https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 1
Moderated High-Level Policy Sessions: Concluding Session
Tuesday 3 May 2016 CICG, Room 1
14:00 – 17:00 Interpretation A/C/E/F/R/S
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(The ITU WSIS High-Level Policy Statements: Concluding
Session will begin momentarily. Please stand by.)
(Please stand by. The High-Level Policy Statements:
Concluding Session will begin momentarily.)
(The High-Level Policy Statements: Concluding Session session
will begin momentarily. Please stand by.)
>> MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, we are right into the
time for the drawing the conclusions. Of the high level
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track. I would like to kindly invite you to take your seats
as we will be starting the concluding session just now.
Please put on pause all your conversations for some time.
Dear ladies and gentlemen, this is the time to prepare for the
concluding session. We would like to kindly invite you to
prepare for starting the session. We will have a special
guest just arriving to the room in a second.
Please, let me remind you that you have all facilities still
available. Let me welcome the remote participants, waiting
for the start of the concluding session which will be starting
just in a second.
Dear ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the concluding session
of the high level policy statements track. This is an
exciting track of one and a half day debates in the
multistakeholder format with several interventions, dialogues
and discussions, debates.
All of them have drawn a lot of conclusions, but before we are
starting with taking a look and taking stock of what we
learned in Terrence of getting the high level guidance from
our leaders, we have the pleasure to welcome our special guest
for this session, the Honorable Prime Minister of TONGA,
Mr. ... please let me invite you for a round of applause. It
is my pleasure to invite His Excellency to address the Forum.
The floor is yours.)
>> Mr. His Excellency: Dealt and other international
agencies, complains, Distinguished Delegates, ladies and
gentlemen. It is a great honor to be here in Geneva at this
world summit on the Information Society and I thank the people
and the government of Switzerland, the ITU and other
international agencies cohosting this important event for the
warm welcome and hospitality extended to my Delegations since
our arrival this morning.
Since its 1998 followed by its two phases in Geneva, 2003 and
in Tunis 2005, and declaration of principles and action plans
at subsequent meetings, the Delegates have laid a solid
foundation for building a truly global inclusive and
development-oriented Information Society. Through WSIS and as
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an essential tool which should be accessible to all, ICC has
enormous power to change the economic structures and greatly
contribute to the prosperity and in supporting general welfare
and cultural activities. Today ICT cuts right across the free
historical and ground breaking international agreements of
last year, the Sendai framework on risk reduction, the U.N.
sustainable development goals, and the various agreements on
climate change.
These agreements have the potential to change human life on
this plan et for the better. The Sendai framework reiterated
commitment to the factor risk reduction, resilient and
building better protections for disaster, a new chapter in
sustainable development and creating cost effective investment
in preventing assume losses.
The United Nations sustainable development goals can drive
commitment towards ending global poverty and creating a just
and equitable world. The best equipment is an unprecedented
ambitious from political leaders to respond to climate change.
One cannot be achieved without the other, realizing the SGD
and lifting millions out of poverty will simply not be
possible on an earth ravaged by climate change and disasters.
This is the first WSIS after these agreements and TONGA has
already identified ICT as an integral tool to achieving this
these goals and as an agent for improvement in our ICT policy
which focuses on health, education, and environmental
sustainability and early warning systems, energy, smart
islands, industry and multistakeholder cooperation for a
resilient and sustainable development.
We just have a new communication act to replace and modernise
its 2000 vision. Legislation introduces to provide greater
public confidence in using faster broadband Internet and a
more comprehensive sustainable competition regime in the ICT
sector.
Government has also established cyber challenges task force to
address the issues of cybersecurity, cyber safety, and cyber
crime since launching our first cable system in 2013, giving
access to faster and cheaper Internet.
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There is currently in the process to establish TONGA computer
emergency response team to handle issues of cybersecurity.
TONGA is acceding to the Budapest convention on cyber crime
and there have been extensive training over the past years to
the judicial system and forensic, of these domestic issues and
punishment for criminal activities.
We are also in the process of setting up eGovernment whereby
to connect all government ministries, public enterprises and
agencies by fiber optic and to providing these services
online, including tech ... and basic information. At the same
time, it improves and enhances performance to support the
development of the private sector and better multistakeholder
coordination.
E education and eHealth are the two most important
applications of our eGovernment initiative. Government has
just started implementing M health initiatives with pregnant
women. The first 1,000 days of the baby from pregnancy to two
years. Through initially -- managing.
Next programme is addressing our joint effort to reduce and
avoid -- these are just some of the exciting programmes in
Tonga using ICTs.
And more to come.
I am sure other countries have the same experience. Without
doubt ICT has offered an historic and unprecedented
opportunity to us all and not only to achieving goals but also
to place its potential at the service of humanity to making
our world a better place.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Excellency, for this
message. So now, dear ladies and gentlemen, we would proceed
with the concluding session scenario. As I mentioned at the
beginning, we would like to discover now in the Plenary format
what has been debated during this 16th sessions moderated by
the high level track Facilitators which were identified by
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different stakeholders, type groups and nominated to act as
the moderators, and also those who will be bringing to us the
message what was discussed now.
So His Excellency will be leaving in just seconds. Let us one
more time applaud and thank for his statement. Thank you very
much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: It is my pleasure to invite to the lecture the
first high level track Facilitator, Dr. Tomasz Janowski who
was facilitating the 2030 agenda. Tomasz, the floor is yours.
>> TOMASZ JANOWSKI: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Section one focused on the broad theme of the WSIS action
lines and the 2030 agenda responding to the call foreclose
alignment between both processes. The session was takenned by
six high level speakers, including government representatives
from Russian Federation, Guinea because awe and the, the head
of nongovernmental organisations, Commonwealth
telecommunication organisations, international federation for
information processing, and DIPLO foundation.
