29 May 2015: The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2015 Forum highlighted the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in implementing and monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Opening the Forum, Getachew Engida, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), called for scaling up ICT integration in all activities relevant to the SDGs. The 2015 Forum also addressed the current review process (WSIS+10).

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNESCO, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) cooperated to organize the WSIS 2015 Forum, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 25-29 May 2015, on the theme ‘Innovating Together: Enabling ICTs for Sustainable Development.’ Five high-level debates, a ministerial roundtable event, and many interactive working sessions took place during the summit.

The WSIS+10 review process is expected to culminate in a UN General Assembly (UNGA) event in December 2015, which WSIS delegates highlighted as the first major UN summit to take place after the anticipated adoption of the SDGs in September 2015. They looked forward to the opportunity to consolidate interaction between the post-2015 development agenda and the WSIS process, noting direct references to ICTs in the proposed SDGs, including targets related to education, gender empowerment, affordable access to ICTs, and ICTs as a means of implementation.

Besides ICTs in the context of the post-2015 development agenda, the Forum’s high-level dialogues also focused on: using ICTs to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities; promoting innovation in ICTs for sustainable development; building trust and protecting children and other vulnerable groups online; and empowering women to innovate through technology.

The first phase of WSIS took place in Geneva (“the Geneva phase”) in December 2003, focusing on the role of ICTs in development. The second phase of WSIS took place in Tunis (the “Tunis phase”) in December 2005, focusing on internet governance and financing mechanisms. Both phases adopted outcome documents. [UNESCO Press Release] [WSIS 2015 Forum Website] [WSIS 2015 Forum Outcome Document] [ITU Website on WSIS]