Invitation letter to the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event.
We have the pleasure to invite you to the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event that will take place from 27 to 31 May 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. It will be co-hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event is strengthened by the collaborative engagement of other United Nations Agencies with the mandate of implementing the WSIS Action Lines, including by FAO, ILO, ITC, UNDESA, UNEP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNODC, UPU, UN Women, UN Tech Bank for LDCs, UNU, WFP, WHO, WIPO, WMO, and UN Regional Commissions. Two decades ago, WSIS set the framework for global digital cooperation during the two phases of the Summit – in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005 – with a vision to build people-centric, inclusive, and development-oriented information and knowledge societies. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, WSIS continues to hold unique potential to propel transformative action to the benefit of all. Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)’s twenty-year review of WSIS, the WSIS+20 Forum HighLevel Event will serve as a platform for multistakeholder exchanges and a catalyst for action, taking stock of achievements, key trends, and challenges since the 2003 Geneva Plan of Action. It will also be a unique occasion for the international community to assess opportunities for global digital cooperation and join forces towards a forward-looking and reinvigorated shared vision, informing the UN Summit of the Future. As customary for the annual WSIS Forum, the agenda and programme of the event will be shaped through an Open Consultation Process (deadline for submission: 15 February 2024) with the involvement of all WSIS stakeholders. Relevant documents, agenda and registration can be accessed at www.wsis.org/forum. Participants are advised to secure accommodation as soon as possible. The event will also allow for remote participation.
To ensure gender balance at the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event, we invite all WSIS stakeholders to support and encourage the participation of women in their delegations, as well as the participation of youth. We look forward to your participation and contribution to this important event, which will underline our joint commitment to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by harnessing the power of Information and Communication Technologies.