
Tunisia will host in November 2005, the Second Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) whose process was launched in Geneva December 2003, under the auspices of the United Nations (UNGA R56/183) thus making a reality of the call for a Summit made by Tunisia at the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union in Minneapolis (USA) in 1998.
In 2001, the ITU council decided to organize a summit in two stages: The first would be held from 10 to 12 December 2003 in
The second phase of WSIS will consist of two parts: the official summit, taking place from 16th to 18th November 2005 and parallel events, a series of meetings, discussion, workshops and exhibitions to be held from 14th to 19th November 2005 in
The World Summit on the Information Society will provide a unique opportunity for all key decision makers to have a better understanding of this revolution and its impact on the international community. It aims to bring together:
Governments: All governments have a stake in the Information Society. In their pursuit of public interest, governments can raise awareness, facilitate access to information for the public, and they also can lay the foundations for all citizens to benefit from Information and Communication Technologies.
The Private Sector: Contribution of the private sector is instrumental in creating the material conditions for universal access to value-added ICT services. Its involvement in the summit will promote economic growth, new joint ventures, technology transfer, increase awareness to the new technologies, and motivate the creation of relevant skilled employment opportunities on the local scene.
The Civil Society: Civil society is playing an active role in drawing attention to the current social and cultural trends and the need to justify democratically the strategic options taken at all levels its diversity and, often, hands-on approach to issues, make civil society a key actor in the new international partnership called for by the United Nations Community.
The roles that are assumed by the various partners (Member States, UN specialized agencies, private sector, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and Civil Society representatives,) in smoothly coordinating the setting up the information society around the globe will also be the main concern of the Summit and its preparation.
Land of hospitality and tolerance,
(Contributed by: Embassy of
To celebrate The Second Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS Tunis 2005) a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 5/- denomination, is being issued by the Pakistan Post Office on 15th July 2005.
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