The speakers covered the issues of infrastructure, services,
legislation, innovation, and entrepreneurship and capacity
building. The connection between both processes was
particularly important for this session. For particular WSIS
action lines included: Action line 1, promotion of
professional ICT communities; 2, mobile infrastructure; 4,
building capacity of local ICT communities, 5, cybersecurity,
6, government regulation and incentives; 7, eGovernment, E
business, eLearning, E financing.
8, local content creation. 10, including policy processes and
11, regional initiatives.
This spread of coverage for SDGs was also very impressive,
extensive. The LDGs covered DG1, affordable social rate for
Internet access for the poor. SDG3, regional health system,
4, education through ICT and educating ICT professionals,
SDG8, broad band infrastructure creating jobs in small
settlements. Sustainable development goals nine, finalizing
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entrepreneurship. 10, involvement of small and developmenting
state and inclusive policy processes. SDG11, universal
provision of the Internet to small settlement SDG16, access to
information and inclusive policymaking. And SDG17,
collaborative regulation and policymaking.
As you can see, the topics intersect in various ways along the
WSIS action line and.
The highlighted section to bridge the digital divide to
develop knowledge societies and to enable sustainable
development.
Fresh priorities include innovation and entrepreneurship and
cybersecurity. Opportunities relate to expanding ICT user
base, including the poor and more ways through which we
interact with and through ICTs.
Challenges include slow pace of legislation to match the fast
pace of technology change and lack of local capacity.
Two interesting cases. Mobile payment services from Guinea
Bissau enabling commercial banks to offer loans, microsavings
and other financial products to the poor and universal service
funds from the Russian Federation to connect in the coming
five years all small villages and settlements with populations
of over 250 people with fiber optics in starting 2015-
kilometers of fiber optics based on 1.2 percent levy on the
telecom operators revenue.
The final quote, the SDGs are about leaving no one behind.
Our coal overall is to ensure that no one is left offline.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Dr. Janowski, for your
accomplishments and to all panelists. And now it is my
pleasure to invite the doctor Shailaja Fennell who is
moderating the high level panel on knowledge society capacity
building and eLearning.
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>> SHAILAJA FENNELL: Thank you. Session 2 which I moderated
was on knowledge society, capacity building, and eLearning.
And we had a very knowledgeable and capable individuals in our
group. We had eight very senior and important responses from
Burundi, Cuba, the former Yugoslav, Macedonia, APT, Unitar and
national library of Latvia.
The key messages that came out of our session in terms of
vision was that knowledge society needed to be both socially
inclusive and to look at social justice because it is in this
way that we will also achieve the sustainable development
goals.
The second objective and vision that was shared by members in
the group was that both the digital divide and the global
north and south as well as the digital divide between the
rural and the urban within national context were equally
important.
In terms of the new priorities that the group set for
themselves and for us at WSIS, is to look at working with
youth. To understand that ICT provision goes from schools to
employment and to the larger society beyond. There was also a
focus particularly for Least Developed Countries of providing
both financial and technical support to prevent them from
falling further behind in relation to digital ladders.
In terms of the opportunities, there was a sense in the group
that both academic and vocational training were important
levers for international collaboration, not just at the
national level but through technology training across the
regions as well as through public data platforms for sharing
digital data.
A key area of challenge that the countries and the
institutions felt was the requirement in an ICT inclusive
world to remember that there would be regular upgrading and
this would mean both time and resources. Both the developed
and Developing Countries because as societies move ahead the
type of ICT that they would need, the areas in which it would
be important would change. So the dynamic setting, not a
static setting that we can review every ten years.
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And finally, the case studies that came out most interesting
was the comparison between what is called big data in the
world today and the idea of small data in our first panel
which talked about measurements, particularly the idea of
microlearning. Measuring process rather than the final
outcome. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Shailaja. Now let me
please invite the Facilitator of the high level panel 3 on the
WSIS action lines and SDGs, moderated by Ms. Karen McCabe.
>> KAREN McCABE: Good afternoon. As mentioned I facilitated
the high level policy session on the WSIS actions in the 2030
Agenda. So a broad mix of discussion on that indeed. We were
pleased to have as our high level speakers representatives of
the U.S., Laos, Mexico and Turkey and a representative from
the oakd.
For the vision, after the multitude of discussion and
tremendous insight provided in our session.
(OECD.)
>> KAREN McCABE: From the 2030 perspective, the digital
economy is and remains a powerful catalyst for growth, and
social inclusion and the SDGs have enabled all sectors of the
countries' economies to flourish. Plooking at it from a fresh
priorities perspective on what might be on the horizon
included open data to create new services and economic growth,
as it can fuel innovation and having stable, regulatory
frameworks which include a friendly platform for investment in
infrastructure so that we can enable new and emerging
technologies that come into the ICT space.
Emerging trends included taking into consideration growing
response from citizens in working in a collaborative
environment between governments and our citizens of the world
where we can potentially crowd source public policies. An
example was an example that was begin was from open data
policy in Mexico which was crowd sourced and based on
thousands of citizens' comments and input.
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For opportunities, we were looking at increased participation
of commercial and noncommercial stakeholders in governments
and cooperative and collaborative two-way exchange and
probably even more than two-way change when we take into
consideration all stakeholders participating now and
participating in the future as our ICT technology and
opportunities grow before us.
A stable, predictable and transparent regulatory framework as
well as suggestions for the U.N. to be more active on security
and trust issues which can be best addressed through a U.N.
Forum and mechanism.
