Introduction
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day or World Telecommunication Day is an annual celebration of the United Nations observed every 17th May to highlight the role of information and communication technology in today’s’ world. Since 1969, the World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated on 17th May which marked the establishment and signing of ITU in 1865. In 1973, the Plenipotentiary Conference was established under Resolution 46 in Malaga-Torremolinos.
The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated with an aim to raise awareness benefits that the use of internet and other information and communication technologies will bring societies and economies together as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. This day also marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and also the creation of the International telecommunication Union.
Theme of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024
The theme of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 is: Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development
This year’s theme for World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development
The opportunity to look into how digital innovation might link people and enable sustainable prosperity for all is presented by WTISD 2024.
Cutting-edge technology can assist in addressing the most important issues facing the globe, such as combating climate change and eradicating poverty and hunger. In actuality, by 2030, digital technology can assist in achieving 70% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, there are stark digital divides that impede innovation in many global regions. A lack of investment, policies, and digital skills means that many countries find it difficult to stay up with the rapidly evolving digital landscape
History
Formally, this day was known as World Telecommunication Day but in November 2005, during world summit on Information Society invited UN General Assembly to declare 17th May as the World Information Society Day which reflects the importance of ICT and the large range of information society concerns that WSIS raised. In March 2006, the General Assembly adopted a resolution (A / RES/60/252) stipulating that the World Information Society Day is to be observed on 17 May each year. The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, agreed in November 2006 to mark both activities as World Day of Telecommunication and Information Society on 17 May.
The new updated Resolution 68 invites the Member States and industry members to mark this day every year by coordinating suitable national programs with an aim to stimulate thought and sharing ideas on the theme adopted by the council with all stakeholders of society debating different aspects of the theme and drafting a report representing regional debates on the themes to be sent back to the ITU and the rest of its membership.
Importance of WTISD
The main goal of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to increase awareness about the possibilities of societies, communities, and opportunities of overcoming the digital gap through the use of the Internet and other ICTs. Like its predecessors, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) focus on a particular theme for each event.
Swikriti Dandotia
