The WSIS welcome Part I: Meet the Movers Behind It

Reflecting on two decades of information society progress at the WSIS Plus 20 high-level event

At the WSIS Plus 20 high-level event, a distinguished panel comprising representatives from UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD convened to reflect on the progress made in advancing the information society over the past two decades. The session, which was part of a broader forum aimed at charting the future course of digital transformation, underscored the importance of a human-centred approach to technology and digitalisation.

Tomas Lamanauskas, representing ITU, set the tone by highlighting the UN’s dynamic and action-oriented nature. He expressed gratitude to the various UN agencies, approximately 50 in number, that collaborate to organise the forum. Lamanauskas also acknowledged the support of sponsors, including the Swiss Confederation, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the Digital Corporation Organization, emphasising their vital role in the success of the event.

Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Director General of UNCTAD, spoke about the critical timing of the WSIS Forum, given the ongoing discussions surrounding the global digital compact and the lead-up to the Summit of the Future in September. Moreno highlighted the stark digital divide, noting that a significant portion of the population in the least developed countries remains without digital connectivity. He stressed the need for digital cooperation and outlined UNCTAD’s contributions through the CSTD and the WSIS plus 20 review process. Moreno called for active stakeholder engagement in the ongoing consultations to ensure a comprehensive report on the WSIS action lines’ achievements and future challenges.

Dr. Tawfik Jelassi from UNESCO revisited the foundational questions of the WSIS: ‘why’, ‘what’, and ‘how’, noting that while the ‘why’ and ‘what’ are well-established, the ‘how’ remains the central challenge. He raised concerns about the proliferation of misinformation and the potential for digital platforms to cause harm rather than serve the public good. Jelassi called for collective responsibility in addressing these issues and ensuring that digital transformation remains human-focused.

Robert Opp, UNDP’s Chief Digital Officer, built upon his colleagues’ remarks, praising the foresight of the WSIS process and suggesting that the action lines be updated to address emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, gender roles, and environmental sustainability. He highlighted the importance of national digital transformation plans and UNDP’s extensive role in supporting digital programmes in over 120 countries, aiming to drive economic and social development.

The session concluded with a collective call for enhanced cooperation among UN agencies, member states, and other stakeholders to tackle the digital divide, combat misinformation, and ensure that digital transformation contributes positively to sustainable development. The panelists recognised the need for a concerted effort to shape an information society that benefits all, with a focus on transparency and trustworthiness in cyberspace.

Noteworthy observations from the session included an acknowledgment of the gender imbalance on the panel, which was recognised as an area for improvement. The panel also highlighted the importance of avoiding duplication of efforts and ensuring complementarity among various initiatives and stakeholders. The session served as a prelude to the 20th anniversary of the WSIS, providing a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the progress made and to strategise for the future.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, DSP, and to our panel. We would like to now meet the movers behind the WSIS Plus 24 mile event, the co-organizers. And we’d like to invite our co-organizers from UNESCO, Dr. Tawfiq Jalassi, Mr. Rabab, UNDP, and the Deputy Director General of UNCTAD, Mr. Paolo. Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno from UNCTAD, if you are in the room, we’d like to have you here with us on stage.

