" ITREALMS: ITU highlights WSIS progress @ Info Society Day

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

ITU highlights WSIS progress @ Info Society Day

As part of the schedule for the commemoration of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, tomorrow, Thursday, May 17, 2007, the United Nations agency on telecommunications, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has concluded plans to highlight progress on the implementation aspect of the two-phased World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

It would be recalled that WSIS was held in two phase, namely in Geneva in 2003 and two years later in Tunis in 2005 and in living up to expectation member nations are expected to implement to the letter the objectives agreed upon at the final phase, two years ago.

Tagged, “National reporting on WSIS implementation” ITU said that its using the second edition of the joint commemoration to highlight progress on WSIS implementation at the national level by member countries.

The report, which would be online, ITU said would provide access to the national reports on WSIS implementation prepared in collaboration with member states.

The report would also include comprehensive descriptions of the national mechanisms established to advance WSIS objectives, as well as information on e-strategies and key initiatives undertaken since WSIS in Tunis 2005.

ITU also said that for each country, links to the ITU Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Eye profile, Connect the World projects, and WSIS Stocktaking database would also be given, just as the portal remains open for new submissions.

Meanwhile, ITU has outlined programmes for the commemoration kicking off tomorrow, globally.

Chief, Media Relations and Public Information at ITU, Mr. Sanjay Acharya informed that as part of the preparation for this annual event, experts from various fields of life engaged in ICT development began gathering at Geneva since Monday, May 14 through Friday next week, May 25 for roundtable sessions.

Champion Infotel recalled that May 17 was also slated to be the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day to mark the inception of ITU over 140 years ago in the bid to fully connect the world that provides the benefits of ICT to all its inhabitants.

Mr. Acharya said that on this occasion, a number of steps would be taken to move forward the objectives of the outcome of the two-phased World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the commitment of world leaders who gathered in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.

According to him, the highlight of the celebration would be the global event and ITU World Information Society Award ceremony to be held at ITU headquarters in Geneva today, May 16.

He said that the award honours those who have made a significant personal contribution towards building the information society, stressing that personal achievement may take the form of social accomplishment, mobilization of public opinion, or a key technical innovation.

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