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United Nations Commission on Science and Technology Expected to Play a Prominent Role in Follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society |
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The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held in Tunis from 16 - 18 November 2005. More than 19,000 participants attended the second phase of the Summit, representing 174 member states, 92 international organizations, 606 civil society entities, 226 business entities, and 642 media entities. The Summit reached consensus in a number of key areas, including, financial mechanisms for bridging the digital divide; Internet governance and related issues, as well as on implementation and follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis decisions. The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is expected to play a prominent role in the implementation of and follow-up to the Summit outcomes. During the second phase, Governments adopted two outcome documents: the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. Main elements of the outcome are as follows: Financial mechanism The Tunis Agenda welcomes the creation of the Digital Solidarity Fund, which was launched in Geneva in early 2005, as "an innovative financial mechanism" to transform the digital gap into digital opportunities for the developing world. The Tunis Agenda also identifies areas where existing financing mechanisms could be improved, and where ICTs could be given a higher priority by both developing countries and their development partners, based on existing financial commitments such as the Monterrey Consensus. While recognizing that financing of ICT infrastructure cannot solely be based on public investment, it also states that private investment and market forces alone cannot guarantee the full participation of developing countries in the global market for ICT services. Internet governance Three principles have been agreed on: (a) all governments should play an equal role and have equal responsibility for Internet governance while ensuring its continuing stability, security and continuity; (b) nations should not be involved in decisions regarding another nation’s country code top level domain (ccTLD); and (c) there is a need for strengthened co-operation among stakeholders for public policies for generic top level domain names (gTLDs). The definition of Internet Governance was broadened to address not only technical aspects (such as naming and addressing), but also public policy issues such as security and cybercrime. It was also agreed that a new Internet Governance Forum (IGF) be convened, by the United Nations Secretary-General, to foster and enable multi-stakeholder dialogue on public policy and development issues. The IGF will provide a platform for discussion of cross-cutting public policy issues not adequately addressed by current mechanisms. To be established in the first half of 2006, the IGF is expected to have a time frame of five years of operation. The IGF will not replace existing arrangements, mechanisms, institutions or organisations, nor will it involve in day-to-day or technical operations of the Internet. Implementation mechanism for the Geneva and Tunis decisions • The UN Secretary-General is requested to establish a UN group, within the Chief Executive Board (CEB), on the Information Society consisting of the relevant UN bodies and Organisations with the mandate to facilitate the implementation of WSIS outcomes. The UN Secretary-General should report to the UNGA through ECOSOC by June 2006, on the modalities of the interagency coordination of the implementation of WSIS outcomes including recommendations on the follow-up process. • ECOSOC is requested to oversee the system-wide follow-up of the Geneva and Tunis outcomes of WSIS. To this end, ECOSOC, at its substantive session of 2006, should review the mandate, agenda and composition of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), including considering the strengthening of the Commission, taking into account the multi-stakeholder approach. • WSIS implementation and follow-up should be an integral part of the UN integrated follow-up to major UN conferences and should contribute to the achievement of internationally-agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals. It should not require the creation of any new operational bodies. • Great importance is given to multi-stakeholder implementation at the international level, which will be organised taking into account the themes and action lines in the Plan of Action, and moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate. • At the national level, all countries are called upon to develop national e-strategies as an integral part of national development plans and poverty reduction strategies. The deadline for this action is 2015. The 11 Action Lines in the Geneva Action Plan set forth key elements in the building of the Information Society. An Annex to the Tunis Agenda provides a list of facilitators/moderators for these action lines. An overall review will be held by the General Assembly in 2015 of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes. About WSIS The UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 decided on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The first phase of the Summit took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003. In all, the Summit adopted four outcome documents. Geneva Declaration of Principles Geneva Plan of Action Tunis Commitment Tunis Agenda for the Information Society |
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