Tomas Lamanauskas:
Great, thank you very much. So my colleagues said, if we can sit, I said no, because UN is always in action, always moving, and always delivering. So I think we have the panel there, but I think this will also be showing the quickfire energy of this meeting. So I hope, again, we’re showing the energy from the very beginning here. Yesterday, a few of us had to show very strong energy on Sunday morning with the Walk the Talk, that WHO organized there. So I think today, we don’t walk the talk, but at least we stand the talk. So ladies and gentlemen, so it’s a privilege now to welcome you to the second session of this event, where we’ll be talking with our esteemed organizers of the WSIS forums over the years. And of course, you have, you and Gitanjali already introduced, and I’ll introduce in a minute. So first of all, we have UNESCO with us, United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, a strong partner for ITU, and of course, a co-organizer of WSIS forums, that we work together in pursuit of universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation. In 2010, we formed the Broadband Commission to expand digital access and accelerate sustainable development. Amid the rise of artificial intelligence, UNESCO has enlightened us also on AI ethics, a vital component as we lay the foundations for future AI governance. I have the pleasure of co-leading, as well, the UN Interagency Working Group on AI with UNESCO’s another ADG, so of course, we have Taufiq with us today, Gabriel Aramos. And this is an example of the work of this UN System Collaborative Platform in the recently developed UN System White Paper on AI Governance. An important reference point on the UN normative instruments, institutional functions, and governance frameworks relevant to the AI. And I’m pleased today to be joined by UNESCO’s Assistant Director General for Communication Information, Dr. Taufiq Jalassi. So I’ll give you the word in a minute, Taufiq, but then I’ll just finish with our partners. And of course, we have, as well with us, UNDP. So UNDP, United Nations Development Program, brings substantial clout to roll out of real world solutions. ITU and UNDP co-organized last September groundbreaking as a digital meeting, which highlighted innovative digital initiatives, making headway towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We’re making a tradition with this year’s as the digital future on 21st of September, our jumping off point to the summit of the future and GDC. UNDP and ITU partner in strengthening digital foundations in developing countries, including by aiming to furnish the whole world with digital public infrastructure. UNDP is currently co-chairing with ITU, the United Nations Group on the Information Society. They insist the mechanism to coordinate implementation of the WSIS outcomes. And I have to say that next year will be UNESCO of this group. We’re also working jointly with UNDP to implement the digital window of the joint SG fund, a key instrument for innovating financing and coherent programming to strengthen national level digital development and harness digital technologies to move the Sustainable Development Goals. And that’s why I’m also delighted to have UNDP’s Chief Digital Officer, Robert Opp, to our session. Welcome, Rob. So I’ll just finish with Jung Thad. We hope to have Jung Thad with us, if not at the moment at the stage, soon. They’ve been a committed partner, so their absence on the stage is not a reflection of how committed they are, I have to say. So United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is key as we strive to level the playing field in the digital arena. ITU and Jung Thad maintain an active partnership on measuring information and communication technology for development. Jung Thad’s statistics reveal troubling nuances of digital divide, though, like the fact that 80% of collocation data centers are in developing countries, and exactly now we have Jung Thad joining us. Thank you very much. I’m honored to have the Jung Thad Deputy Secretary General, Pedro Manuel, alongside of us this morning. Welcome, Pedro, as well. So I think now we’ll do a bit of a quick fire. I think we’ll start with Pedro with you, okay? Then we’ll give it to Taufik, and then we’ll finish with Rob, if you don’t mind.

