Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to provide you with a brief update on recent developments in regard to the World Summit on the Information Society.

The United Nations resolution on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Development, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 2002 (to see the draft, please click here). It reaffirms the need to use ICTs as a strategic tool to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the development programs and technical cooperation activities of the United Nations system.

You can also view the final declaration of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference for WSIS here. This preparatory conference, held in Tokyo from 13 to 15 January, endorsed the important role that ICTs can play in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which describe a fundamental set of principles and guidelines for combating hunger, poverty, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and gender inequality.

You will find more information on the preparatory process and the upcoming Latin American and Caribbean Regional Conference to be held in Bavaro, Dominican Republic from 29 to 31 January, 2003 on the WSIS website at www.itu.int/wsis.

Please feel free to contact us at anytime for more information on the World Summit on the Information Society.

With best regards,


WSIS Secretariat