Tunis Agenda for the Information Society

Tunis Agenda for the Information Society is a comprehensive framework adopted by the United Nations to promote the development of the information society worldwide, with a focus on bridging the digital divide between developed and developing countries, as emphasized by Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations. The agenda was adopted at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunis, Tunisia, from November 16 to 18, 2005, with the participation of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and other United Nations specialized agencies. The WSIS was a follow-up to the first phase of the summit held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2003, which was attended by Vladimir Putin, Jacques Chirac, and other world leaders. The summit aimed to address the challenges and opportunities of the information age, as highlighted by Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and other Silicon Valley leaders.

Introduction

The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society is a key outcome of the WSIS, which was attended by over 19,000 participants from 174 countries, including Hosni Mubarak, Thabo Mbeki, and other African Union leaders. The agenda builds on the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Geneva Plan of Action, adopted at the first phase of the WSIS in 2003, with the support of European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It provides a framework for the development of the information society, with a focus on access to information, digital literacy, and e-governance, as promoted by Google, Microsoft, and other technology companies. The agenda also emphasizes the importance of multistakeholder participation and international cooperation in achieving the goals of the information society, as highlighted by World Economic Forum (WEF) and Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Background

The WSIS was convened by the United Nations General Assembly in response to the growing recognition of the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction, as emphasized by World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The summit was also influenced by the work of Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Electronic Frontier Foundation, which have been active in promoting human rights and freedom of expression in the digital age. The WSIS was also supported by private sector companies such as Cisco Systems, IBM, and Intel Corporation, which have been investing in ICT infrastructure and digital skills development in developing countries. The summit was attended by world leaders such as George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, and Hu Jintao, who recognized the importance of ICTs in promoting global economic growth and social development.

Key Principles

The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society is based on several key principles, including the importance of multistakeholder participation and international cooperation in achieving the goals of the information society, as highlighted by Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The agenda also emphasizes the need for capacity building and technology transfer to support the development of ICT infrastructure and digital skills in developing countries, as promoted by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and African Development Bank (AfDB). The agenda also recognizes the importance of human rights and freedom of expression in the digital age, as emphasized by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Council of Europe. The agenda also promotes the use of open-source software and open standards to support the development of ICTs and promote digital inclusion, as supported by Free Software Foundation and Open Source Initiative.

Implementation and Follow-up

The implementation of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society is being coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with other United Nations specialized agencies such as UNESCO, UNDP, and World Health Organization (WHO). The ITU is also working with regional organizations such as European Union (EU), African Union (AU), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote the implementation of the agenda. The agenda is also being implemented by national governments and private sector companies, with the support of civil society organizations and NGOs such as World Wide Web Foundation and Freedom House. The follow-up to the WSIS is being coordinated by the United Nations General Assembly, which has established a WSIS Forum to promote the implementation of the agenda and review progress, with the participation of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

WSIS Outcomes and Impact

The WSIS has had a significant impact on the development of the information society worldwide, with many countries implementing ICT policies and strategies to promote digital inclusion and e-governance, as supported by World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The WSIS has also promoted international cooperation and multistakeholder participation in achieving the goals of the information society, as highlighted by G8 and G20. The WSIS has also led to the establishment of new institutions and initiatives such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the WSIS Forum, which are promoting dialogue and cooperation on ICT issues, with the participation of European Commission and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The WSIS has also influenced the work of other international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which are promoting ICT policies and trade agreements to support the development of the information society, as emphasized by World Economic Forum (WEF) and Davos Forum.

Category:International agreements