Key challenges included how Least Developed Countries than ka
achieve the SDGs by 2030 given the challenges of the current
digital divide, infrastructure investment and capacity
building and skill development.
For case studies, some were definitely mentioned that could be
leveraged moving forward. We look forward to having more
dialogue around them in the future including increasing online
access to education. An example given by La Oh, and there was
a national dialogue in Mexico to improve conversation between
government and citizens for co-creation of public policy.
Again that whole concept of open collaboration and including
all stakeholders.
So I think that concludes our session and thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much for this brief. Now let us
move to session 4 on inclusiveness, access to information and
knowledge for all. Which was moderated by Klaus Stoll.
>> CLAUS STOLL: Thank you very much. As was mentioned I was
the moderator for session nosh, inclusiveness, access to
information and knowledge to all. And we had a very diverse
group with complains from Algeria, Bangladesh, Costa Rica,
Iran. But also three Civil Society groups, African Civil
Society on Information Society, the 25th century technology
limited and the health alignment programme.
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As you can imagine, in such diverse groups you have a lot of
diverse approaches. But what I tried to do is actually to
find and to describe commonalities. One of the, I found four
which I think is worth mentioning. One of the commonalities
in the speakers was very strong feeling that connectivity
without content is not really connectivity and it is not
something which has to, which makes sense. So a lot of people
really emphasized that if you are talking about connectivity,
we have to also talk about content.
And in that area but also coming on very, very strongly is
locality. Local empowerment, local content, local solutions.
And in that sense also that we are talking of inclusion, but
for example, we are forgetting diversity and languages.
Sometimes we really in the area of forgetting the basics. I
think something that was really refreshing that we came back
to reminding ourselves of the basics.
The conclusion is very obvious but we should mention again
that ICT is basically relevant for all SDGs. There is no,
there is no priority or there is something which is not
relevant to the SDGs, I think ICT has a huge contribution to
all for SDGs and we need to really challenge ourselves to make
use of it.
And last but not least that what I found another commonality
was about awareness and capacity building. This is a basic
necessity for Internet development. It doesn't help us if it
starts with literacy. We need to tackle literacy and then we
can tackle further causes. We have to spend everything from
basic literacy to coding and involvement in high Internet
governance processes. We have to build awareness and we have
to build capacity also because then we are coming to the
question of legitimacy.
What struck me not only in this panel but in a lot of other
panels, I think it is worthwhile mentioning that there was
also a very positive outcome and outlook to a lot of things.
Normally we sit in panels and a lot of people start
complaining. This time there was a lot of people saying okay,
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we are talking. Now let's get it done and we can do it!
Let's get going! I think that is an important message.
Sometimes I fear that ICTs, the time of talking is over and
let's get to work. That brings me to a personal point. I
would like to thank the Excellencys and the Delegations for
their cooperation because Excellencies and, because it was not
easy for them to go forward. I want to thank them as
moderator for that. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Now let's move to bridging the digital divide
moderated by Madam Chinmayi Arun.
>> CHINMAYI ARUN: Thank you. So I was moderating session 5
on bridging the digital divide. We had a diverse representing
USA, Gabon, Japan and as well as representatives of EFIET, the
dot net economic Forum, Euro link France and the ICT alliance.
It was clear from this session that everybody felt that the
digital divide remains a critical issue. And that
contributing factors include problems of infrastructure,
affordability, skills and awareness and relevant content.
People also felt that while people with access to the Internet
shall prospering, the digital gap on both sides of the digital
divide is widening and needs to be addressed rapidly.
The priorities identified in my session included
infrastructure, investment, that is necessary for bridging the
digital divide a transparent regulatory system that doesn't
add to the costs of Internet infrastructure. Utilizing recent
innovations in ICTs to address the digital divide more
effectively. 200 sources, working on skill, capacity building
so users are able to take full advantage of the Internet and
coordination globally and regionally to address this very
critical issue.
Emerging trends identified in the session including private
sector experimentation like Google, Microsoft's Whyte spaces
project and as well as the identification of recent
innovations such as TV Whyte space and solar powered
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environments for high-speed data sharing to help bridge the
digital divide in certain countries.
Opportunities that were identified in the session included
experimentation with different ways to bridge the digital
divide. This could be public sector, private sector or
public-private joint experimentation. Global and regional
coordination to work out how best to leverage resources and to
collaborate to address the issue.
Multistakeholder approach in creating policy frameworks that
would be useful towards this. Local language relevant content
that would pursue aged people to come online and use the
Internet in a useful manner and capacity building to deal with
the social and knowledge component of the digital divide.
Challenges that the speakers identified included investing in
and building the infrastructure especially to connect
physically remote areas, reducing costs that are created by
local regulation and taxes. Creating coherent and new trigger
regulatory frameworks and human resources development and
capacity building.
Great and inspiring examples that came out through this panel
included building communities centers in Ethiopia, building
out broadband infrastructure in Gabon and Japan in particular
is collaborating with various countries in different
experiments that included solar powered environment for high-
speed data sharing in Cambodia, wireless Internet access in
the mountainous regions in Nepal, and wireless broadband
systems that use TV Whyte space in collaboration with
Indonesia and Philippines.
Further, the road ahead. The panel identified the world
economic Forum Internet for all initiative that has identified
four factors around which work can be done to bridge the
digital divide. The panel also mentioned that the G7 has made
a joint commitment to refocusing on connectivity. And the
WSIS plus 10 outcome document contains a strong commitment to
bridging the digital divide. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
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>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much. And the moderator of the
session 6 was unfortunately called by the emergency and he
could not stay with us. But he will be represented by our
colleague who will present the outcomes of the session 6
later. And now it is my pleasure to invite moderator of
session 7, Anriette, who is moderating session 7 on enabling
environment.
