Indigenous Peoples and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

The potential of Information and Communication Technolgies as well as the need to bridge the Digital Divide is widely recognized by the international community. The United Nations (UN) called for The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). WSIS (2003-2005) was a two-phase series UN summit about information and communication. The reason and the aim for the whole WSIS process was, as stated in the WSIS Declaration of Principles:

…common desire and commitment to build a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life, premised on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respecting fully and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Geneva Summit in December 2003 laid the foundations with the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action. The Tunis Summit in November 2005 aimed to monitor and evaluate progress on the Geneva Plan of Action and devise an agenda that will target goals for achievement by 2015.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) agreed to fund a project where a small delegation of Indigenous Peoples under the umbrella of the Indigenous Media Network was able to involve them selves in the WSIS process and make their special situation as Indigenous Peoples better known to governments, Private Sector and Civil Society. This opportunity to participate and express their cultural views bore fruit: Indigenous Peoples' special situation as well as the importance to preserve and promote cultural diversity in the Information Society was acknowledged in the Summit Documents.

The article 15 of the WSIS Declaration of Principals and article 22 of the Tunis Commitment states:

In the evolution of the Information Society, particular attention must be given to the special situation of Indigenous peoples, as well as to the preservation of their heritage and their cultural legacy.

This article establishes Indigenous Peoples as one of the stakeholders in the WSIS process, its implementation and follow-up alongside such stakeholders as governments, and private sector. It also recognizes that Indigenous Peoples have special needs in the Information Society and that culturally appropriate measures need to be taken in order to provide them with e.g. infrastructure, access and capacity building.

For further information on WSIS process and Information Society please contact Indigenous ICT Taskforce secretary Roberto Borrero: uctp_ny@yahoo.com