World Information Society Day, WTD share stage

Johannesburg, 08 May 2006

This year, 17 May not only marks the 141st World Telecommunication Day (WTD), a celebration commemorating the founding of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 1865, but also the first World Information Society Day (WISD).

In November last year, world leaders meeting at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis recognised the ITU`s evolution to the cyber era and suggested the celebration of an information society day.

WISD was announced by the United Nations General Assembly on 27 March 2006.

The aim of WISD is to broaden the objectives of WTD, according to a statement on the ITU Web site. This includes raising awareness of the opportunities the Internet and ICT can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide.

Cyber

The theme of WTD 2006 is promoting global cyber security. ITU secretary-general Yoshio Utsumi is on record as saying that in an increasingly networked society, safeguarding cyberspace as well as ICT systems and infrastructure has taken on real urgency.

Utsumi has emphasised the importance of adopting a global culture of cyber security as the ideal way to combat cyber attacks and establish confidence in online trade, banking, telemedicine and e-government.

UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has also backed the need for confidence in online transactions, saying these applications are essential for the continued growth and development of economies, especially in developing countries.