>> ANRIETTE ESTERHUYSEN: Thank you. Thank you, Chair and
thank you for the opportunity for us to do this. This session
focused on action line C6 which is enabling environment. And
the panel consisted of high level from South Africa, Maldives,
Zimbabwe, Cote d'Ivoire and senior representatives from the
African telecommunications union and Nokia. Key points.
Enabling environment is cross-cutting. It is the action line
that under pins all the other action lines and integration of
SDGs as we are moving beyond the agenda 2030.
The starting point is that they need to be a clear vision of
how information and communication and ICTs as part of that can
be a driver for economic and social development without this
vision, a strong vision at national level, one that is adopted
by government, and departments of government, effort and to
get buy in from other stakeholders, it is very difficult to
achieve the necessary enabling environment. We need an
approach that goes beyond focusing on telecom infrastructure
and beyond focusing on market regulation. It needs enabling
policies that will strengthen supply, access for all, but also
demand. The ability of institutions and individuals to make
use of that access, to create content, to innovate. And it
also needs an integrated approach to get the level of human
capacity. Good governance. Investment in business
development and reduction and re-limb nation of tariff that
makes devices unaffordable particularly for poor people, but
focusing on this integrated approach to development, with
human capacity really being at the core of it.
It also needs an environment in which human rights are
respected and enforced. And it needs the free flow of
information and particularly the freedom of expression. It
also needs awareness of exclusion, of gender inequality but
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also forms of social exclusion. Enabling policy environment
needs to look at the differences and realities of different
groups of people. And people that live in rural areas. Older
people, people with disability. And this needs to be
reflected in the policy and regulations and the strategies
that are made.
So going forward what should we do more of? Invest in the
integrated approach to an enabling environment. Invest in
development in general. Not just in Information Society
development. There is an inextricable link between
sustainable development and people with inclusive Information
Society development. If it is to achieve access to all, it
should provide predictable environments for operators and
support the petition and encourage the market entrance that
they should also focus on public access. For example, in
libraries or community centers and facilitate community-owned
network infrastructure and solutions. And look at spectrum.
Spectrum regulation both in a predictable way on one hand and
also on the dynamic band.
We need to remember that the WSIS documents are a rich
resource for integration of SDGs. They are practical
proposals in the Geneva plan of action which is all in mind
key ways for that type of information in mind. We should
revisit those and put more emphasis on implementation and
application. And on learning lessons. So enabling
environment needs to be self corrected, self learning. We
need to learn from policies and practices that were not
effective and modify our policies and practices going forward.
We should use Internet governance Forums at national, regional
and local level as a spring board for awareness racing on ICTs
in the ICT sector but also as a platform for learning and
reflecting.
Finally all stakeholders must work together. We need
coordination and we need collaboration and to achieve the
integration that I have been talking about we do all have to
work together at a multistakeholder level, but also at a
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national level between different governments, departments,
between education, agriculture, communications, and finance.
That's it.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much for this. As you all
recall, we are reminded.
(Bell ringing.) by our Facilitators when the speakers are
exceeding the time. Now I take the pleasure also to say our
high level Facilitators will use this means to remind about
the time. So now let me invite Elizabeth Thomas-Raynaud who
was facilitating her high level section on the ICT
applications and services. Thank you very much.
>> ELIZABETH THOMAS-RAYNAUD: Hello. Thank you for the
opportunity to share our session with you. Our session looks
at the role of ICT applications and services, as you've heard.
Our speakers came from governments of Argentina, owe man,
Albania, that I land. And joined experts from Oxford
university, Accenture and systemics to consider how the ICT
services could be implemented in different economies to
promote the sustainable development goals.
The vision articulated by our different speakers included
striving for better communication and leveraging ICTs. The
Secretary General of ITU was quoted in that our underlying
goal would be for a better life for all.
The citizen centered approach to eGovernment was highlighted.
The need for user targeted technology, well designed ICT can
increase inclusiveness such as using icons and audio to
overcome things like the literacy obstacle. Looking at
society as a whole and including all stakeholders.
With regard to opportunities identified, in Albania they set
out abroad band national plan for 2013 to 2020. They are busy
undertaking a number of lome regional projects on health,
education and employment. The government of Thailand shared
unique experience using ICTs to help SDGs to. They see this
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work as important in developing an economy strategy that will
increase Thai exports.
We heard how the availability of open data will lead to a
revolution in services and we were alerted that we need to be
prepared for this. The investment opportunity of ICT use for
improving life of citizens, for example in preventing road
accidents, can lead to lives saved, injuries avoided as well
as a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions.
Regarding challenges we heard from Argentina that efforts in
their ministry of modernization are being focused on bringing
the citizen into the center of government services. So along
the servant leadership style that Arturo was speaking about.
These services could be used to improve governments
relationships with their citizens.
We heard from our European speakers about the importance of
putting in place measures to facilitate a digital single
market. In that I land challenges were spoken about eCommerce
still being under developed with very few using secure online
payments and challenges of rural engagement from SMEs as an
ongoing challenge that the government is currently working to
overcome (correction Thailand.) they raised the issue of local
language as a challenge given the limited content and they are
trying to address this in Thailand.
We heard that ICT development is indeed important, but
services, whether they be health, banking, mobile payments,
all rely on the proper functioning of networks and that must
not be forgotten.
With regard to the WSIS action lines and sustainable
development goals, Albania highlighted the importance of
leveraging ICT for education as a means for them to address
the digital divide. In Argentina, the mandate of the ministry
of modernization is very much aligned with the eGovernment
action line. And we heard that every single country has
achievement gaps to overcome in striving for sustainable
development goals.
