ITU Leads Global Efforts to Commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Geneva, Switzerland, May 14, 2020-- World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) marks the anniversary of the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 17 May 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris. The theme of this year's World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

It reaffirms ITU's commitment to connecting all the world's people while showing how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can contribute to accelerating the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across its 17 goals.

With just 10 years to go, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched a 'Decade of Action' last January to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In the months since, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the fundamental importance of ICTs to economies and societies everywhere, showing the world that nobody is safe until we are all safe – and that we will not be able to use the full potential of ICTs until we are all connected.

This year, ITU will hold a high-level virtual event to address the importance of enhancing collaboration and cooperation among countries, companies, the UN family and others to strengthen the role of ICTs as we embark on the 'Decade of Action' to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and at the same time advance the role of ICTs in the global response to COVID-19.

WHAT: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020 (WTISD-2020), observed by ITU and numerous national, regional & international commemorations around the globe.  

WHEN: WTISD on Sunday 17 May 2020. ITU's virtual event will be held on Monday, 18 May 2020, 14:00 to 15:30 (CET).

WHERE: Open live webcast on 18 May. Click to view the event program and discover how to join.

WHY: Reaffirm the shared global vision of connecting all and contribute to advancing the Connect 2030 Agenda to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

WHO: Speakers in ITU's virtual event on 18 May include:

  • Mr. Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union
  • Mrs. Tatiana Valovaya, Director General, United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
  • Mrs. Audrey Azoulay, Director General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • Mr. Francis Gurry, Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  • Mr. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • H. E. Mr. Vaqif Sadiqov, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva and Chair of the Geneva Chapter of the NAM