Co-organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) 2021, currently taking place online, began in January 2021 in the form of thematic workshops, with the last week of the event set for May 17 through 21. This year’s forum’s focus is the notion of “ICTs for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Societies and Economies (WSIS Action Lines for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals)".

As part of the WSIS Forum 2021 High-Level Track taking place on March 22-25, the topics to be discussed during the ninth week are the coronavirus and role of ICTs in the development of solutions, global Internet access, ICT goal – benefits in all aspects of life, cybersecurity – reliable and fair connection access, digital economy and technology trade, knowledge and skills – full information society benefits for everyone, women empowerment in the digital society and many others.

Dr Vladimir Krstić, member of the RATEL Managing Board, one of the participants in the forum and in a panel discussion dedicated to the strengthening of the confidence and security regarding the use of ICTs, represented RATEL in its capacity of National CERT, explaining this body’s role in the process of capacity building and raising awareness on the safe use of ICT systems in the Republic of Serbia, including major cybersecurity challenges faced by the National CERT during the pandemic.

The UN General Assembly has recognized the necessity and importance of the WSIS Forum as an annual event and has called for harmonization between the WSIS and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The last week of the forum will be themed around the ICTs worldwide and WSIS awards. The WSIS Forum 2021 was co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD.

The format, agenda and topics of the forum are the result of open consultations with all interested parties of the WSIS and can be accessed through this link: wsis.org/forum.