WSIS Forum Geneva, 4 May 2016
Concept Note
UNESCO Session on SDG 16: Promoting peaceful and inclusive [knowledge] societies
While the SDG 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, this session will explore how technologies used from different Action Line perspectives can both advance and slow down the achievement of this goal. Future Knowledge Societies will need to cope with considerable socio-economic and cultural transformations coming from the uses of ‘new technologies’, such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, robots, ubiquitous connectivity, new social media, digital identities and platforms, and undecipherable algorithms. These technologies will transform many aspects of our lives.
The concept of inclusive knowledge societies offers, however, key elements to meet some of the SDG 16 targets and to address socio-cultural challenges and aspirations emerging from the new technologies, called in Davos 2016 the “4th industrial revolution”. This session has been jointly prepared by WSIS Action Line Facilitators covering media, cultural diversity and ethics (AL C8,9,10), addressing jointly from their different perspectives key SDG 16 challenges and targets.
The Session has four parts:
A. Introduction: Two high-level speakers will set the scene and show the link between current and future ICT developments, knowledge societies and the SDG 16 - also pointing out some key challenges.
B. The first roundtable: Fighting youth radicalization and preventing violent extremism on the Internet. We will first share what we know today about youth radicalization on and through the Internet. We will also discuss experiences on how, for example, the power of social media can be harnessed to mobilize young people to develop new narratives in response to the propagation of messages of hatred and attacks against cultural diversity, and to foster dialogue, mutual understanding and a culture of peace. Questions to be addressed include: How are digital technologies shaping the fight against radicalization and the prevention of violent extremism? Which policies and strategies should be in place, including to strengthen a shared sense of belonging through digital technologies?
C. The second roundtable will ask: What are the key enablers of peaceful and inclusive knowledge societies? Protecting fundamental freedoms and promoting diversity of cultural expression are important factors. The ways in which people acquire and transmit knowledge for sustainable development are closely linked to their geographical, historical, cultural and linguistic context. Knowledge societies, and development and educational strategies, that take culture and human rights into account are likely more effective in endowing citizens with skills to meet 21st century challenges. Access and full and equal participation of all people in cultural life is essential to fostering social cohesion and building a better future.
Examples will show how culture with ICTs can generate dialogue, promote artistic expression, strengthen civil society and foster economic and social development. Freedom of expression is key for articulating divergent views, ensuring transparency, identifying challenges and finding solutions. It becomes even more important as the channels for expression, such as social media, diversify and multiply. Challenges will also be discussed, for example, the dominance of content in about 10 of some 6700 existing languages on the Internet.
D. Match-making session: Several concrete projects will be presented and opportunities for joint action will be explored. Participants will have the opportunity to briefly present their projects related to the above domains and invite others to join. Opportunities for cooperation will be explored for:
a. Fighting youth radicalization and preventing violent extremism on the Internet
b. Promoting multilingualism: The World Atlas on endangered languages
c. Mobilizing youth to take action for the safeguarding of heritage under threat and to generate new narratives promoting cultural diversity through digital technologies (“Educational Programmes on Heritage and Creativity” and “Unite4Heritage campaign”)