World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024- Theme & More

Every year, the world observes  May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

The day is observed to explore the possibilities of using information and communication technologies and the Internet in economies and societies. Another motive is to explore ways to reduce the digital divide in society.

The digital divide refers to the gap in society between those who have access to the internet and those who do not. 

Background to the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

The United Nations' oldest specialised agency, the International Telecommunication Union(ITU), first celebrated World Telecommunications Day on 17 May 1969. 

The date was chosen to mark the ITU's foundation day. The ITU was founded on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union after signing the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.

In 2005, the World Summit on Information Society recommended that the United Nations declare 17 May as World Information Society Day.

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 2006 declaring 17 May as World Information Society Day.

Later, the ITU Conference held in Turkiye passed a resolution to observe May 17 as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. 

Thus, the first World Telecommunication and Information Society Day was observed on 17 May 2007.

Theme of the 2024 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

Every year, the ITU selects a theme to highlight a particular issue. This year, the ITU has selected Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development as the theme of the 2024 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. 

Sustainable Development concept was given by the World Commission on Environment and Development headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway.

The  Commission, which was set up by the United Nations, is popularly called the Brundtland Commission. The commission, in its report released in 1987, defined sustainable development “as “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”.

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for the world community. It has set 17 SDG goals, which are to be achieved by 2030.

The theme of 2024 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day emphasises exploring the possibilities of using information and communication technology to achieve the 17 sustainable goals outlined in the SDGs.

International Telecommunication Union 

The International Telecommunication Union was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union. 

In 1932, its name was changed to the International Telecommunication Union, reflecting the changes in modern communication systems.

After the formation of the United Nations in 1945, the ITU was made a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1947. 

The ITU is the UN specialised agency for information and communication technologies.

Members of the ITU: 193 countries 

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland 

Secretary General: Doreen Bogdan-Martin. She is a citizen of the United States of America. She is the first woman to be elected as the Secretary General of the ITU.