Pedro Manuel Moreno:
Thank you very much, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, fellow panelists. It’s, as always, a pleasure being here with you, and very pleased to join our fellow co-organizers in welcoming you to the WSIS Plus 20 high-level event. The WSIS Forum comes at a very timely moment as member states and other stakeholders are currently discussing the global digital compact and preparing for the summit of the future in September. We need the power of the digital economy for a more inclusive and sustainable future. We are merely six years away from the deadline of the 2030 agenda, and only 15% of the SDGs targets are on track. While the digital economy and digitalization offers a wealth of opportunities, the digital landscape continues to be challenged by persistent digital divides or ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. Access to digital connectivity remains highly uneven. Today, a staggering 65% of the population in the least developed countries still lack access to digital connectivity. The cross-cutting impact and growing presence and concerns of digital technologies of digital technologies in our daily lives underscore the urgency of amplifying digital cooperation. This year’s forum will serve as a prelude to an important occasion next year, the 20th anniversary of the World Summits on the Information Society. It is a good moment to reflect on the achievements of the WSIS community of stakeholders who have made incredible strides in harnessing the power of digital technologies for development. At UN Trade and Development, UNCTAD, we have been proud to leveraging the digital economy for development and fostering digital cooperation. For example, through our role as the Secretariat of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the CSTD. This body facilitates intergovernmental policy discussions on science, technology, and information for development. Just last month, we had the 27th session of the CSTD here in Geneva, marking almost three decades of cooperation. The commission has been mandated to conduct the WSIS plus 20 review through widespread consultation and prepare a report. Consultations were held at the Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto in October last year, as well as at the UNCTAD e-week here in this convention center in December. The e-week has become a key actor for inclusive debate and dialogue for the digital future. The intersessional meeting of the CSTD in Lisbon in November 23, also included a full discussion on the review. Then an online questionnaire gathered further inputs between January and March, 2024. And only last month, the CSTD held a high level panel on progress made at the regional and international level and discussed the WSIS plus 20 review. So far, the consultation has shown widespread support for the multi-stakeholder approach to policy development and to the design of governance frameworks. Stakeholders have stressed the importance of avoiding fragmentation of the digital ecosystem, the need for better data to monitor progress towards achievement or WSIS outcomes, and to seek harmonization between the outcomes of WSIS plus 20 and the global digital compact. The process is not finished yet. I encourage all stakeholders to actively engage in the consultation activities on the regional level from May to December, 2024. This will ensure that in 2025, we have a solid report on the 20 years of achievements, lessons learned and future challenges of the WSIS action lines. In the review of the e-business action line implementation, which we could facilitate with the International Trade Center and the Universal Postal Union, international cooperation is also crucial. These three organizations together with 32 other entities of the E-Trade for All initiative have helped channel technical assistance to developing countries to improve their digital readiness. And before I stop, let me reemphasize that the UN Trade and Development remains deeply committed to enabling development gains from digitalization. We look forward to engaging with all stakeholders here in Geneva and across the globe, wherever discussions on the digital economy unfold. Thank you very much.

Tawfik Jelassi:
Thank you, Thomas. I would like to say a few words on behalf of UNESCO. First of all, in my personal capacity as a guest speaker in the Tunis 2005 WSIS event, I have seen 20 years passing by, and we are here today in Geneva to talk about WSIS plus 20. What have we achieved over the last two decades and where to go from here? I think in Tunis, there were three key questions, the way I understood them. The why of WSIS, the what of WSIS, and the how of WSIS. I think the why was clear. We are clearly at that time in Geneva 2003, in Tunis 2005, we are on the verge of this information society advance. So the why is clear. We need to educate people, individuals, organizations, because the world is moving into an information-based society made possible by information communication technologies. I think there is no argument today, of course not, about the why. The what, the what were the action lines of WSIS, and UNESCO is pleased to have several action lines which we have been in charge of implementing. I think today, the question as I see it, is more on the how. Because we have made some achievements, but we have not reached the full goals as it was said in the first session. Why is that? In the previous session, they talked about maybe some failures along the way, which were, of course, unavoidable. But what have we learned from those failures? What were the lessons that can inform our decisions going forward? And how can we, obviously, envision the new decade? I think the previous speaker talked about WSIS plus 30. How can we go and succeed from WSIS plus 20 towards WSIS plus 30? And who should do that, the how? Is it Geneva? Is it New York? Is it WSIS? Is it IGF? Is it GDC? Is it all of us together? Is there complementarity? How can we avoid duplication? There are a number of questions, at least in my mind, that don’t have clear answers today. And if you talk about a truly inclusive, people-centered informational society, I think Henriette said, where is the people they mentioned here? We talk about digital cooperation. We talk about a global digital compact. We emphasize digital. Where is the people? Is information today a common public good? Or has information become, on digital platforms, a public hazard and a public harm? Look what is happening online. Look at the exponential development of misinformation, of hate speech online, of online harassment, of cyber bullying. That’s not information as a common public good. That’s information increasingly becoming a public hazard and a public harm. So if you want to have these development-oriented, people-centered, inclusive informational society, we have to tackle these big issues. It’s not by chance that a few months ago, the Davos World Economic Forum put this information as the number one global risk for this and next year. The number one global risk ahead of climate change. We know this year there are more than 80 elections happening around the world. More than 2.6 billion voters going to cast their ballots. What is the negative impact of this information on the integrity of electoral processes? So there are big geopolitical strategic issues ahead of us in this informational society that we have to tackle all together through joint decisions, joint actions. It’s a collective responsibility. And again, digital transformation is not about digital. It’s about humans. It’s about peoples. If you want to serve better our constituencies, with governments offering better services to citizens, be it organizations, corporations, serving better their stakeholders. So let me stop here because I think I’m almost out of my speaking time here. I want to express UNESCO gratitude to its close partners. Of course, ITU, UNDP, UNCTAD, and others. And we, of course, we remain committed and engaged at UNESCO to continue using information in education, in culture, in the sciences, in information, which is our mandate to hopefully make the world more inclusive, more transparent, and of course, more trustworthy cyberspace. Thank you.

