WSIS TalkX

Virtual WSIS TalkX


WSIS TalkX

The WSIS TalkX is a platform, both virtual and physical, dedicated to sharing experiences and inspirational stories about ICTs for development (implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for Development) by stakeholders all over the world. The WSIS TalkX was initiated during the WSIS Forum 2019 and at the request of stakeholders as a continuous virtual series since April 2020. More than 30 physical and virtual sessions have been conducted, which have all been adapted to podcasts and are available to listen and download at WSIS TalkX Podcast. The WSIS TalkX this year have been conducted in a virtual format where WSIS stakeholders have highlighted their linkages with the WSIS Action Lines and SDGs, in particular, in relation to the global response to COVID-19. The interactive talk series is also an opportunity to hear from the globally recognized WSIS Prizes awardees, as well as from the partners of the WSIS Forum.


Past Sessions


Innovating against food loss and waste 30 September 2021, 15:00 – 16:30 (UTC+02:00)

The number of people suffering from chronic hunger has risen since 2014, while at the same time tons of food, as well as the natural resources and energy needed to grow and transport it are wasted every day. According to FAO and UNEP, an estimated 14 percent of all food produced for human consumption is lost from production up to the retail level and 17 percent is wasted at the retail and consumption levels each year. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with the disruption of…


UN International Day of Older Persons 2021 - Digital Equity for All Ages 30 September 2021, 16:00 – 17:15 (UTC+02:00)

On October 1, 2021, the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) will be celebrated with the theme, “Digital Equity for All Ages.” The topic aims to address the rapid growth in digital technologies and the transformational effects they are having across all sectors of society. To ensure inclusivity and access and realize the goals of the UN and World Health Organization’s Decade of Healthy Ageing, the adoption of digital technologies must occur across all age groups, with a…


How ICTs Enhance Resilience and Awareness in Countries at Risk: Lessons Learned from International Collaboration 13 October 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00)

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is held every 13 October. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the progress being made in reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health. For the year 2021, the focused theme is on “International cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses.” Extreme weather events, earthquakes, tsunamis, as well as pandemics and other human made related hazards pose continued challenges to countries and…


World Cities Day: Building Climate Resilient Cities with Digital Transformation 28 October 2021, 14:00 – 15:30 (UTC+02:00)

To celebrate the World Cities Day 2021 and as part of the WSIS TalkX, ITU and Geneva Cities Hub are organizing a webinar dedicated to supporting cities to use digital transformation to improve adaptation actions and achieve urban resilience. For example, the Internet of Things are enabling cities to collect climate data for better monitoring of the climate and response to different hazardous situations. Digital twins are powerful assets that cities are using to carry out high-precision…


WSIS TalkX on ICTs and Peace 10 November 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+01:00)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UN Technology Bank for Least Developing Countries are organizing a webinar dedicated to the use of Information and Communication Technologies in Peace, as part of the WSIS TalkX. The use of digital technologies can provide information in advance to understand how conflicts are evolving to raise awareness and make informed decisions to respond and mitigate the conflict risks. Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) also provide…


International Day of Persons with Disabilities - Reducing Inequalities Through Technologies: A Perspective on Disability Inclusive Development 3 December 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+01:00) Real-time human captioning Sign language interpretation

One billion persons with some form of disability can benefit from assistive technologies that can facilitate their social, economic and political engagement, including their participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives and ambitions for sustainable development. Persons with physical, sensory, cognitive/learning or invisible disabilities represent nearly 15% of the world population with a higher prevalence in developing countries. The number of persons with a disability is…


International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Uniting efforts towards equal and inclusive future 11 February 2022, 13:00 – 14:00 (UTC+01:00)

Women and Girls in Science have made significant progress over the years and have greatly contributed to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in their communities around the world. However, gender gap still persists, and it is of crucial importance to identify and solve the issues of gender inequality at all levels. In December 2013, The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it recognized that women and girls’ participation in and ensuring full and equal access to…


World Radio Day 14 February 2022, 13:00 – 14:00 (UTC+01:00)

There are many ways for people to get their daily news and information, one of them is through radio. While digital technology is prevalent in today’s world, radio remains the primary source of information for most people in the world. Throughout the years, radio serves as an important medium of communication as it provides affordable access to information – be it education, sports, global affairs, cultures, to emergencies/disaster alerts – that reaches many people, even in the remote areas.…


International Mother Language Day & WSIS Forum 2022 Hackathon Updates 21 February 2022, 13:00 – 14:15 (UTC+01:00)

There are about 6,700 languages in the world. Today, a language disappears and dies every two weeks, taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. International Mother Language Day, celebrated on 21 February, is intended to raise awareness, and protect all the languages of the world. [1] The theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day, “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities”, will discuss the potential role of technology to advance…


World Wildlife Day 3 March 2022, 13:00 – 14:00 (UTC+01:00)

March 3rd 2022 marks the UN International Wildlife Day, and this year’s theme is “Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration”, which will focus on the world’s most critically endangered fauna and flora. Almost 25% of all species are at risk of going extinct because of unsustainable human activities, habitat loss, over exploitation and climate change. Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is the fourth largest crime and it is estimated that the value of illegal wildlife trade is between $7 billion…


International Women's Day 8 March 2022, 14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+01:00)

Women’s contribution to sustainable development has been significant and is celebrated around the world. They bring about innovative ideas and solutions, add diversity to decision-making and pave way for improvement in all areas. Recent report of the UN Secretary-General on the role of women in public life highlights that women’s equal participation in leadership positions and elimination of violence against women are essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.[1] Despite the challenges…


Using ICTs to Preserve Life Below Water 22 March 2022, 13:00 – 14:00 (UTC+01:00)

"Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. They cover 70 percent of our planet and we rely on them for food, energy and water. Yet, we have managed to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage and protect all marine life around the world." - SDG14 This WSIS TalkX will highlight some examples of innovative initiatives making use of Information and Communication…


Advancing Quality Education for Economic and Digital Transformation in the 21st Century 11 July 2022, 13:30 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00)

An educated population is key to transforming economies, building inclusive and peaceful societies and ensuring lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources, that is, to realise the ultimate goals of the Agenda 2030. In today’s increasingly knowledge-intensive and technology-driven world, sustained long-term development calls for enterprising, creative and innovative individuals who can express their potential in entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems, where intellectual…


Disclaimer

The WSIS Team is organizing and coordinating the Virtual WSIS TalkX, however the content is stakeholder driven, and the statements, opinions, and conclusions expressed in the WSIS TalkX do not reflect the views of the organizers. We regret any errors or omissions that may be unwittingly made.