UNESCO
Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace
Public access to information is a key component of UNESCO’s commitment to transparency and its accountability.
Based on human rights and fundamental freedoms, the 2005 Convention ultimately provides a new framework for informed, transparent and parti
UNESCO’s e-Platform on intercultural dialogue is designed for organizations and individuals to learn from shared knowledge or experiences from infl
Established in 2002, the GEM Report is an editorially independent report, hosted and published by UNESCO.
To recovery and beyond: The report takes stock of the global progress on the adoption and implementation of legal guarantees on Access to Informati
Addressing culture as a global public good
For almost 75 years, the UNESCO Courier has served as a platform for international debates on issues that concern the entire planet.
Lifelong learning is key to overcoming global challenges and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Main UNESCO website
UNESCO Digital Library website.
The Value of water
Groundwater, making the invisible visible
UNESCO
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.
An UN summit organized in two phases, Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005, WSIS gathered together 175 countries to with the goal of building “a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society”. Since then, a large number of 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.
directly linked to WSIS
Counter information access challenges and ensure adherence to the R.O.A.M principles for Internet governance.
Everyone should have the necessary skills to benefit fully from the Information Society.
Improve content, capacity, and connectivity for maximized education opportunities.
A diverse, open, and accessible space for science.
Preserve, revitalize, and support cultural diversity and identity, as well as linguistic diversity by countering digital divides.
Promote the free flow of ideas through words and images as a tool for promoting peace and dialogue.
Address the growing digital convergence and ensuring an ethical development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
WSIS Forum 2023: 13-17 March 2023, Geneva, Switzerland; April – May 2023, Virtual
WSIS Forum 2022: 15 March 2023, Virtual; 30 May – June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2021: 17-21 May 2021, Virtual
WSIS Forum 2020: 7-10 September 2020, Virtual
WSIS Forum 2019: 8-12 April 2019, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2018: 19-23 March 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2017: 12-16 June 2017, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2016: 2-6 May 2016, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2015: 25-29 May 2015, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS+10 High-Level Forum: 10-13 June 2014, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2013: 13-17 May 2013, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2012: 14-18 May 2012, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2011: 16-20 May 2011, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2010: 10-14 May 2010, Geneva, Switzerland
WSIS Forum 2009: 18-22 May 2009, Geneva, Switzerland
About The Author
More Stories
How RightsCon Is an Unexpected Stress Test for the Multistakeholder Model of Internet Governance
From Coverage to Meaningful Connectivity: How Kenya Is Leading Africa’s Internet Future
Community Snapshot—April