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From a recent report on this, assessing the impact of ICT and
sustainable goals we heard highlights that digital will be
indispensable for the sustainable development goals. They
evaluate that ICT can actually help deliver the quality 40
years earlier than otherwise. They also identify that ICT can
help reach 50 percent of the 169 targets that are listed under
the 17 sustainable development goals.
We benefited from hearing about some case studies. In owe man
they have an ambitious initiative where they fill 20 community
knowledge centers and ten of these are dedicated to women.
They made PCs available to those who can't afford it or who
have disabilities. They have youth in their focus. They are
giving them a platform to establish their own businesses.
This is an effort on their, with their SME strategy to fight
unemployment and to give young people the right platform in
partnership with universities. They also spoke about an
important programme they have called invest easy where they
are helping business and facilitating trade and providing 61
services online and they have a framework to establish
business in less than two minutes. For the road ahead ICT
applications and services have an extremely important role to
play in paving the road ahead towards the 2030 Agenda. We
heard that sharing is important. By sharing and including key
stakeholders success can be achieved. Again we heard very
positive and encouraging messages as Klaus was explaining
before. Owe man shared its view that a successful strategy
for projects involved three key elements. Leadership,
integrated platforms, getting away from silos, a silo approach
to working and having the right technology partners. Again
there was a reinforcement that the quality of the network and
its availability would be crucial and that it has this
important impact on the economy, the industrial economy, now
being replaced by the digital economy.
And designing ICT and services to meet the needs of citizens
and factor limitations due to language, literacy, remote or
basic network access. These efforts can bridge the digital
divide rather than increase it. And finally, all countries
must rise to the challenge to meet these goals, but the
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digital development provides an opportunity to leverage ICT
applications and services to reduce the time that it will take
us to get there.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much. And now let's move to the
next session, session 9 on the WSIS and SDGs. One more
reminder that the time is really very short. But I believe
that we will be on time. Thank you.
(Laughter.)
>> NIGEL HICKSON: Good afternoon, Secretary General, Mr.
Chairman, Ambassador, your emplanes, ladies and gentlemen, it
gives me great pleasurer to stand here and make a long
statement. Oh, no, that's the wrong speech! I won't do that.
No, it has been a pleasure to be a high level Facilitator. I
didn't know what one was, but I do now.
So I had the pleasure of facilitating session 9 on WSIS action
lines and the 230 sustainable agenda, financing for
development and the role of ICTs.
And we had an excellent session. And the reason we had an
excellent session is that we had a number of ministers and
experts that were totally committed to being able to look at
the real importance of developing ICTs in their country for
the whole issue and for the whole mission and for the whole
objective of implementing sustainable development goals.
We were fortunate to have the minister for Georgia, for
Paraguay, minister for the State of Palestine, minister for
Sudan and the permanent representative Ambassador for Uruguay,
experts from just net coalition and ECMidici framework for
exoorption.
As I said, Mr. Chairman, it was a very good session and the
key point that came out of this session -- I'm not going to
quote action lines. I'm not going to quote SDGs, but the key
point that came out of this session was the virtuous circle
that we have in this respect. As we use ICTs, as a take-up of
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 19
ICTs is accelerated in Developing Countries, in particular,
but in itself reduces the digital divide and that in itself in
a symbiotic way enhances our ability to meet the targets of
the sustainable development goals. So the key issue amongst
the panel was on the acceleration of the use of ICTs. Here,
of course, many development countries had many different
challenges. Many countries have gone about it in a different
way, but I think in our panel we found a common thread to
this. A common thread on the need to accelerate the take-up
of ICTs through education, through the delivery of public
services, to the public and also to the business, in
respecting cultural norms, in promoting the development of
local content. These were some of the issues that were
raised. These were some of the experiences that the ministers
talked about.
And it is much more, as the minister said, than access. It is
a cultural environment. It is taking the ability to implement
ICTs in a holistic manner. Of course they identified
challenges. They identified challenges of cybersecurity.
They identified challenges of complex and difficult
regulations. Especially regulations that perhaps were imposed
on them in Developing Countries from other countries. They
recognised the difficulties of cybersecurity, of data
protection. And of bad content in general. All the ministers
were determined to work on these issues to find solutions.
And there were some great examples in the different countries
on the progress that had been made in terms of updating the
infrastructure, in terms of moving forward with public
services, as I said, in reducing poverty through the
implementation of ICTs.
So what is the vision for the future? I mean, the will panel
we had an hour where we expected to come up with a vision for
the future. Well, we identified certain aspects of the vision
for the future. And I think part of this is cemented here in
this WSIS Forum. The ability for us all to come together here
at this WSIS Forum to hear what we are doing collectively in
our countries,tor learn from one another,tor learn about our
progress. To learn about our successes, to learn about our
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 20
failures. To talk about what the ITU, what UNTAD is doing,
what the IGF is doing and other bodies are doing to try to
facilitate the take-up of ICTs in a holistic manner.
I think we had an excellent discussion and thank you very much
indeed for the opportunity to moderate it. Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much for the brief. And it is
my great pleasure to introduce Madam Marilyn Cade who was
moderating the session on digital economy and trade.
>> MARILYN CADE: Thank you, Secretary General, Chairman,
Ambassador, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It is also my
pleasure to join you to give a short brief on the section 10,
digital economy and trade. We were welcomed. Malcolm
Johnson, the deputy Secretary General and Ambassador Sepulveda
to join us. We had four countries that came together to
present expert opinions. With he were joined by Indonesia,
Iran, Sri Lanka, and by the United Kingdom.
