12 June 2013: Participants at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+10) High-level Event endorsed an outcome document that recognizes information and communications technology (ICTs) as enablers for achieving the three pillars of sustainable development and describes ICTs as “a critical component of innovative development solutions in the post-2015 development agenda.” The Outcome Document, inter alia: highlights implementation of the WSIS action lines; discusses challenges during implementation; and elaborates a WSIS+10 Vision for WSIS beyond 2015, including priority areas and action lines.
The WSIS+10 Outcome Documents “provide a set of fresh priorities for joint action oriented towards the further development of the global ICT ecosystem, while focusing on the power of ICTs in facilitating development,” said International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré. He underscored the role of ICTs “in achieving the objectives of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.”
On implementation of the WSIS action lines, the document recognizes, inter alia: country progress in implementing Action lines; improved access to ICT in education; and ICTs role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The document recognizes challenges during Action Lines’ implementation, including the need to: fully integrate gender equality perspectives in WSIS strategies; enhance youth participation in WSIS processes; extend access to people with disabilities and marginalized and rural communities; improve affordable access to ICTs, especially in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs); enhance ICTs contribution to poverty reduction; and ensure environmental sustainability, including by avoiding harmful impacts from disposal of e-waste.
WSIS Stakeholders identified 36 priority areas for consideration in the implementation of WSIS+20 beyond 2015. These include: expanding access to and use of ICTs to all; bridging the digital divide; working towards a more culturally and linguistically diverse world; and addressing e-environment issues, including developing green IT and using ICTs to mitigate climate change.
ITU released several publications at WSIS+10: the Final WSIS Targets Review, which highlights progress in ICT use, access and infrastructure development; the WSIS Stocktaking Report 2014, which describes key stakeholder achievements; and WSIS Success Stories, showcasing the 2014 WSIS Project Prizes.
The WSIS+10 event took place from 10-13 June 2014, in Geneva, Switzerland. ITU co-organized the event with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). It included a WSIS Stakeholders ‘Forum Track’ from 9-13 June, which brought together government, international organizations, civil society and the private sector through over 150 workshops and interactive sessions. [ITU Press Release] [ITU Press Release on Opening] [WSIS Website] [Outcome Documents] [Publication: Final WSIS Targets Review] [Publication: WSIS Stocktaking Report 2014] [Publication: WSIS Success Stories]