Public-private partnerships the only way ahead

摘要

Unlike other summits striving towards reversing negative trends such as environmental degradation, exploding population growth or the abuse of the rights of women, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is charged with better distributing a bounty ― the bounty that information and communication technologies (ICT) offer humankind. For success at this unprecedented global meeting which focuses on the drivers, benefits and risks of the emerging information society, panelists at a Special Session on WSIS, held during ITU TELECOM WORLD 2003, underscored the need for active involvement by business and civil society in discussions and proposals for the Summit. They also stressed regulatory reform and an oversight mechanism with teeth to push resolutions and measure targets to reach the Summit goal of boosting ICT access and infrastructure across the world. Among the targets set in the draft Plan of Action that will be put before the Heads of State and Government is the goal to connect all villages, and at least one half of the world's inhabitants, by 2015.