The vision that became very, very clear is that the digital
economy and trade are in fact essential for all, for the
success of all of the SDGs because we clearly cannot solve the
poverty or food problem or other problems unless we also are
engaged in embracing the digitization of the economy and the
complete integration of digitization that is transforming the
world today, but is even going to accelerate. The second
thing I would say about the vision is that achieving the SDGs
and the 2030 Agenda was viewed as a very common goal. There
was an expression of positivism and commitment that I found
extremely exciting and look forward to seeing actualized as we
go forward.
There was acknowledgment that ICTs can be used to enable
better lives, both socially at the civic level but also
economically. And that the digital economy and the benefits
of the digital economy and digitalization are not limited just
to the business world or to the delivery of government
services but also to improving the work that NGOs and civic
life itself.
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 21
As a fresh priority I would emphasize that adapting to the
digital economy was viewed as being required for all citizens
in their personal lives and in their work, and it was
recognised that this will take an accelerated focus on
understanding how to help people build digital skills and how
to adapt themselves to the very fast pace of the
transformation -- the transformative role of technology while
human behavior moves and human acceptance of change moves at a
much slower pace.
In emerging trends we saw a reflection of the increased
engagement of citizens in affecting the design of services
both from the government and also from businesses and the
strong cooperation across stakeholders in working with
governments at all levels and multiple agencies, not in a
single ministry or in a vertical way but across all agencies
to help to design how their government is able to adapt to and
exceed their goals in adapting to the digital economy.
We also heard about the creation of new kind of work and
opportunities that prevent new kinds of work opportunities for
both unemployed youth population but also remotely
distributed, even individual entrepreneurs who are very far
away from a particular urban area but can be brought together
with work opportunities through embracing the role of the
digital economy.
On key challenges we did acknowledge that in the pervasive
digitized world there is the risk of new digital divides.
That capacity building and skills and enhanced infrastructure
access are absolutely essential. We heard several country
examples. They are in the report so I won't reference them
but note that several examples were mentioned by the
governments.
Finally on the road ahead a couple points that I would like to
make. We talked about the opportunity to continue to talk
about these challenges, the integration of the SDGs, and
acknowledge the role of the CSTD, the commission on science
and technology for development, which will be the next -- will
be meeting next week and it will be interesting to see how the
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 22
WSIS follow-up and the SDGs and the integration of that work
is taken up at CSTD. We talked about the opportunity and
importance of continue willing to talk about these issues and
the integration of the SDGs at the Internet Governance Forum
in Mexico in December and also to try to encourage the
national IGFs of which there are now about 43, to also take
these issues up.
Finally, the question from the audience, there was an
acknowledgment mailed of the G7 statements made recently and
also a reference to the importance of business engaging in
helping to address the risky parts of the changes and use of
technology as well as the opportunities.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Now let's move to session
11 on bridging the digital divide by Greg Shannon, facilitated
by Greg Shannon.
>> GREG SHANNON: Thank you. It is an honor here. I had the
honor of moderating one of the three sessions on bridging
digital divides. Theetion are real stories of success. We
heard from representatives from Cyprus, Maurice should say,
Zambia, economic and Microsoft, and E world or E worldwide
group and USA.
Last year the SDG matrix linking WSIS action items with SDG
weds. The word access occurred 257 times. Access is a key
component of the digital divide. Speakers agreed that
relevant content and effective use are essential for
meaningful access. The eliminating those gaps are essential
to achieving all of the SDG weds and all of WSIS action lines.
The digital divides are varied. This session showed that
digital divides in access to content are narrowing due to
innovation in public policies, governance, and technology. To
touch on a few items, a few cases here in the participants, in
Cyprus they have achieved 96 percent broadband access. In
Mauritius they use post Os as wifi hot spots to reach remote
communities especially those with limited economic capacity.
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 23
Use of universal access funds in Vietnam and Zambia provide
access to remote communities and financially challenged users.
Use of under utilized TV broadband bandwidth by Microsoft in
Africa is reaching remote locations. And Asia training mid
level civil servants about ICT policy and governance has
helped engender broader adoption of ICTs. And use of
application development competitions to empower communities as
active ICT ciewmples, not just passive, by (indiscernible) con
has been a success. The road ahead is that relevant content,
effective users, effective use are key challenges for emerging
as access issues are addressed. And innovation is the
solution to bridging digital divides and the bridging of those
divides will also improve innovation. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much for the brief and now let's
move to the dynamic environment including sib are security
climate change moderated by Anna Slomovic. I ask the
Facilitators to be short because we are running out of time
and request the interpretation to extend the time by 15
minutes. Thank you very much for your understanding.
>> ANNA SLOMOVIC: Thank you. Session 12 addressed action
line C5, building confidence and security in the use of ICTs,
action line C6, enabling environment and SDG 13, action on
client change.
The session had a diverse panel that included Delegates from
four continents representing governments, intergovernmental
organisations, NGOs and the private sector.
The participants expressed the vision in which client change
would not be a sole responsibility of -- climate change would
not be the responsibility of governments. ICTs would support
the fight against poverties. ICTs can be used to bridge the
digital device an a multishoulder approach can assure that
resources are sustainable and available for generations to
come.
The will panel identified sever priorities in using ICTs for
development. These included creating incentives for ICT
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 24
operators to provide services outside urban areas, improving
and maintaining trust in the use of ICTs through the creation
of appropriate regulatory framework, for protecting security
of networks and users, as well as through training of ICT
professionals to build in human rights by design.
