The World Summit on the Information Society by Eun-Ju Kim, Ph.D. Senior Advisor for Asia and the Pacific UPDATES: March 11, 2002

n Updates of Background & Progress n Objectives with Expected Results n Structures & Processes of the WSIS n Who should participate in ? n When & Where to participate in ? n How to proceed at regions ? n What & How to prepare at regions ? n What are the proposed themes ? n Checklist for Asia & Pacific Region n Latest Developments Agenda

Updates of Background & Progress n ITU/PP-98 adopted Res. 73 to hold WSIS n UN/GA-01 adopted Res. A/RES/56/183 endorsing to hold the WSIS n Executive Secretariat was set up at the ITU HQ, Geneva n UNESCAP has initiated to prepare for the WSIS in the Asia and Pacific Region n Japan proposed to host the AP Regional Meeting of WSIS in 2003

Objectives with Expected Results “To provide a global platform where key players from various stakeholders will come together to develop a common vision & understanding of the information society & to adopt a declaration & a plan of action”

Structure & Processes of WSIS Private Sector NGOs & Civil Societ y Regional Meetings ITU/WTDC ITU/PP-02 G8 Dot Force ECOSOC ICT Task Force High Level Summit Organizing committee (HLSOC) Heads of UN Agencies High Level Summit Organizing committee (HLSOC) Heads of UN Agencies Executive Secretariat Government staff UN Agencies staff Private Sector staff NGO’s & Civil Society staff World Summit Geneva Dec World Summit Tunis 2005 Preparatory Meetings (Prepcom) Preparatory Meetings (Prepcom) States Host Country Secretariat

Who should participate in ? n Heads & representatives of the States n Heads & representatives of of the UN Agencies n CEO’s & representatives from private industries with small, medium and large sizes beyond the information & communications sectors n NGOs & academics, and n Representatives from various civil societies and public interest groups

When & Where to participate in ? PrepCom 1, Geneva Regional Preps PrepCom 2-3 1st Ph. WSIS, Geneva PrepComs 2nd Ph. WSIS, Tunis e.g., Japan, 2003 ? e.g, Thematic Prep Dec Jul

How to proceed at regions ? n The initiative to hold a regional conference may come from any government in the region; n The host country should send out invitation letters to the other governments of the region, once fixed; n Host countries should base the themes, which will be decided at the PrepCom-1, for discussion; n Closer coordination among host countries, the Executive Secretariat and UN Regional Economic Commissions; and n Inputs from the regional conferences will be considered by the PrepCom and incorporated into the final documents of the Summit.

What & How to prepare at regions ? n Regional Conferences for the PrepComs –assess the key challenges, opportunities and constraints stemming from the information society in the region, –develop a common vision & understanding for the region, –identify existing initiatives and networks in the regions & assess examples of best practices, –consider new initiatives and commitments in the region, –prepare for a plan to address the key issues and solve the problems identified n Regional Thematic Meetings –define regional priorities on the theme(s) –define content and –identify regional positions on issues, if possible

What are the proposed themes ? n Building the infrastructure n Opening the gates: universal and equitable access n Services and Applications: the implications of the IS for economic, social and cultural development n The needs of the users (consumer protection, privacy & security); Content and the freedom to communicate n Developing a Framework n ICT and Education

Checklist for Asia and Pacific Region Q. STRUCTURE: A focal point or team ? Q. STAKEHOLERS: Identified & integrated potential stakeholders ? Q. HOST(S): For the ministerial and/or thematic regional conferences ? Q. PLANNING & TIMING: For the relevant meetings and coordination ? Q. MECHANISMS: For identifying regional constraints/successful practices and integrating them to the PrepComs etc.

Flow Chart For Regional Inputs/Processes Focal Point Utilizing existing meetings Regional M. PrepComs Thematic M. Planning, coordinating & preparing for regional meetings Integrating inputs from all the regional meetings

Latest Developments: Executive Secretariat n Based in ITU HQs, Geneva; n Started work August 2001 n Acting Executive Director – Mr. M. Harbi n With various focal points at wsis/index.htm

Latest Developments: Regional Preparatory Meetings n Ministerial level –Africa: Bamako, Mali, May 2002 –Asia: Tokyo, Japan, ??? 2003 –Europe: invitation from Romania n Thematic Meeting –Africa: Dakar, Senegal, 7-9 April 2002 –Asia: ??

Contact information: Mr. Yoshio Utsumi ITU Secretary-General 