World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023; May 17th.

FORUM: ‘‘Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies.’’ World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023. The focus of this year is to raise awareness about ICT’s for the least developed countries. The ITU calls on the public and private sectors to address a pledge for universal connectivity and digital transformation in these countries through its Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. In line with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition fosters meaningful connectivity and digital transformation globally, with a focus on but not limited to hardest- to-connect communities in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Mid-way through the agenda to fulfil the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, those countries face daunting challenges. Please share your pledges, success stories, good practices, solutions, publications, and policies designed to meet present and future challenges of LDCs. Follow the conversations wih the hashtags #wtisd, #17May, #InformationSocietyDay, #TelecommunicationDay, #DigitalTransformation and #MeaningfulConnectivty.

EVENT: The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023 will be observed on May 17th at ITU in Geneva. The Fifth Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, Qatar, has set out an ambitious new United Nations programme of action to deliver on sustainable development for all by 2030. A high-level panel to mark the day will start at 14:30 (CEST). The WTISD 2023’s theme is a unique opportunity to showcase the work ITU does, together with its members and partners, to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Learn about the Partners to Connect Coalition (P2C) session during the observance.

Check out the programme and Register here to participate to the WTISD-23 and join us on this important day as we discuss the digital progress of #LDCs through three mini panels focused on #access, #affordability and #DigitalSkills. Together, let's shape our #DigitalFutureForAll.


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Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023, May 17th. 

On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, we highlight the power of technology to advance sustainable development in Least Developed Countries. The digital revolution is a defining force of our era. The opportunities are tremendous: from transforming education and health care, to accelerating climate action and the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals. But to realize the promise of technology, we must confront its perils: The lack of ethical guardrails and robust governance frameworks. The proliferation of hate speech and disinformation. The amplification of social divides and economic inequalities. And the risks posed by Artificial Intelligence, from deep fakes to biased decisions by neural networks that no human can fully explain. Technology must be an instrument to reduce divides – not deepen them. As the internet becomes ever more central to value creation and innovation, Least Developed Countries risk falling further behind. We must dramatically improve accessibility and inclusivity and eliminate the digital divide. We must support the creation of digital public goods: open-source software, open data, and open content. We must invest in the capacities of public institutions so that they have the skills and resources to understand, oversee, shape, and engage with Artificial Intelligence and other transformative technologies. And we must come together around a Global Digital Compact – to avoid fragmentation, safeguard human rights, and ensure technology is a force for human wellbeing, solidarity, and progress. I commend the International Telecommunication Union for working to accelerate global connectivity for all by 2030. Let us all do our part in closing the digital divide and securing a more equitable and sustainable future everywhere.

 United Nations Secretary-General.

OTHER STATEMENTS
Tomorrow is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day and also ITU's birthday! This year's theme is empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies. ITU Secreatry-General on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2023.

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