Participants identified several opportunities, such as new
legislative and regulatory frameworks during barriers to ICT
development and deployment, using partnerships and economic
development money to deploy fiber on a large scale. Improving
data center environmental resilience and energy efficiency by
taking advantage of new green technologies, and creating
mentorship programmes and toolkits for training ICT workforce
to go account for different approaches in different countries.
Of course, there are challenges. African countries with large
territories require significant investments in order to deploy
sufficient fiber to cover the land area. Telecoms operators
need proper incentives to operate infrastructure particularly
outside cities. There is a need to encourage positive uses of
the Internet while restraining harmful and illegal uses.
There needs to be greater capacity and diversity in the ICT
workforce as well as greater professionalism in the workforce.
Lack of trust in ICTs slow down development and reduces
economic benefits. And issues liken cription are complex and
lack super framing and simple solutions.
Nevertheless, participants mentioned several examples of
success. The session presented a way forward in which
governments work in partnership with all stakeholders to
maximize uses of ICTs and this work is done in a
multistakeholder manner to assure sustainability of resources
and improve quality of life. Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much. And now let me invite Dr.
Cisse Kane, who was Chairing the session on bridging the
digital divide.
And we have request for keeping the time short.
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 25
>> CISSE KANE: Thank you, Honorable Secretary General,
Ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, I had the honor to moderate
the session 13 on bridging the digital divide. With
representatives from Guinea, India, and Internet Society. So
the vision was on how to complement digital divide by putting,
by giving -- getting on board people who do not speak
languages of the computer. So this was the core vision.
Taking into account local languages and local cultures so that
we can allow them to be on bowrtd having to be at school, for
example, because some of these people cannot go at school at
all. It is too late for them. Integrating local contents and
they can be helped. This was the local vision. Fresh
priorities and not only business models but also try to take
into account these local cultures and also try to help to get
people concerned about the issues. Not only use fellow,
follow the business model which is, for example, there is lots
of gadgets, lots of fun on it, but concentrate on the
education, for example, and realities and priorities of the
population.
So that they are concerned. And if you allow them to speak
their own language it will help.
About the emerging trends, we noted the software in local
language, like, for example, in India. Also networking events
organised by ISOC in some African countries.
About opportunities, we noticed that some countries like in
Africa the market is really, potential of growth is very high
because Internet access is very low. We have a big potential
there. Cultures and local contents is a huge market for the
business, for example.
And under the key challenges was really about finance because
one of the big challenge of the WSIS process is finance,
access to finance, infrastructure, especially in the
Developing Countries. And also nurture the system by helping
technical skills in emerging and Developing Countries. Also
foster inclusion in rural areas and quality of service. About
examples, we had very good examples from Guinea developing a
national plan and also trying to computerize all Guinean
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 26
schools. We also had the networking issue developed by ISOC,
and also the best example was also from India who has very big
investment in access plan, recently developed IXPs in all
Indian countries. And also developing lots of local contents.
The road ahead is really about increasing investment and
infrastructure. The other big issue is how to capture more
resources from the business and from the telecom sector to
invest in infrastructure and also to invest on social aspects
of the digital divide. Means, for example, local languages,
for example computerized schools, for example train and
technical skills.
And also maybe help in developing digital literacy. So I was
really pleased to moderate. It was an honor for me. I
congratulate the organizers for having set up this format.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Now let us move to the
session on SDGs which was moderated by Iffat Gill.
>> IFFAT GILL: Iffat Gill reporting on action ryans and the,
financing and the role of ICTs.
We had panelists from Azerbaijan, that anybody I can't,
Portugal, and Tunisia I can't and the vision that came out of
our very interactive session was, number one, zero poverty.
And number two, knowledge is being the powerful catalyst for
up take of ICTs and knowledge being the key to uplift
underserved communities from poverty. Ensuring ICTs for all.
And in Developed Countries need to support Developing
Countries to reach their goals of implementing and financing
ICTs for development. Inclusion of under represented groups,
especially women. Being at the heart of implementing and
financing development through ICTs.
Fresh priorities. Making knowledge and its availability at
the heart of financing ICTs for development. Up take of
broadband and implementation strategies. Digital schools for
inclusion for next generation of leaders, the importance of
SMEs and startups by governments. Role of international best
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 27
practices to accelerate progress. And high cost of
connectivity that contribute to the up take of broadband.
Emerging trends that came out of our session, the role of ICT
being a tool for nurturing development and meet of goals of
WSIS action lines and 2030 agenda and things like WSIS Forum
and IGF Forum for inclusive strategies for ICT development.
Opportunities that came out of the session, sharing knowledge
and learning from the best practices in both.Ed and Developing
Countries. Following progress of countries that are involved
in WSIS Forums and Internet governance Forums and looking how
the impact of progress is affecting the countries involved in
it. Facilitating development of Least Developed Countries on
ICTs, such as broadband and public access.
One of the key challenges that came out was the training, or
digital know how, the skills step and aligning them to the
needs of the local community to access knowledge. Case
examples that came out of our session was we heard story of
the national strk plan of Tunisia to develop ICTs, and the
concept of digital schools for children in Indonesia. We
heard how Azerbaijan is financing small and medium startups
and also the impact of hosting Internet governance Forum in
Baku Azerbaijan and how it impacted on shaping p and
implementing policies for ICT development in their country.
We also heard from Argentina and how the Argentinan commit
government commitment, set up a new ministry of communication
in Argentina, only four months old. The road ahead. Working
towards ICT for all, inclusion of all groups in representative
-- under represented communities. Regional and global
cooperation to enable access to all. ICT as a tool for
implementing development and bridging the digital skills gap
by training capacity building of the skilled labor, of the
labor to make use of the ICTs to improve life and eliminate
poverty. Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much. And now we are on to the
last briefing. Last briefing will be done by Madam Lori
Schulman and this session will be on diverse, media, cultural
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 28
diversity, heritage, as well as ethical society and knowledge
societies. Ms. Schulman.
