INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
COUNCIL WORKING GROUP ON THE WORLD Document: WG-WSISSUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
14/10
Date: 24 March 2004
6th Meeting, Geneva — 7-8 June 2004
English only
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Non-paper of the Secretary-General
On the Tunis Phase of the WSIS
1. Introduction
Following the conclusion of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS), there is a need for the ITU membership to articulate how the Union intends to deal with
ongoing WSIS matters. In this discussion paper, it is proposed that the ITU seek to play an active role
in those parts of the WSIS Geneva Plan of Action that fall within its core competencies.
The purpose of this non-paper is to propose comments and views from the ITU Secretariat on
how ITU could contribute to the preparations of the Tunis phase of the Summit, and to the
implementation of the results of the Geneva phase of the WSIS.
This non-paper, in its earlier version, was submitted to the Fifth Meeting of the Council
Working Group on WSIS (WG-WSIS), which was held February 25th 2004. That meeting agreed that
the document from the Secretariat was a useful contribution to the development of an ITU strategy,
particularly for the implementation of the first phase results, and requested that the document be further
revised on the basis of comments received by May 15th.
2. Proposed Key Strategic Objectives for the ITU in the WSIS process
2.1 Promote and assert global ITU role, legitimacy and visibility in ICT
The success of the Geneva phase of the Summit, the prominence given to ITU in the area of
ICT for development, the momentum created by the Summit amongst all relevant stakeholders of the
Information Society, and indeed the focus being provided by the Summit to the development
component of the Information Society, have all contributed to placing the development of ICTs at the
forefront of the global development agenda.
The WSIS outcomes provide higher political support for a more widespread endorsement of the
ITU mission and mandate in the development of ICTs, and particularly of the ITU-D Istanbul Action
Plan. Primarily through implementation of the Istanbul Action Plan, the ITU responds directly and
contributes significantly to the implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action. WSIS is an opportunity
provided to ITU for increased international recognition and legitimacy in carrying out its development
mandate.
2.2
Exercise lead ITU role in the Summit process
It is proposed that ITU involvement in the Tunis phase of the Summit be articulated as follows:
a. Assume lead organizational role in the WSIS preparatory process (logistic,
administrative, organization of Bureau and PrepCom meetings, and core Summit event);
b. Assume, through the position of the ITU Secretary-General, the Chairmanship of the
HLSOC, and serve as Executive Head of the WSIS Executive Secretariat;
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c. Carry out institutional and representational role in UN bodies such as CEB and UN ICT
Task Force;
d. Implement the Geneva phase results that relate directly to the ITU mandate, and
coordinate the implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action amongst WSIS stakeholders.
2.3
Build on synergies between WSIS outcomes and ITU Basic Texts
The outcomes of the Geneva phase of the Summit clearly point to congruence of vision,
similarity of purposes and significant synergies between the WSIS Declaration of Principles and Plan
of Action on one hand, and ITU basic texts on the other hand. These synergies are particularly evident
when comparing the WSIS output documents with the ITU-D Istanbul Plan of Action, the ITU
Strategic Plan (2004-2007), the 2004-2007 ITU Operational Plans, and provisions of the Final Acts of
the Marrakesh ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.
Specifically, the Strategic Plan commits ITU members, as one of six goals for the period 200407, to “assist in bridging the international digital divide in information and communication
technologies (ICT), by facilitating development of fully interconnected and interoperable networks and
services to promote global connectivity and by taking a leading role in the preparations for, and taking
due account of the relevant results of, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)”. This
goal cuts across the work of the Union as a whole.
In its articulation of a shared vision of the Information Society, the WSIS Declaration of
Principles lists 11 principles key to building an inclusive Information Society. No less than 8 of these
key principles are directly related to the ITU core mandate and reflected widely, amongst others, in the
Istanbul Declaration and Action Plan.
The WSIS Declaration , in paragraph 64, specifically acknowledges the key role to be played by
ITU in building the Information Society:
“The core competences of the International Telecommunication Union in the fields of ICT--assistance in bridging the digital divide, international and regional cooperation, radio
spectrum management, standards development and the dissemination of information--- are of
crucial importance for building the Information Society”.
