MEDIA ADVISORY
Information and Communication Technology: A key driver of Sustainable Development
United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Review of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS+10)
UNITED NATIONS, 7 December 2015 – The President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, will convene a General Assembly High-Level Meeting on 15-16 December to review the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and discuss how Information Communications Technology (ICT) can support sustainable development.
The meeting will also offer Member States an opportunity to discuss bridging the digital divides, financial mechanisms, human rights in the information society, building confidence and security in the use of ICTs, internet governance, enhanced cooperation and follow-up processes.
“The rapid development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and growth in global interconnectivity can play an increasingly important role in promoting economic and social progress in many parts of the world,” Mr. Lykketoft said.
The meeting will be attended by high-level representatives from governments, civil society and the private sector. Mr. Janis Mazeiks, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations and Ms. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of United Arab Emirates to the United Nations have co-facilitated the intergovernmental negotiations of the outcome document to be adopted at the High-Level Meeting.
ICTs as an essential part of people’s lives
The role of Information and Communication Technologies as a key driver of sustainable development is clear. 3.2 billion people, representing 43% of the world population, are online today, while mobile-cellular subscriptions have reached almost 7.1 billion worldwide, with over 95% of the global population now covered by a mobile-cellular signal.
“Information and communication technologies have long been recognized as key enablers for bridging the digital divide and achieving the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, environmental balance and social inclusion,” said Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations in his statement during the 2014 WSIS+10 high-level meeting in Geneva.
Yet despite rapid progress, digital gaps remain between genders and among countries. According to the Measuring the Information Society Report published annually by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),”in the developed world, 81.3% of households now have home Internet access, compared to 34.1% in the developing world, and just 6.7% in the 48 UN-designated Least Developed Countries (LDCs).”
“We must do everything in our power to increase access to ICTs and broadband connectivity across the world, including to reach people in remote areas, land-locked countries, small island developing states and the least developed countries. This will empower millions of people and enable us to meet our development goals,” Ban Ki-moon added.
Side events, social media newsroom and special sessions
A number of side events during the WSIS+10 Review are planned with a focus on the use of ICTs in specific areas, including measuring the Information Society, ICTs for policy making, closing the gender gap, raising Africa’s digital presence, as well as showcasing best practices.
Journalists and bloggers are welcome to cover the General Assembly and side events in a special Digital Media Zone being set up with support from the Pvblic Foundation.
The WSIS High-Level Meeting also coincides with a special meeting of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and technical sessions of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), entitled “Prevent terrorists from exploiting the Internet and social media to recruit terrorists and incite terrorist acts, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms,” on 16 and 17 December. While a separate process from WSIS, the CTED event offers expert views on issues that have been raised in the WSIS review.
About WSIS
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), started in 2003 in Geneva, followed by the second phase in Tunis in 2005, aiming to create an evolving multi-stakeholder platform to address ICT issues such as the digital divide, cybersecurity through a structured and inclusive approach at the national, regional and international levels. The goal of the WSIS is to build a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information.
What: UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on World Summit on the
Information Society + 10 (WSIS+10) Review
When: 15-16 December, 2015
Where: UN Headquarters, New York or live through webtv.un.org
Registration: For UN Media Accreditation, please visit: un.org/en/media/accreditation
Social Media: Hashtags are #WSIS10 and #ICT4SDG
Interviews: Updated list of potential interviewees is available at unpan3.un.org/wsis10
For more information, please visit:
UN WSIS+10 Review website: http://unpan3.un.org/wsis10
ITU WSIS knowledge platform: http://www.itu.int/net/wsis/
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Media contacts:
Mr. Dan Thomas, Office of the President of the UN General Assembly, T: +1 917 225 1913, E: daniel.thomas@un.org
Mr. Ken Matsueda, UN Department of Public Information, T: +1 917 225 1913, E: matsueda@un.org
Ms. Xiao Mimi Wang, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, T: +1 212 963 0732, E: wang22@un.org
Mr. Paul Conneally, International Telecommunication Union, T: +41 22 730 5601, E: Paul.Conneally@itu.int
Mr. Matthew Brown, UN Conference on Trade and Development, T: +41 22 917 5166, E: matthew.brown@unctad.org