>> LORI SCHULMAN: Good afternoon, Your Excellency,
Ambassador, Your Excellencies and colleagues, we are last but
not least, I would say that the keyword that came out of this
session is cyber optimism. This is a very lively and engaging
session on what NGOs are doing to empower communities to
create local content and to create points of accessibility for
all. Three of our panelists represented organisations who won
the 2016 WSIS prizes. They highlighted their initiatives
which are empowering communities through creating local
content and perennial websites, promoting literacy, expanding
the boundaries of technology through virtual reality and
providing opportunities for youth and women in developing
economies. There were three women on the panel including
myself as moderator and vice secretary Johnson sat in the
meeting in place of secretary shale.
We identified that local content is key to connectivity and
accessibility. It is no longer a side bar issue. Also it is
important that sophisticated users continue to share knowledge
with new users of ICTs. It is also important to note we are
using technology that is typically associated with
entertainment for educational, health, and creative arts
applications.
There are many opportunities here to share what has already
been learned from programmes like the WSIS Forum and to reach
out to small and emerging businesses and to encourage them to
participate as representatives of the private sector at WSIS
and other Forums.
There are many challenges identified. Some of the key
challenges were how to provide access for users with
disabilities. How do we keep up with the pace of
technological growth? How do we open up the multistakeholder
model begin challenges with language, funding, use of strip
specific jargon. And digital amnesia. We have to transmit
knowledge and preserve it for future generations. All of the
work of our panelists are linked to the SDGs, specifically
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 29
nine of the 17 sph-r SDGs are being addressed through their
work. Some of the examples are the cyber volunteers and
Podera live programme where sophisticated users are teaching
new users. Bridge Africa is creating websites in means of
trade using laptops and phones, Bangladesh, communication is
empower youth and women buy producing local content using
radio and telephone technology.
Where does the road lie ahead? The road ahead is exciting, as
there is a growing awareness of the power of ICTs to bridge
divides and language, culture, and gender equality. While
ICTs are clear economic drivers, the social aspects are
equally important as we advance ICT usage through the creation
of local content, making ICTs relatable to all users, whether
male or female, young or old, urban or rural or whatever
language they speak.
The next steps include working more in local context,
fostering digital literacy and creating a global Internet
citizenry. The programmes of the types described by our
panelists should be supported and expanded wherever possible.
There was a suggestion to include community Brad casters and
academics at next year's WSIS in order to continue evolving
the multistakeholder process. Thank you.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Dear ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much.
Thank you to the high level track Facilitators and for all the
efforts. Let's applaud them with one round of applaud for all
efforts and for strengthening the multistakeholder engagement
character of the WSIS Forum. And now we arrive to the
concluding part and the final statements by the Ambassadors
Sepulveda and His Excellency the floor is yours.
>> DANIEL SEPULVEDA: Thank you. I want to thank all of you
for participating. So you know the, all of your statements,
as well as your photographs will be on the Internet, the WSIS
Forum high level policy statements page so that we can all
show back home the work that we did. I want to thank our
expert Facilitators for their success in making this a truly
interactive and dynamic Forum.
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 30
What struck me most about the conversations had at the policy
sessions was the positive tone of the discussions. What this
Forum highlighted is that we really are in this all together.
We are all trying to collectively bridge the digital divide,
create enabling environments, and understand how to use the
WSIS framework to achieve the SDGs. Consistent with the U.N.
General Assembly recognition last year, this forel has proven
itself a valuable platform for fult stakeholder discourse and
exchange. I was honored to Chair it. On behalf of my nation
and WSIS organizers we thank you and appreciate you. Thank
you very much.
(Applause.)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Ambassador for this
statement. Now it is my pleasure to invite the Secretary
General of the International Telecommunication Union to
provide some remarks but also to perform the ceremony.
>> Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we are
coming the close of the high level Forum session. I would
like to share the opinions and appreciation from our Chairman,
Ambassador Sepulveda, for all the work done by our
Facilitators and also the participation of all of you to this
very importance stanlt meeting. Time is very short. We have
so many sessions here and so many excellent private sector
participants. The topics are very rich and we don't have
enough time. Anyhow, we managed to conclude this high level
sessions by now and I would like to really express my
appreciation to all of you.
I don't want to take too much of your time. However, I would
like to identify one of you, individuals, our Ambassador
Daniel Sepulveda, for his excellent inspiration to the work of
WSIS. Ambassador was the leader for your dedication to the
whole WSIS review last year and he made a tremendous effort to
mobilize resources and mobilize stakeholders to support the
efforts for the WSIS Forum. We do appreciate your
contributions. So this is a small token of our appreciation
for your wonderful contributions to the WSIS Forum. Thank
you.
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2016/Agenda/Session/212 31
(Applause.)
>> HOULIN ZHAO: Another tradition, this is the medal we all
wore on distinguished individuals. And this may be your last
time to come to activities out near ... (Speaker away from
microphone.) we would like to congratulate you for all of the
distinguished efforts (Speaker away from microphone.) we
appreciate very much your support of the ITU. Thank you.
(Applause.) may I like to be invite you, we like to have a
group photo with all Facilitators. We don't have much
opportunities to have them here with us. We would like to
invite all of you to come here for the photo and together with
our Chairman of the Forum, Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda.
>> MODERATOR: Maybe in the front?
(The session.
>> INTERPRETER: The interpreters would like to kindly inform
you that interpretation would cease at this point. Thank you
very much.
(The session concluded.)
(CART provider signing off.)
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