[huridocs-tech] UN General Assembly adopts resolution on digital divide

[***Originally posted on the Global Knowledge for Development List, Mod.***]

http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2002/01.html

Press Release

International Telecommunication Union
For immediate release
Telephone: +41 22 730 6039
Fax: +41 22 730 5939
E-mail: pressinfo@itu.int

United Nations adopts Resolution on the World Summit on the Information
Society

Summit to Address 'Digital Divide', Harness Development Potential of
Information and Communication Technologies

Geneva, 9 January 2002 - The United Nations has taken a major step
toward bridging the 'Digital Divide' with the adoption, by the General
Assembly, of a resolution which welcomes the organization of the World
Summit on the Information Society. The Summit, which is expected to
promote access by all countries to information, knowledge and
communications technologies for development, is to be held in two
phases, the first in Geneva in 2003 and the second in Tunisia in 2005
and is being convened under the high patronage of the UN
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. The International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) will be taking the lead role in the Summit preparations, in
cooperation with other interested organizations and partners.

"A technological revolution is transforming society in a profound way.
If harnessed and directed properly, information and communication
technologies (ICT) have the potential to improve all aspects of our
social, economic and cultural life. ICTs can serve as an engine for
development in the 21st century, yet the majority of the world's
population has yet to benefit from the new technology," says
Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "This global gathering will be a unique
opportunity for all key players to develop a shared vision of ways to
bridge the digital divide and create a truly global information
society."

The resolution [A/RES/56/183] calls on governments to actively
participate in Summit preparations and to be represented at the highest
possible level. It has also asked for the active participation and
effective contribution in the Summit and its preparations by all
relevant United Nations and intergovernmental organizations, including
international and regional institutions, as well as non-governmental
organizations, the civil society and the private sector. ITU will work
to create synergies and develop cooperation among the various ICT
initiatives at the regional and global level.

"ITU is a leading player in telecommunications and is proud to have
contributed to the ICT revolution. But our expectations for a bright
future can only be met if we bridge the digital divide that exists
within and between our nations. For true progress will be measured by
our ability to provide all sectors with the skills and knowledge they
need in this century," says Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of ITU.
"The Summit is expected to produce a shared vision among world leaders,
the private sector and the NGO community on how to bring about
sustainable development through ICTs, Utsumi added."

The World Summit on the Information Society is an initiative of the 1998
Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU. It is being endorsed by the General
Assembly as an effective means to assist the United Nations in
fulfilling the goals of the Millennium Declaration - the landmark
document adopted by a record number of leaders when they met during the
Millennium Summit to address the key challenges of our time. Secretary
General Kofi Annan states, "the Millennium Summit recognized the key
role of partnerships involving governments, bilateral and multilateral
development agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders in
putting ICTs in the service of development."

The General Assembly has also invited the international community to
make voluntary contributions to a special trust fund established by the
International Telecommunication Union to support the Summit as well as
to facilitate the effective participation of representatives of
developing countries, in particular those from the least developed
countries.

The proposed themes of the Summit address the central issues raised by
the Information Society and will likely include:

*    Building the infrastructure

*    Opening the gates: universal and equitable access to the
       information society

*    Services and applications

*    The needs of the user

*    Developing a framework

*    ICT and education

Under each of these broad themes, consideration will be given to the
relevant developmental, economic, policy, social, cultural and
technological aspects. A series of preparatory meetings will be held in
2002, beginning with the first PrepCom from 1-5 July 2002 in Geneva.

Additional information about the World Summit on the Information Society
can be found at wsis.itu.int. The full text of the Resolution adopted by
the UN General Assembly can be found at
www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2002/UNGA_res_56_183.html




========== HURIDOCS-Tech listserv ==========
Send mail intended for the list to <huridocs-tech@hrea.org>.
Archives of the list can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/huridocs-tech/
To subscribe to the list, send a message to <majordomo@hrea.org>,
with the following text in the message: subscribe huridocs-tech
To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to <majordomo@hrea.org>,
with the following text in the message: unsubscribe huridocs-tech
If you have problems (un)subscribing, contact <owner-huridocs-tech@hrea.org>.