TakingITGlobal - Panorama - WSIS: Information...

Published on: Nov 28, 2003

Topic:

Type: Opinions

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=2373

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is an event that will be organized by the United Nations under the patronage of the UN Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the main anchor in cooperation with interested United Nations (UN) bodies and other international organizations, as well as the host countries. The first phase of the Summit will take place in Geneva, from 10 to 12 December 2003, where the declaration of principles & plan of action will be adopted while the second phase of WSIS will be held in Tunisia from 16 to 18 November 2005 to access the progress that has been made.

I have searched through the UN agenda on the said summit, and it is a good ideal for the summit to take place now. But I’ve asked myself if the WSIS will be another talk, NO action? And the possible implementation of the proposed theme, drafted by the United Nations and ITU?. I’m baffled because I know the type of environment I am. People are in poverty, hunger, dying of HIV/AIDS, youth are jobless and some other many other things our leaders have not provided for the populace.

The purpose of the World Summit on the Information Society, as stated in Resolution, by the UN General Assembly, is to develop a “common vision and understanding of the information society and the adoption of a declaration and plan of action for implementation by Governments, international institutions and all sectors of civil society”.

Youth in the developing countries are being deprived of quality education and care is not taken, youth especially those in the developing Nations will not have access to ICTs; this is because some of the youth today have no access to the education. Some are on the streets selling for their parents or guardians, which is due to the rate of poverty in our environment.

As I have said earlier, if the Summit will be another talk and NO action, it will be a disaster for our present and future generations. Let’s take it from the angle of youth that are having no access to ordinary computer, talk less of Internet connection. My hope is that WSIS will not be another talk and talk without action.

However, to the youth that will be at the summit, please make sure our leaders involve youth in taking the information society to the greater height, because the future and the information society belongs to us, and we are the only one who knows where it matters most now and future.

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by Mutiu OKEDIRAN
Published on: Nov 28, 2003
Topic:
Type: Opinions
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=2373


The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is an event that will be organized by the United Nations under the patronage of the UN Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the main anchor in cooperation with interested United Nations (UN) bodies and other international organizations, as well as the host countries. The first phase of the Summit will take place in Geneva, from 10 to 12 December 2003, where the declaration of principles & plan of action will be adopted while the second phase of WSIS will be held in Tunisia from 16 to 18 November 2005 to access the progress that has been made. I have searched through the UN agenda on the said summit, and it is a good ideal for the summit to take place now. But I’ve asked myself if the WSIS will be another talk, NO action? And the possible implementation of the proposed theme, drafted by the United Nations and ITU?. I’m baffled because I know the type of environment I am. People are in poverty, hunger, dying of HIV/AIDS, youth are jobless and some other many other things our leaders have not provided for the populace. The purpose of the World Summit on the Information Society, as stated in Resolution, by the UN General Assembly, is to develop a “common vision and understanding of the information society and the adoption of a declaration and plan of action for implementation by Governments, international institutions and all sectors of civil society”. Youth in the developing countries are being deprived of quality education and care is not taken, youth especially those in the developing Nations will not have access to ICTs; this is because some of the youth today have no access to the education. Some are on the streets selling for their parents or guardians, which is due to the rate of poverty in our environment. As I have said earlier, if the Summit will be another talk and NO action, it will be a disaster for our present and future generations. Let’s take it from the angle of youth that are having no access to ordinary computer, talk less of Internet connection. My hope is that WSIS will not be another talk and talk without action. However, to the youth that will be at the summit, please make sure our leaders involve youth in taking the information society to the greater height, because the future and the information society belongs to us, and we are the only one who knows where it matters most now and future. « return.