The report of the Broadband Commission of the United Nations (UN) for Sustainable Development, states that about half a billion children worldwide did not have internet at home during the height of the pandemic.
Commissioners from the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development defended the need for innovative financing mechanisms, impactful partnerships, bold decision-making and holistic approaches to developing capacity and content to make the best use of broadband Internet.
"Thanks to the Commission's efforts over the past ten years, we have been able to establish a vision of Internet connectivity as a global common good“Said Audrey Azoulay, UN Director-General for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) and Co-Vice President of the Commission.
She stressed that the ongoing pandemic “reminded us how inequalities are amplified by unequal access and the dominance of digital technology. This is especially true for educational inequalities. Of the 1,5 billion students who were unable to attend school at the height of the crisis last year, about 46% lived in homes without access to the Internet. ”
Commission co-chairman, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, said: “As professional and school life increasingly migrates to the internet, the contrast between who has and who doesn't have is even more striking. Now is the time to create new partnerships for broadband universality and expand the investments needed to guarantee digital heritage. ”
The commissioners discussed various forms of digital disparity, including Internet access, accessibility, literacy and the relative lack of content in local languages. By demanding personalized digital solutions and services to meet the needs of users, communities and businesses, they have noted that digital access and skills are essential to bring people, communities, businesses and classrooms online and to ensure that everyone can benefit equally. digital opportunities and services.
Gathered at the annual spring session of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, more than 50 commissioners, comprising government leaders, heads of international organizations and private companies, civil society and academia, discussed how to leverage digital cooperation to build a COVID's inclusive digital future post-work for all, amid stark inequalities in access to connectivity.
