Preparations for information summit continue in Geneva

The second in a series of United Nations-backed preparatory conferences laying the groundwork for the first-ever global summit on communication technology, is set to begin considering ways to close the gap between the information "haves" and "have nots."

The second meeting of the preparatory committee for the two-phase World Summit on the Information Society - to be held in Geneva 10-12 December 2002, and in Tunisia in 2003 - kicks off Monday in Geneva. Participants will begin consideration of a draft declaration and Action Plan on ways to bridge the "digital divide" created by the explosion of new information and communication technologies during the past two decades. The declaration and Action plan will be submitted to world leaders expected to attend the Summit.

This session of the preparatory committee will run through 28 February, and include, during its opening week, a number of workshops, panels and discussions which will focus on critical issues to the development of an information society for all.