1. General
2. WSIS Key Principles
3. The Action Lines WSIS
4. Topics for Sustainable Development Goals
5. Invitation Letter for WSIS
6. WSIS 2017 Agenda
7. Major activities & additional optional Forums available at WSIS 2017 are:
1. Hackathon
2. Virtual Reality for SDGs
3. TEDx Geneva at WSIS Forum 2017
4. WSIS Stocktaking
5. Policy Sessions

1. General

WSIS is a unique two-phase United Nations (UN) summit that was initiated in order to create an evolving multi- stakeholder platform aimed at addressing the issues raised by information and communication technologies (ICTs) through a structured and inclusive approach at the national, regional and international levels.
WSIS represents the world's largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community. The annual WSIS Forum is a global multi-stakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development. It provides an opportunity for information exchange, knowledge creation and sharing of best practices, while identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships, taking into account the evolving Information and Knowledge Societies.
The WSIS Forum will serve as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets. The SDG are given hereunder in subsequent paragraphs.
Details at http://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2017/

2. WSIS Key Principles

To resolute in the quest to ensure that everyone can benefit from the opportunities that ICTs can offer. It agrees that to meet all challenges, all stakeholders work together to: improve access to information and communication infrastructure and technologies as well as to information and knowledge; build capacity; increase confidence and security in the use of ICTs; create an enabling environment at all levels; develop and widen ICT applications; foster and respect cultural diversity; recognize the role of the media; address the ethical dimensions of the Information Society; and encourage international and regional cooperation. It agrees that these are the key principles for WSIS.

3. The Action Lines WSIS

Based on internationally agreed development goals, including those in the Millennium Declaration, which are premised on international cooperation, indicative targets may serve as global references for improving connectivity and access in the use of ICTs in promoting the objectives of the Plan of Action. These targets may be taken into account in the establishment of the national targets, considering the different national circumstances:

1. to connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points;
2. to connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools with ICTs;
3. to connect scientific and research centres with ICTs;
4. to connect public libraries, cultural centres, museums, post offices and archives with ICTs;
5. to connect health centres and hospitals with ICTs;
6. to connect all local and central government departments and establish websites and email addresses;
7. to adapt all primary and secondary school curricula to meet the challenges of the Information Society, taking into account national circumstances;
8. to ensure that all of the world's population have access to television and radio services;
9. to encourage the development of content and to put in place technical conditions in order to facilitate the presence and use of all world languages on the Internet;
10. to ensure that more than half the world’s inhabitants have access to ICTs within their reach

4.Topics for Sustainable Development Goals

The key note addresses and speeches during WSIS, 2017 can be with reference to SDG as during the WSIS Forum, the Countries under United Nations participate and adopt goals for sustainable development of the man kind and the Country. WSIS Forum as a key platform for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementation of the SDGs and targets.
The 17 Sustainable development Goals are:
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

5.Invitation Letter

The invitation letter and visa letter for WSIS, 2017 is

available at http://www.itu.int/en/itu-wsis/Documents/Fund2017/wsis_fund_in_trust_2017_e.pdf

 6.WSIS 2017 Agenda

 Available at http://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2017/Content/docs/agendadrafts/WSISForum_2017_DraftAgenda_16March20171600.pdf

 Major activities & additional optional Forums available at WSIS 2017 are:

Hackathon

As a continuation of the discussions initiated at the 2016 WSIS Forum, a Hackathon on ICTs for SDGs focusing on E-health will be held at the WSIS Forum 2017. We invite all interested coders to participate in the WSIS Hack for Health. Details at  http://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2017/Pages/Hackathon#intro

Virtual Reality for SDGs

Pursuing a first partnership in 2016, WSIS and World VR Forum join forces to be at the forefront of Virtual Reality for advancing development. A shiny new Virtual Reality Track will held at the WSIS Forum 2017 bringing together high-level personalities, world class VR experience and a very special focus on education.

 

TEDx Geneva at WSIS Forum 2017

 

After a successful debut at WSIS Forum 2016 we are pleased to announce that TEDx Geneva will continue to partner with ITU, hosting another event during the WSIS Forum 2017.

 

WSIS Stocktaking

 




The WSIS Stocktaking database, currently with 8.000 plus entries and a growing community of 200.000 stakeholders, is a unique global tool for collecting information and regular reporting on ICT related initiatives and projects, carried out by governments, international organizations, the business sector, civil society, academia and other entities, in the context of 11 WSIS Action Lines.
In support of the WSIS Implementation and Follow-up, all WSIS Stakeholders are invited to update and submit new entries online. Submitted activities will be reflected in the WSIS Stocktaking Report 2017, which will be released at the WSIS Forum 2017. Details at http://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktakingp/en/Database/Submit

 

Policy Sessions

 

Policy Statements will be delivered during the High-Level Track (13-14 June) of the Forum by high-ranking officials of the WSIS Stakeholder community.