WSIS Secretariat frozens web-pages for Geneva, Tunis phases

The Executive Secretariat of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has announced the frozen of the web-pages of both the Geneva and Tunis phases of the summit.

This is coming as it has taken a firm step in updating media professionals on the post-WSIS related information by maintaining its ‘WSIS E-Flash’ medium.

ITRealms Online, recalls that WSIS was held in two phases; in December 2003 in Geneva and Tunis in November 2005 spearheaded b y the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General, Mr. Yoshio Utsumi.

WSIS E-flash is a regular online ‘information dish’ for interested professionals in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially the media who seek update from the secretariatInformation from the editorial team of WSIS e-Flash said that the decision was to continue the tradition of E-Flash to keep interested subscribers updated on events in the post-WSIS process.

This development came as the web-pages on Geneva and Tunis summit phases would soon be frozen.“We will also continue to update the official WSIS website. While the content of the web-pages regarding the Geneva and Tunis Summit will be ‘frozen’" the team stated.

The secretariat also said that other parts including basic information, stocktaking and the new chapter on "WSIS Implementation and follow-up" would be open and regularly updated.

As part of the activities in the post-summit period, the ITU Secretary-General has decided to maintain the WSIS Executive Secretariat, although on a smaller scale, to carry out the implementation tasks stipulated in the Geneva Action Plan and Tunis Agenda of WSIS.

These activities include the coordination cum facilitation of multi-stakeholder implementation and stocktaking, as well as other essential tasks.

Some of the post-WSIS meets include Internet Governance Forum (IGF) consultations on 16 - 17 and WSIS Action Lines Moderators cum Facilitators gathering on 24 this month of February respectively.

Pointing out the Tunis Agenda in paragraph 108-109, which stated that multi-stakeholder implementation at the international level should be organized taking into account the themes and action lines in the Geneva Plan of Action, and be moderated or facilitated by UN agencies when appropriate.

The experience of, and the activities undertaken by, UN agencies in the WSIS process notably via the ITU, United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); should continue to be used to their fullest extent.

These three agencies are expected to play leading facilitating roles in the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action and organize a meeting of Moderators/Facilitators of Action Lines as well as the IGF.