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Great civilizations have thrived on the fruits of information and knowledge. While the digital revolution in information
and communication technologies has rapidly extended the frontiers of our global village, the vast majority of the world
remains unconnected to this phenomenon. The chasm between knowledge and ignorance, between the rich and the
poor among and within countries, has increased. Without access, the underprivileged have been relegated to the
margins of civilization, vulnerable to pestilence, disease and hunger. Bridging this digital and knowledge divide and
avoiding the inequities of the past has now taken on unprecedented urgency.
The World Summit on the Information Society has succeeded in bringing these concerns to the forefront of global
attention. During the first phase in Geneva, we laid the foundations of the Information Society by collectively enun-
ciating a shared vision along with a concrete plan of action to make it a reality. The second phase in Tunis has been
widely acclaimed as the “Summit of Solutions” as it set out to transform the digital divide into digital opportunities
to promote peace, sustainable development, democracy, transparency and good governance.
The Tunis Summit is not the end. It is the beginning of a new journey, a voyage that will carry us on the tide of
our collective effort and commitment to the shores of the Information Society. By empowering people through access
to knowledge and information, the stage has been set to accelerate the pace of development and to give a voice to
all, especially the weak and the vulnerable who have been silent for too long.
The task of building the Information Society is not about technology; it is about the end results of technology. It
is about people and their social, cultural and economic aspirations. It is about eradicating poverty and improving
livelihoods, conserving the environment, improving health care and increasing food supply. It is about preventing
child mortality, and increasing the capacity of every child that we raise. It is about using the full potential of our digital
reach to make the world a better place.
This Summit has pioneered many innovations. By bringing together the hearts and minds of the world’s people –
government leaders and civil servants, technological experts and innovators, small entrepreneurs and corporate
giants, grassroots workers and social activists – we have succeeded in creating ownership among all stakeholders
of the Information Society.
As we embark on the task of implementing the Action Plan, I am convinced that the process will benefit immensely
with the participation of all stakeholders. In fact, the task cannot be achieved without all hands coming together. In
order to reach our destination, we have to marshal all our resources in the most efficient ways. We have to use our
collective experience, our capacity and our expertise, but without duplicating efforts.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a relatively small organization. Yet, we have faced up to the
challenges of organizing two major gatherings of world leaders and steering the Summit towards its historic conclu-
sion. As we now embark on forging partnerships to connect the world, the ITU is well prepared to guide and
coordinate these efforts on the road ahead. I am convinced that we will together succeed in nurturing a more equi-
table, sustainable and just Information Society for the benefit of humanity.
Yoshio Utsumi
Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union
Secretary-General of the World Summit on the Information Society
Foreword