Information and communications technologies for sustainable development
A/RES/73/218
Summit on the Information Society, 6 held in New York on 15 and 16 December 2015,
in which it took stock of the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of
the World Summit, addressed potential information and communications tec hnology
gaps and identified areas for continued focus,
Reaffirming its common desire and commitment to the World Summit on the
Information Society vision as laid out in the Geneva Declaration of Principles,
Recognizing that information and communications technologies present new
opportunities and challenges and that there is a pressing need to address the major
impediments that developing countries face in accessing new technologies, stressing
the need to address prevailing challenges to bridge the digita l divides, both between
and within countries and between women and men, and between girls and boys, and
to harness information and communications technologies for development, and
recalling the need to emphasize quality of access to bridge digital and knowledge
divides, using a multidimensional approach that includes speed, stability,
affordability, language, training, capacity-building, local content and accessibility for
persons with disabilities,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the
implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the
Information Society at the regional and international levels, 7
Noting the call for the continuation of annual reports on the implementation of
the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, through the
Commission on Science and Technology for Development, to the Economic and
Social Council, and reaffirming the role of the Commission, as set forth in Co uncil
resolution 2006/46, in assisting the Council as the focal point in the system-wide
follow-up, in particular the review and assessment of progress made in implementing
the outcomes of the World Summit,
Noting also the holding of the twenty-first session of the Commission on
Science and Technology for Development in Geneva from 14 to 1 8 May 2018, and
looking forward to the twenty-second session, which will have as priority themes
“The impact of rapid technological change on sustainable development” and “The
role of science, technology and innovation in building resilient communities,
including through the contribution of citizen science ”, thus providing a platform for
all stakeholders to share experiences and pursue partnerships for capacity-building,
Welcoming the launch by the Secretary-General of the High-level Panel on
Digital Cooperation, which will present its recommendations for effective and
inclusive systems of digital cooperation among all relevant actors in the digital space,
in 2019,
Noting the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society Forum,
jointly organized annually by the International Telecommunication Union, the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Development
Programme,
Taking note of the report of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable
Development entitled The State of Broadband 2018: Broadband Catalysing
Sustainable Development, which provides an evaluation of the progress made towards
achieving the Broadband Commission’s advocacy targets for broadband and the state
of broadband development worldwide, noting the need to bridge digital divides, and
taking note of the report of the special session of the Commission, entitled “Working
__________________
6
7
18-22537
Resolution 70/125.
A/73/66-E/2018/10.
3/11