In preparation for the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society, to take place in Geneva on 10-12 December 2003, the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference will take place in B?varo at the Barcelo Convention Center (Dominican Republic) from 29 to 31 January 2003. The event is one of several regional conferences planned to assess the key challenges, opportunities and constraints stemming from the information society. The events also aim to develop a common vision and understanding for the region, with a focus on preparing a plan that will address the most relevant issues and solve the problems identified. The World Summit on the Information Society will recognize the fundamental changes that have taken place, and from which the world is evolving from an industrial to an information-based society.
The Summit began as an initiative of the 1998 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, when it was recognized that the gap between information “haves” and “have-nots” was widening, while at the same time telecommunications were playing an increasingly important role at the political, economic, social and cultural levels. The idea is that the summit focus on how key players can contribute actively to bridge the digital and informatory divides that are occurring as a result of modernization.
For more information on the Dominican Republic regional conference, contact Marie-Laure Aristy at the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) Tel: (809) 473-8574 or email maristy@indotel.org.do or see
http://www.indotel.org.do/wsis/
