The World Summit on the Information Society Forum is welcoming this year some 1,500 delegates from 140 countries of the world spanning government, the private sector, civil society and UN agencies.around the world, who strive to define an effective review process to measure progress towards targets established in 2005 in Tunis.

Co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP, the WSIS Forum 2012 event (14-18 May) represents the world’s largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community. The event is focused around strategies and tactics to help countries and organizations more effectively harness the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, now just three years away. 

The foum will run on 14-18 May 2012 in the Conference Centre at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The World Summit on the Information Society Forum is welcoming this year some 1,500 delegates from 140 countries of the world spanning government, the private sector, civil society and UN agencies.around the world, who strive to define an effective review process to measure progress towards targets established in 2005 in Tunis at the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). This year, a special focus is made on Women and Girls in ICT, commensurate with the theme of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Another focus is the WSIS 10-year Review Process (WSIS +10).

The Forum offers a diverse range of interactions, including High-level Dialogues, WSIS Action Line Facilitation Meetings, interactive sessions, thematic workshops, country workshops, knowledge exchanges and exhibitions. Full programme details can be found at: http://bit.ly/JblPlJ.

As part of the opening day ceremony, 18 WSIS Project Prizes were awarded to organizations and individuals who have achieved exceptional results in extending ICT access to underserved populations and communities.

For more information, please visit http://www.wsis.org/forum/. Key sessions will be webcast at: http://www.itu.int/ibs/WSIS/201205forum/.

IIS leaders and specialists traditionally participate in the forum as co-organizers of some events, speakers, panelists and discussants. The delegation includes this year four people:

• Yuri Hohlov, Chairman of the IIS Board of Directors
• Tatiana Ershova, General Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Information Society Journal
• Louisa Rizmanova, Head of Department for International Cooperation and Public Relations
• Alexandra Sukhacheva, Head of Organizational Unit
  

Specific contributions of IIS staff to WSIS Forum will be reported on as activities take place.