World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

With its unique mandate and human rights-based approach, UNESCO leads international efforts to respond to challenges arising from rapid technological advancements in its fields of competence: through standard setting, policy advice and capacity building, UNESCO provides its Member States and the international community the tools to advance digital cooperation for the benefit of all and realize the vision of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) of building “a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society.”

Through its review process, it functions as a standard setter for new forms for digital regulation, creating digital enabling environments and protecting societies, setting international standards ranging from Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtual realities, and metaverses, to blockchain, emergent quantum computing, and neurotechnology.

What is WSIS?

An UN summit organized in two phases, Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005, WSIS gathered 175 countries to with the goal of building “a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society”. Since then, many WSIS-related events have been held, including the annual WSIS Forums, as well as the review process WSIS+10 and the forthcoming WSIS+20. Here, UNESCO created the concept of Knowledge Societies, placing emphasis on inclusivity, diversity, and the empowerment of individuals and communities by transforming information into applicable knowledge. At the same time, UNESCO is leading the facilitation of five WSIS Action Lines as part of its work toward bridging digital divides and improving accessibility for everyone. Aligning itself with the UN Secretary-General Common Agenda, the process for a Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the WSIS Forum and UNESCO aim to effectively address the challenges and opportunities of digitalization, bridge digital divides, and improve accessibility for everyone through a multi-stakeholder approach.

Key Figures

5

Normative instruments

directly linked to WSIS

250+

Sessions per year

150+

Countries

Normative Instruments

Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Recommendation on Open Educational Resources

Recommendation on Open Science

Recommendation concerning the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access in Cyberspace

Recommendation concerning the preservation of, and access to, documentary heritage including in digital form

Action Lines

The WSIS Action Lines serve as foundational principles for fostering knowledge societies and advancing inclusive information access. With the growing importance of ICTs across the economy, society and development, these Action Lines play a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNESCO actively contributes to numerous WSIS Action Lines and serves as the lead-facilitator for five of them.

Action Line C3: Access to Information and Knowledge

Counter information access challenges and ensure adherence to the R.O.A.M principles for Internet governance.

Action Line C4: Capacity Building

Everyone should have the necessary skills to benefit fully from the Information Society.

Action Line C7: e-Learning

Improve content, capacity, and connectivity for maximized education opportunities.

Action Line C7: E-Science

A diverse, open, and accessible space for science.

Action Line C8: cultural diversity and identity, and linguistic diversity

Preserve, revitalize, and support cultural diversity and identity, as well as linguistic diversity by countering digital divides.

Action Line C9: Media

Promote the free flow of ideas through words and images as a tool for promoting peace and dialogue.

Action Line C10: Ethical dimensions of the Information Society

Address the growing digital convergence and ensuring an ethical development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

For the implementation of WSIS outcomes, UNESCO works closely with Member States, civil society, private sector, technical community partners and international organizations, and through WSIS related events, including: