Two years on from WSIS – where do we stand?
United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development
holds dialogue with the
Regional Commissions on
WSIS Implementation
Geneva, 30 May 2008 -- Much progress has been made since the start of the Second Phase of the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) that took place in Tunis in November 2005; however, many challenges still require urgent attention. This was emphasized by the ECOSOC-appointed focal point for the WSIS process during a “Dialogue Event” with the Regional Commissions ( Geneva, 26 May 2008) that was organized by the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), in the context of its eleventh session.
Mr. Marek Belka, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), who chaired the event drew the participants’ attention specifically to the issue of governance which has become a major area of concern. Being a borderless, constantly evolving media with participants scattered all over the world, preserving and regulating the Internet for the benefit of all is a difficult venture. Mr. Belka therefore reminded participants that the Internet is a public good and the United Nations has set important standards in developing and preserving Public Goods. An exploratory report* supported by the Council of Europe, the Association for Progressive Communication and the UNECE, discusses the issue of Internet governance and a possible linking of it with the principles and experience of the UNECE Aarhus Convention**. This approach could serve as a basis and benchmark for future discussions on Internet Governance.
Solutions also need to be found with regard to other persisting problems. In the UNECE region, these are mainly in the less advanced member States where access and costs, as well as the new generation of technologies including broadband, remain a huge barrier and continue to separate them from the more advanced countries in the region. The UNECE discussion paper on Internet development in the UNECE region (Towards a knowledge-based Economy – Europe and Central Asia: Internet Development and Governance) provides detailed accounts of these issues. In a similar vein, Ambassador Janis Karklins ( Latvia) and President of the Preparatory Committee of the Tunis Phase of WSIS highlighted a number of critical issues that remain to be addressed in all regions of the world. These issues were taken up in the presentations by three regional commissions (ECLAC, ESCWA and ECA), as well as by the European Commission who stressed that despite the remaining obstacles encouraging developments had taken place in all regions. The ensuing panel discussion, which brought together representatives from Burkina Faso, El Salvador, Jordan, and Pakistan, clearly demonstrated the diversity of ICT policies, approaches and strategies all aimed at implementing and advancing the WSIS process and bringing the technologies and media closer to everyone.
* Exploratory Report on the Concept and Possible Scope of a Code of Good Practice on Participation, Access to Information and Transparency in Internet Governance
** UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
For further information please contact:
Mr. Hans Armfelt Hansell
Chief, Trade Policy and Adviser to the Executive Secretary
UNECE Trade Division
Palais des Nations, Bureau 442
CH – 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 24 57
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0629
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/TRADE/08/P03