The Internet is fundamental for our progress. Let’s keep it this way.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
An open door to possibility that breaks down barriers and brings us together.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was a unique two-phase United Nations (UN) summit that began with the goal of achieving a shared commitment to building a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create and share information.
The first phase of the WSIS took place in Geneva in 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis in 2005. The WSIS is a critical event in the history of the Internet. It recognized that it is not only governments who need a say in the development of the Internet, but everyone who can play a role in its future. It also defined a set of targets, recommendations, and commitments to build an inclusive, people-centric and development-oriented Information Society.
In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly reviewed if the WSIS goals progressed over the past ten years and considered the future of the WSIS process beyond 2015. This was often called the “WSIS+10 Review” and culminated in a High-Level Event on 15-16 December at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
WSIS+10 Matrix
What are the positions of world governments on the 10 year Review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+10)? As a part of preparation for the December 2015 high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York, the Internet Society made this matrix available with our understanding of the positions of world governments.
WSIS+10 Overview
Understanding the WSIS+10 Review Process
Read more about the United Nations and its 10-year Review of the World Summit on the Information Society in December 2015 on our WSIS+10 Overview page.
To understand the process we suggest you read:
| Documents and Blogs | Date |
| WSIS+10 And The Challenge Of Securing The Internet | 08 Dec 2015 |
| The Internet, an Opportunity for Sustainable Development | 16 Oct 2015 |
| Matrix of Global Government Positions on the WSIS+10 Review | 30 Sep 2015 |
| The Internet and Sustainable Development | 05 Jun 2015 |
| Understanding the WSIS+10 Review Process | 22 May 2015 |
| The Internet Society Position Paper on The WSIS+10 Review Process | 22 May 2015 |
| Call For An Open WSIS 2015 Preparatory Process | 12 May 2015 |
Internet Society contributions to WSIS
WSIS: The Summit
Since the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) took place in Geneva in 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis in 2005, the Internet Society’s Public Policy team is committed to helping to achieve the goals outlined in Geneva and Tunis.
WSIS: The Forums
As a way to track progress, WSIS Forums were started. These are smaller meetings and anyone can take part – even you.
The Internet Society’s Public Policy team has been a part of each of these forums. As we move toward the UNGA High-Level Meeting on the Overall WSIS+10 Review we encourage all policy and decision makers to review.
The summary of Internet Society’s contributions to the WSIS process can be found on Contributions to WSIS page archived at Wayback Archive.