Tunis Commitment

Tunis Commitment is a significant international agreement that emerged from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held in Tunis, Tunisia in November 2005, with the participation of United Nations agencies, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and other stakeholders, including Kofi Annan, Hamadoun Touré, and Vladimir Putin. The agreement built upon the foundations laid by the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action adopted at the first phase of WSIS in Geneva, Switzerland in 2003, which involved Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schröder, and Junichiro Koizumi. The Tunis Commitment aimed to address the digital divide and promote the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development, as emphasized by Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Tim Berners-Lee. It also recognized the importance of intellectual property rights and cybersecurity, as highlighted by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

Introduction

The Tunis Commitment was the outcome of a multi-stakeholder process involving governments, civil society, private sector, and international organizations, including European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the support of Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, and Mary Robinson. The agreement acknowledged the potential of ICTs to promote sustainable development, poverty reduction, and human rights, as stated by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, and Amnesty International. It also recognized the need for a people-centered and inclusive approach to the information society, as advocated by Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. The Tunis Commitment was endorsed by world leaders, including George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, and Hu Jintao, and was seen as a significant step towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as supported by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and World Health Organization (WHO).

Background

The WSIS process was launched in 2001 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with the support of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and World Trade Organization (WTO), and involved governments, civil society, and private sector stakeholders, including IBM, Cisco Systems, and Siemens. The first phase of WSIS, held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2003, adopted the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action, which provided a framework for the development of the information society, as recognized by European Commission, African Development Bank, and Asian Development Bank. The second phase of WSIS, held in Tunis, Tunisia in 2005, built upon the foundations laid in Geneva and resulted in the adoption of the Tunis Commitment, with the participation of Tony Blair, Gerhard Schröder, and Jacques Chirac. The Tunis Commitment was influenced by the work of Internet Governance Forum (IGF), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and was supported by Google, Amazon, and eBay.

Key Provisions

The Tunis Commitment outlined a number of key provisions, including the promotion of ICTs for development, the protection of human rights in the information society, and the importance of cybersecurity and intellectual property rights, as emphasized by World Customs Organization (WCO), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and World Economic Forum (WEF). The agreement also recognized the need for a people-centered and inclusive approach to the information society, as advocated by Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter. The Tunis Commitment emphasized the importance of multistakeholder participation and international cooperation in achieving the goals of the information society, as supported by United Nations University (UNU), World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and International Council for Science (ICSU). It also highlighted the need for capacity building and technical assistance to support the development of ICTs in developing countries, as recognized by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, and Asian Development Bank.

Implementation and Impact

The implementation of the Tunis Commitment has been facilitated by a number of international organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and World Bank, with the support of Bill Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. The agreement has also been supported by governments, civil society, and private sector stakeholders, including Google, Microsoft, and IBM. The Tunis Commitment has had a significant impact on the development of the information society, particularly in developing countries, as recognized by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Trade Organization (WTO), and International Labour Organization (ILO). It has also contributed to the promotion of ICTs for development and the protection of human rights in the information society, as emphasized by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Significance and Legacy

The Tunis Commitment has been recognized as a significant milestone in the development of the information society, as stated by Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, and António Guterres. The agreement has contributed to the promotion of ICTs for development and the protection of human rights in the information society, as supported by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The Tunis Commitment has also facilitated international cooperation and multistakeholder participation in achieving the goals of the information society, as recognized by G20, G7, and BRICS. The agreement has had a lasting impact on the development of the information society and continues to influence international policy and practice in this area, as highlighted by World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, and World Social Forum.

Category:International agreements