The World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2018 commences in Geneva

The annual WSIS Forum is a global multi-stakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2018 commences today in Geneva. The summit is being co-organized by ITU, UNCTAD, UNDP and UNESCO in close association 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).

The annual WSIS Forum is a global multi-stakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development. The Forum 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.

More than 2,500 information and communication technology (ICT) experts from around the globe have assembled at ITU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland to advance technological solutions to meet the challenges of sustainable development.

2018 WSIS Forum marks 15 years since the first summit held in Geneva, demonstrating that the foundations of a "just and equal information society" set by the Geneva Plan of Action in 2003 are still crucial to all WSIS stakeholders.

#WSIS Forum 2018 kicks off today to advance #ICT4SDG solutions https://t.co/4pGWqUS9gi pic.twitter.com/Y8EiI42hZz

— ITU (@ITU) March 19, 2018

In follow up to the outcomes of the UN General Assembly Overall Review of the Implementation of WSIS Outcomes with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the WSIS Forum is constantly evolving and strengthening the alignment between the WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said, "Developing countries are at a significant disadvantage compared to developed countries when it comes to benefiting from digitalization, narrowing digital gaps between and within countries is a key part of UNCTAD's mandate for sustainable development."

The five days forums will focus on how countries can use ICT to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in priority areas such as health, hunger, education, youth inclusion, employment, gender empowerment, the environment, infrastructure and innovation.