World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a proposal to hold a World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to discuss the digital revolution and the digital divide it created.
WSIS consisted of two phases. During the first phase, which took place in Geneva from 10-12 December 2003, Internet governance emerged as one of the leading discussion issues. Documents from the first phase of WSIS included the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action.
The RIRs, primarily speaking collectively as the NRO, participated in meetings and monitored discussion on Internet governance and its management by ICANN. The RIRs also participated in discussions of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), a group established by the UN Secretary-General after the first phase of WSIS. Read the WGIG's Final Report for more information.
During the second phase of WSIS, which took place in Tunis from 16-18 November 2005, participants agreed that ICANN will continue its day-to-day management activities and the UN Secretary-General will convene an Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to discuss other issues. Documents from the second phase included the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society.