Robert Opp:
Great. Well, thank you, Thomas, Palfrey, Pedro. It’s really a pleasure to be here as UNDP as well. And just building on the remarks that have been made by colleagues, I don’t want to repeat too much, but to your point about the why, it is remarkable thinking back 20 years ago, less than a billion people on the internet, as was mentioned in the first panel, at how visionary the process was and how well the principles still hold up in terms of what WSIS put down. And I do think some of the what, most of the what is there. I would say there’s a few things that we need to look at that have changed. You mentioned artificial intelligence. I think the role of women in digital sustainability, environmental sustainability, and some of those things we need to look at in our next iteration of the action lines. But it is indeed the how that is the most important question in front of us. And I think because there’s been such massive change, the COVID pandemic has been a major inflection point for most countries looking at how they’re going to leverage the power of digital transformation. And we as UNDP have digital programs in over 120 countries. Many of those countries are really looking deeply at national plans of digital transformation and how they can really drive the next level of economic and social development. And as Henriette said, it is at the heart of it has to be and has to remain about people. And so very much as we look at forward at the WSIS plus 20 review process, we think through how the world has changed, but that the fundamentals of putting people at the center have not. How do we take the next stage of action? How do we work together both as individual organizations, as individual nations, but also as a global community to really leave no one behind and in the process accelerating the sustainable development goals and leaving no one behind. So it is a pleasure to work as part of UNDP along with our partners, UN Trade and Development, UNESCO, ITU, others that are here, UNICEF, OCHH, Office High Commission of Human Rights and many others that are here. It’s a pleasure to work together and we’re looking forward to the next phase of action.

Tomas Lamanauskas:
So thank you very, very much, Rob. So let’s give a round of applause of all our partners. And indeed you see how dynamic this panel becomes. So I started with my phone in my hands with a nose, but after Taufik and Rob, I couldn’t do that anymore. I cannot be that one. And of course, also another thing I’d rather acknowledge on this panel, when I mentioned in our first panel how great we’re doing with gender equality, well, you wouldn’t tell that from watching this panel, no? But I think we’ll definitely improve that when shortly Doreen, our Secretary General, and I think Minister Emilio Sturmino will do from Slovenia last year, which his chair will be here on the stage. But indeed, so this is a subset of the partners. These are the partners that are organizing. We have around 50 UN agencies working together to make this happen, to make the forum happen, to make the digital progress of the Business Action Alliance happen. Well, of course, we have our great other partners and sponsors. We have Swiss Confederation, that of course Thomas represented here today just before, who are our kind hosts of this year as well. We have also our sponsors. We have United Arab Emirates, and welcome to Your Excellency the Director General here as a platinum sponsor. We have Saudi Arabia as a Gold Plus sponsor. Thank you very much, Your Excellency the Governor, as well as we have Digital Corporation Organization as our Gold partner as well, as well as many other sponsors and partners here as well. Without you, these events will not happen as well, that shows your commitment to this. So with this, I’m very proud to kickstart us this morning, to start thinking about where we’ve come and where we’re going to. I’m looking forward to very productive today and productive four more days this week as well. So with that, thank you very much, and back to Gitanjali. Thank you.