5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
This is quite achievable. However, wsis must be careful not to let this be presented as a western agenda i.e as one of America ploys to rule the woirld.
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications:
E-government
E-business
E-learning
E-health
E-employment
E-environment
E-agriculture
E-science
This can only be feasible by adjusting the constitution of sovereign states. Does wsis have the
power to do this? By the way some countries have not even gone past agrarian farming, talk less of
e-agriculture. This causes me to refer to Uche (1996) as to whether or not this increase in
technology will not widen the communication gap we complained so much about on the international communication scene
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
This is feasible. However, we would need to purge many societies of the effects of cultural imperialism and the sickness of preference and dependence. That will take a lot of getting used to.
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
This can be achieved by reorientation of media professionals. But the thing is, how can you ask a hungry man not to collect bribes?
C11. International and regional cooperation
Even if this is achieved, the bosses(1st world) on the international scene will also be the major players here. Thus compounding the problem of imbalance.
In summary, the feasibility of these action lines depends on the various socio economic cum political ideologies of these different regions.
ARENYEKA LAJU
07BE05498
Post a Comment