World Information Society Day

World Information Society Day aims to alert people about how information and communication can help improve societies worldwide. ©iStockphoto.com/LuxEterna

World Information Society Day promotes people’s awareness of the power of information and communication to build societies in which they can create, access, use and share information and knowledge to achieve their full potential. The day is devoted to the principle of “respect for cultural and linguistic diversity” in 2008.

UNESCO has invited people around the world to submit proposals for a slogan on the theme of “respect for cultural and linguistic diversity”. It intends to select one of the proposals for its campaign for World Information Society Day in 2008. It has also invited people to provide suggestions on how UNESCO should celebrate World Information Society Day.

Other activities and events that focus on the event include: the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2008 global ceremony in Cairo, Egypt, on May 15, 2008; innovation competitions for tertiary students; as well as tours and quizzes centered on communication. 

Public life

World Information Society Day is not a public holiday and public life is not affected.

Background

The annual observance of World Telecommunication Day, which marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865, drew attention to the work of ITU and the challenges of global communication.  In March 2006, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 17 as World Information Society Day to recognize the efforts made to advance communication and ITU’s role in helping people connect around the world. The UN’s first World Information Society Day took place on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

Prior to World Information Society Day, World Telecommunication Day, which was first held in 1969, was celebrated on May 17 by people and organizations such as ITU. Many now refer to this day as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, taking into account the UN’s observance of World Information Society Day. The purpose of this observance is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the internet and other information and communication technologies could bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

Symbols

UNESCO has not allocated a specific symbol for the day, although it uses images of modern information and communication technologies to portray the importance of the day.

World Information Society Day Observances

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