infopoverty world conference presented by shashi tharoor, under secretary of communications and...

InfopovertyInfopovertyWorld ConferenceWorld Conference

Presented by Shashi Tharoor, Under Secretary of Communications and Public Information, United Nations

Challenge and the

Charge

The ChallengeThe Challenge

The ICT age has brought vast upgrades to The ICT age has brought vast upgrades to the lives of millions of people.the lives of millions of people.

70% of the world’s Internet users live in the 70% of the world’s Internet users live in the 24 richest countries.24 richest countries.

With these new tools, war can be waged on With these new tools, war can be waged on poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environment degradation and gender environment degradation and gender inequality.inequality.


The digital divide remains one of the The digital divide remains one of the greatest non-tariff barriers to world trade greatest non-tariff barriers to world trade among developed and developing countries among developed and developing countries alike. alike.

– Technological DivideTechnological Divide– Content DivideContent Divide– Gender DivideGender Divide– Governance DivideGovernance Divide


Such gaps will not disappear on their own Such gaps will not disappear on their own as technology spreads. Creating digital as technology spreads. Creating digital opportunities requires an act of will: opportunities requires an act of will: sustained investment and commitment.sustained investment and commitment.

Leading the ChargeLeading the Charge

Last December in Geneva, the first-ever Last December in Geneva, the first-ever global summit on the information society, global summit on the information society, organized by the UN, adopted by consensus organized by the UN, adopted by consensus a Declaration and a Plan of Action aimed at a Declaration and a Plan of Action aimed at reducing the digital divide and creating a reducing the digital divide and creating a truly inclusive information society.truly inclusive information society.


The Plan of Action sets out concrete targets The Plan of Action sets out concrete targets to be achieved by 2015.to be achieved by 2015.– Connecting remote villages with ICT and Connecting remote villages with ICT and

establishing community access points.establishing community access points.– Connecting all universities, secondary and Connecting all universities, secondary and

primary schools, scientific and research primary schools, scientific and research centres, hospitals and health centres.centres, hospitals and health centres.

– Bringing ICT within the reach of half the Bringing ICT within the reach of half the world’s inhabitants.world’s inhabitants.


A related target agreed at the Summit is to A related target agreed at the Summit is to encourage the development of local content, encourage the development of local content, and to put in place technical conditions that and to put in place technical conditions that facilitate the use of all world languages on facilitate the use of all world languages on the Internet.the Internet.


Partnerships with the private sector Partnerships with the private sector announced at the Summit.announced at the Summit.– Microsoft, cash and software to bring ICT Microsoft, cash and software to bring ICT

skills to poor communities.skills to poor communities.– Cisco, will open 20 more Internet Training Cisco, will open 20 more Internet Training

Centres in developing countries.Centres in developing countries.– Hewlett-Packard, provide low-cost Hewlett-Packard, provide low-cost

products that will help overcome illiteracy products that will help overcome illiteracy barriers.barriers.


The UN Development Programme is The UN Development Programme is carrying out ICT projects all over the world.carrying out ICT projects all over the world.– $3.5 million grant to provide computer to $3.5 million grant to provide computer to

high schools in Ethiopia.high schools in Ethiopia.– Provide ICT training to government Provide ICT training to government

officials in Syria.officials in Syria.– Helping Albania’s Institutive of Statistics Helping Albania’s Institutive of Statistics

to set up an integrated database.to set up an integrated database.


The Global e-Schools and Communities The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) will connect through ICT Initiative (GeSCI) will connect through ICT schools and villages all over the developing schools and villages all over the developing would.would.– This joint initiative of the United Nations, This joint initiative of the United Nations,

Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland reaches out to the 370 million school-aged reaches out to the 370 million school-aged children who lack education in the children who lack education in the developing world.developing world.


More than 360 other projects to achieve the More than 360 other projects to achieve the Summit targets have been announced by Summit targets have been announced by governments, civil society, the private governments, civil society, the private sector, the media and others.sector, the media and others.

– List available at wsis-online at List available at wsis-online at http://www.wsis-online.net/project-listhttp://www.wsis-online.net/project-list


Aid to developing countries is a paltry $58 Aid to developing countries is a paltry $58 billion a year (in 2002). The World Bank billion a year (in 2002). The World Bank estimates that 50 more billion a year are estimates that 50 more billion a year are necessary for meeting by 2015 the necessary for meeting by 2015 the internationally agreed development goals. internationally agreed development goals.

If this does not happen, much of the world If this does not happen, much of the world will continued to be mired in abject poverty.will continued to be mired in abject poverty.


Technology is not the issue in connecting Technology is not the issue in connecting more people in more affordable ways. As more people in more affordable ways. As technology progresses at dizzying speed technology progresses at dizzying speed and costs go down, the real issue is to and costs go down, the real issue is to convince political leaders throughout the convince political leaders throughout the world to enact the right policies.world to enact the right policies.


Information and communication technologies Information and communication technologies are not a panacea. But if, over the next are not a panacea. But if, over the next decade, access to these technologies could decade, access to these technologies could be increased dramatically in the developing be increased dramatically in the developing countries, the payoff would be substantial. countries, the payoff would be substantial.

– Increase in knowledge and education would Increase in knowledge and education would create jobs, adding new wealth to national create jobs, adding new wealth to national coffers.coffers.

– Trade would expand.Trade would expand.


Information and communication technologies Information and communication technologies are not a panacea. But if, over the next are not a panacea. But if, over the next decade, access to these technologies could decade, access to these technologies could be increased dramatically in the developing be increased dramatically in the developing countries, the payoff would be substantial. countries, the payoff would be substantial.

– Preventive health would improve.Preventive health would improve.– Just as significant, but hard to quantify, Just as significant, but hard to quantify,

would be the dividends in freedom and would be the dividends in freedom and democratic governance.democratic governance.

infopoverty world conference presented by shashi tharoor, under secretary of communications and...

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