1. We, the representatives of the peoples of the world, have gathered in Tunis from 16-18 November 2005 for this second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society to continue the work begun in the first phase, Geneva, 10-12 December 2003.

2. One Summit, in two phases, provides a unique occasion for the global community to address the challenges and opportunities of the emerging global Information Society in a comprehensive and inclusive manner, and to set the course towards ensuring that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies (ICTs), are available to all.

3. We reiterate our unequivocal support for the Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action adopted by the first phase of the Summit, and our resolve to uphold the principles and implement the commitments we agreed on in Geneva as part of a broad policy agenda addressing the profound social, political, cultural and institutional dimensions of change that the world is facing.

4. We reaffirm our common desire and commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society that would embody our common vision and agreed principles and commitments as set out in the documents adopted in Geneva while taking into consideration the diversity of each country and each region.

5. We recognize that ICTs—from basic radio and telephone services through advanced Internet technology, such as broadband platforms—are central for an emerging global Information Society that touches every aspect of our shared global agenda and the lives of our societies and citizens.

6. At the same time, we reaffirm that the Information Society is not about technology. It is about empowering people and enhancing their participation in the economy and society. It is about using ICTs to support education and knowledge sharing, and access to health-care.

7. ICTs are not an end in themselves, but powerful tools to promote peace, security and stability, to enhance democracy, social cohesion, good governance and the rule of law. They can be used to promote economic growth and enterprise development through ICT-supported productivity gains and applied innovations. Infrastructure development, human capacity building, information security and network security are critical to achieving these goals.

8. We recognize that inclusiveness, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, freedom of opinion, expression and information, cultural and linguistic diversity and local content are fundamental to the Information Society.

9. We recognize that, to ensure that the benefits of the Information Society are more evenly distributed between and within societies, we must be particularly attentive to the roles of women and girls and to the needs of older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, minorities, and other marginalized and vulnerable groups.

10. We recognise that, in order to confront effectively challenges and threats resulting from malicious use of ICTs, we need to multiply our efforts in developing effective means of assuring information security and network security.

11. We have accomplished much since we first met in Geneva. We seek to reaffirm and enhance the commitments already made by focussing on a thorough review of existing financial mechanisms for bridging the digital divide; and by investigating and making proposals for action on international Internet governance issues, as well as on the follow-up to the WSIS process, as referenced in chapters two, three and four of [this document / Operational document – "Tunis Agenda for action"].

12. We recognize that our goals can only be accomplished through the involvement and cooperation of all Information Society stakeholders, including governments, civil society, business entities, and international organisations. The two phases of this Summit have been enriched and have benefited from the high level of their involvement.

13. Indeed, this process has strengthened our partnership with other stakeholders, whose support and commitment are vital and indispensable for us to harness the potential of the Information Society for development and improving the lives of all our peoples. We are determined to ensure that the extraordinary participatory spirit and richness of initiatives that the WSIS process has generated continues after the Tunis phase.

14. We believe that an enabling environment, policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as effective national strategies are essential for all our countries and peoples to be able to benefit from the opportunities created by participation in the Information Society. We welcome the steps that many countries have already taken to achieve these goals.

15. We reaffirm our commitment to bridging the digital divide and to creating digital opportunities for all. We acknowledge the opportunities that ICTs—as tools for knowledge and information sharing—have to offer worldwide for sustainable development in an Information Society for all.

16. This Summit is an important stepping-stone in the world’s efforts to alleviate eradicate poverty and to attain the internationally agreed development goals of the Millennium Declaration. By agreeing in Geneva that the paramount focus of our efforts in building a global Information Society is harnessing the potential of ICTs to promote the development goals of the Millennium Declaration, we established a solid long-term link between the WSIS process, including its follow up and implementation, and other major United Nations conferences and summits. In this context, the outcomes of the recently concluded high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration are of special relevance.

17. Our efforts will be enhanced by international cooperation at all levels to improve coherence between national and international efforts for a truly global and concerted approach to sharing the benefits of the Information Society. Countries that have developed and implemented appropriate ICT policies should make efforts to provide and share useful knowledge and know-how.

18. Yet, there is still much work to be done, and this work does not stop with the completion of the WSIS process. The emergence of the global Information Society to which we all contribute provides increasing opportunities for all our peoples and for the global community that were unimaginable only a few years ago. We must harness these opportunities and deliver on the promise of the information revolution.

19. We strongly believe that full and timely implementation of decisions we took in Geneva and in Tunis, and closely integrating this process in the overall strategy embodied in the Millennium Declaration is the way to achieve this goal. We therefore reaffirm our strong resolve to develop and implement an effective and sustainable response to challenges and opportunities of building a truly global Information Society that benefits all our peoples.