ITU

WSIS 2018- Outcomes

The World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) 2018 represents the world’s largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community. The annual WSIS Forum is a global multi-stakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development. The Forum is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line co-/facilitators and other UN organizations (UNDESA, FAO, UNEP, WHO, UN Women, WIPO, WFP, ILO, WMO, ITC, UPU, UNODC, UNICEF and UN Regional Commissions). It provides an opportunity for information exchange, knowledge creation and sharing of best practices, while identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships, taking into account the evolving Information and Knowledge Societies.

In follow up to the outcomes of the UN General Assembly Overall Review of the Implementation of WSIS Outcomes (Res. A/70/125) and with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Res. A/70/1), the WSIS Forum is constantly evolving and strengthening the alignment between the WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals. The WSIS Forum therefore serves as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with due regard to the global mechanism for follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Outcomes
This year the Forum took place from 19 to 23 March in Geneva. The Forum attracted more than 2800 WSIS Stakeholders from more than 150 countries. Thousands followed remotely while more than 500 were engaged by intervening remotely. More than 500 high-level representatives of the wider WSIS Stakeholder community graced the Forum with more than 85 ministers and deputies (29), several ambassadors, CEOs and Civil Society leaders contributing passionately towards the programme of the Forum. More than 250 content rich workshops and open space talks clearly aligned with the WSIS Action Lines and SDGs. More than 30 Exhibition Spaces highlighting innovation and projects from the ground. 18 WSIS Prizes winners and 72 WSIS Prizes champions were acknowledged for their excellent work in implementation of the WSIS Action Lines on the ground.
You can consult the  High-level track outcomes and executive brief here.

For all the sessions summaries- click here.

For more information on the WSIS Forum 2018- click here.