Mr President of the World Summit on
the Information Society,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
For UNESCO, the
key issues facing this World Summit are not only, or even mainly, about
bridging the technological divide. More fundamentally, it is about overcoming a
new knowledge divide, which looms ever-wider as we see how knowledge is fast
becoming the driving force of economic change and social development. This is
why UNESCO has been promoting the concept of knowledge societies, which puts
emphasis on empowering human beings to use and transform information in
creative, productive and innovative ways. To this end, we must reflect on how
we can build societies in which both digital and knowledge opportunities can
flourish.
We are convinced
that four key principles underpin such an endeavour: freedom of expression;
equal access to education; universal access to information, including a strong
public domain of information; and the preservation and promotion of cultural
diversity, including multilingualism.
As the
coordinator of the global drive towards Education for All (EFA), UNESCO insists
that education is the key factor for building capacities to use and benefit
from the new technologies. Greater progress in education requires more
investment, greater quality, the creation of open and flexible educational
systems accessible by everyone, and the utilization of ICT-based tools and
methods that enhance learning opportunities. I can assure you that UNESCO is
already addressing these issues in practical ways and will reinforce its action
in the follow-up to this Summit.
Fostering and
respecting cultural diversity, including linguistic diversity, is one of the
fundamental principles of the information society. The UNESCO Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001) is a key reference point in this
regard. Debates about content and
language on the Internet are just one expression of the growing global concern
about this issue.
Universal access
to information and knowledge is central to inclusive knowledge societies. Let
me again stress that the technological aspects are crucial – without
connectivity, there is no access. But we must not neglect the “infostructural”
elements in the form of community centres, schools, libraries and archives as
public access points, or the crucial importance of a strong public domain of
information. Inclusiveness also must extend to women and youth as well as local
groups and indigenous communities whose enormously valuable knowledge must be
preserved and protected.
Naturally, UNESCO
is greatly heartened by the draft Declaration’s a clear and unambiguous
statement concerning freedom of expression. We believe that it does not make
any sense to speak about an information society, not to mention knowledge
societies, without free and unhindered access to information and knowledge in
all forms and in all media. This principle, recognized in the first Article of
UNESCO’s Constitution and soon afterwards enshrined in Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is, quite simply, fundamental.
These four
principles are integrally linked and mutually supportive. Their incorporation
in the Summit’s final Declaration is sending a strong signal about the intent
and political will to create knowledge societies which will give central
importance to human creativity, cultural diversity and freedom in all its
forms.
I am pleased that
they are also reflected in the draft Plan of Action, in whose implementation
UNESCO can and should play a leading role in line with its mandate, experience
and expertise.
This leads me to
my final point, namely, the practical tasks of implementation in the follow-up
leading to the second phase of the Summit and beyond. For example, it is one
thing to ensure a proper reference to freedom of expression in the key Summit
documents; it is quite another to bring about the actual enjoyment of that
basic principle of human freedom in all societies.
To sum up, there
is much work still to be done and UNESCO, for its part, is as committed as ever
to this task.
