WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

An Information Society for All and an Opportunity for All to Comment

(Reissued as received; delayed in transmission.)

GENEVA, 25 March (ITU) -—The results of the second meeting of the preparatory committee for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) are now available on the WSIS Web site as the Draft declaration of principles and Draft action plan.  These include input from observers and are available for comment by sending an e-mail to wsis.ap@itu.int.  All comments received by

31 May 2003 will be included in a reference document that will easily identify where these contributions may be included in the basic working documents of the Summit.

The World Summit on the Information Society will be held in Geneva

10 to 12 December 2003, and in Tunis 16 to 18 November 2005.  The objective of the Summit is to develop a declaration of principles and an action plan that will ensure the benefits and rights of the information society are extended to all.

The second meeting of the preparatory committee for the Summit brought together more than 1,500 participants representing 146 Member States and numerous international agencies, business, civil society and media entities.  It concluded with two working documents for a draft declaration and action plan.

The working documents outline an information society with citizens and communities at its core, where information and knowledge are disseminated and utilized by all of humanity for their economic, social, cultural and political development.  The information society is seen as inclusive, where all persons, without distinction of any kind, are empowered to create, receive, share and utilize information and knowledge, in any media, regardless of frontiers.  The essential requirements for the development of this information society include, among other elements, a respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of opinion and expression, and the existence of an independent, pluralistic and free communication media.

About WSIS

The Summit offers a unique opportunity for the global community to reflect, discuss and give shape to our common destiny in an era when countries and peoples are interconnected as never before.  The WSIS will serve as a catalyst for change by bringing together state governments, as well as the private sector,

international institutions, civil society and media in pursuit of common goals.  The United Nations system and its specialized agencies will be

deeply involved in the organization and holding of the Summit, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) taking a lead role.  (See Web site:  www.itu.int/wsis.)

For more information -- telephone:  +41 22 730 6039, fax:  +41 22 730 5939, e-mail:  pressinfo@itu.int, Web site:  www.itu.int/newsroom.

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