Press
Release No.2002-62
UNESCO OUTLINES STRATEGY TO COMBAT DIGITAL DIVIDE
Paris, September 11 - The free
flow of information, made possible by the advent of new technologies
such as the internet, holds enormous promise of cultural dialogue
and mutual understanding, of quality education available throughout
our lifetimes and of more vigorous and participative democratic
processes. But the so-called "digital divide" - the
enormous and growing inequalities between rich and poor nations
in access to the new information technologies (ICTs) - threatens
to deny this promise from entire regions.
Mindful both of the potentials of ICTs and of the dangers of increased
marginalization these represent for those without access to them,
UNESCO has developed a four-pronged strategy which it will urge
States to adopt as their own at the World Summit on Information
Society (WSIS) scheduled to take place in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis
in 2005.
Director-General Koichïro
Matsuura will outline this strategy on Wednesday, September 11
in Paris before representatives of UNESCO Members States.
First a set of common principles
for the information society of the future must be defined. These,
says UNESCO, should include:
- Freedom of expression and its
corollary, freedom of the press.
- Free, compulsory and universal primary education.
- The recognition that education as well as cultural goods and
services cannot be treated as mere commodities.
- The pre-eminence of public policy.
- The promotion of public domain information and public service
broadcasting.
Point two concerns access by the
greatest number to the learning opportunities offered by new information
technologies. This implies that:
-
- Computer literacy be recognized as a basic skill in educational
systems and free access to the internet be provided in schools
and public libraries.
- Full advantage be taken of distance education and the life-long
learning opportunities offered by ICTs.
Point three is to strengthen capacities
for scientific research and information sharing. UNESCO wishes
to see increased exchange and cooperation among specialists and
interest groups working in the fields of education, science, culture
and communication. To this end UNESCO:
- Encourages the use of new methods
of content development and access to education and to scientific
information, e.g. virtual universities, virtual laboratories,
and research groups. Such methods can contribute to bridging the
scientific divide, enabling researchers in developing countries
to participate in research at the international level and to share
its results.
- Promotes actions that focus on building linkages and synergies
between science and local and indigenous knowledge, particularly
in environmental management practices and in the transmission
of local knowledge from one generation to the next.
Last but not least - point four-
UNESCO encourages States to use ICTs to promote greater participation
by citizens in democratic life. This can be achieved by:
- Using the internet and other
ICTs as tools for dialogue between citizens and the authorities.
- Integrating new and "traditional" technologies, including
library services and community media; the production, adaptation,
translation and sharing of local contents; and the setting up
of pilot projects corresponding to different cultural contexts.
- Giving high priority to the needs of those disadvantaged and
marginalized groups that are presently excluded so that information
societies be open and inclusive.
- Improving access to the benefits of the information society
for women and youth. Extending material assistance to countries
at present unable to offer access to ICTs to large numbers of
their citizens.
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For more information, a platform
providing information on UNESCO's contribution to the preparation
of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is now online
at http://www.unesco.org/wsis. The website provides data on UNESCO's
numerous preparatory activities and lists links to similar services
of other organizations and national governments.
Contact:
Asbel Lopez
Bureau of Public Information, Editorial Section
Tel: (+33)(0) 1 45 68 17 07; email: a.lopez@unesco.org