The WSIS Plan of Action lists a number of Action Lines to be undertaken under each of the
principles referred to above. Most of these relate specifically to the core ITU mandate, and are either
being—or could be—carried out within existing ITU programmes and activities. A detailed stocktaking of current and planned ITU projects and activities, directly related to the WSIS Plan of Action,
has
been
prepared
and
updated,
and
is
available
on
the
website
at:
http://www.itu.int/council/wsis/Geneva_04/stocktaking-20Feb.doc.
2.4 Address key issues unresolved during the Geneva phase of the Summit
Two issues high on the WSIS and ITU agenda for the next two years are Internet Governance
and Financing for ICT Development. The first of these is to be addressed by a Working Group and the
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second by a Task Force, both established under the aegis of the Secretary-General of the UN. The
Secretariat of the former is based in Geneva, under the stewardship of Mr. Markus Kummer
(Switzerland), while the latter is based in New York, with UNDP playing the leading role.
On the governance of the Internet, it should be recalled that Resolution 102 of the Final Acts of
Marrakesh provides guidance and instructions to the Secretary-General, the Director of the TSB and
the Director of the BDT on Internet matters. In particular, it instructs the Secretary-General to “take a
significant role in international discussions and initiatives on the management of Internet domain
names and addresses, taking into account associated developments and the purposes of the Union”. In
this context, A Workshop on Internet Governance was held in Geneva on 26-27 February 2004 (see the
website at: http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/forum/intgov04/) . in addition, a website on ITU resources on
Internet Governance is available at: http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/intgov/index.phtml .
Financing for ICT Development is also central to the ITU mandate. Resolution 13 from the
Istanbul Development Conference invites ITU-D “to pursue coordination with international bodies
involved in the development of Information and Communication Technologies, with a view to
mobilizing the financial resources needed in the implementation of projects”. Programmes 1,2,3 and 4
of the Istanbul Action Plan also reiterate the need and urgency for the ITU to secure additional funding
for its development activities.
The Secretary-General of the ITU has already indicated to the Secretary-General of the UN ITU
willingness to participate and contribute actively to both of the above-mentioned UN groups.
2.5 Build bridges with current and new stakeholders and partners
One of the more tangible benefits of the first phase of the Summit has been the active
involvement of a number of new stakeholders wishing to contribute to the development of ICTs. A
number of these major stakeholders are now poised to benefit from the successful outcome of the
Geneva phase and to reassert and redefine their own mandates in terms of ICTs for development. This
is not only unavoidable, but it is also welcomed.
ITU needs to find ways to associate itself with these new players in the ICT field, and not
distance itself from what it may perceive as potential competitors. ITU should undertake a concerted
effort to expand and strengthen its partnership base, through joint projects and activities with these
stakeholders, and to seek additional financial resources for ongoing and planned ITU activities.
2.6 Stocktaking of the Implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action by stakeholders
The first preparatory meeting for the Tunis phase of the Summit will be held in Hammamet,
Tunisia, on June 24-26, 2004. As foreseen in the WSIS Plan of Action, the purpose of this meeting is to
decide on the preparatory process for the Tunis phase. This meeting is tasked to consider the “followup and implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action at national, regional and international levels,
including the United Nations system, as part of an integrated and coordinated approach, calling upon
the participation of all relevant stakeholders.”
It is proposed that the ITU focus on the implementation of WSIS action lines that relate
specifically to its mandate.
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It is further proposed that ITU, in conjunction with the WSIS Executive Secretariat, undertake a
stocktaking of implementation activities related to the WSIS Plan of Action, and report on the
implementation of the Geneva phase outcomes to the Tunis preparatory process and to the Tunis phase
of the Summit. ITU should serve as an advocate, a facilitator and a catalyst so that all stakeholders are
provided with an opportunity and a mechanism to play an active and coordinated role in implementing
the results of the Geneva phase of the Summit.
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