International Cooperation, National Action Can Spur Digital Transformation, Delegates Hear, as Second Committee Takes Up Information Technology
Members also Debate Globalization, Interdependence, Focus on Migration Compact
Globalization must go hand in hand with increased cooperation in science and technology, United Nations experts and delegates told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today as it took up information and communications technologies (ICT) for sustainable development as well as globalization and interdependence.
Shantanu Mukherjee, Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presenting the Secretary-General’s report on a New International Economic Order (document A/77/214), stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and growing climate crisis have slowed economic growth, increased uncertainty and exacerbated development and technological divides between developed and developing countries.
Sharing that the report explained how international cooperation and national action can harness the full potential of digital transformation and rapid advances in science, technology and innovation, he emphasized that international cooperation focused on technology transfer, capacity-building and financing could help developing countries to “leapfrog” the adaptation of low-carbon technologies and close the digital divide.
To that end, he continued, United Nations mechanisms and processes can drive the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through inclusive partnerships. He underscored that concerted action is needed to overcome the pandemic, support inclusive digital and climate transitions, address financing gaps, resolve unsustainable debt situations and strengthen the international trading system’s resilience.
On ICT, the representative of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, pointed out that some 2.9 billion people remain offline, 96 per cent of whom live in developing countries. He emphasized that factors behind the digital divide — infrastructure, high cost of digital equipment, lack of digital skills and literacy — must be tackled with investments in digital infrastructure, technology transfer and capacity-building.
The representative of Burkina Faso hailed the spectacular progress made in the digital field, while also stressing the persistence of the digital divide, which should be corrected before 2025. While the proportion of households with access to the Internet increased from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to 13 per cent in 2019, he stressed that a serious security crisis in his country continues to block millions of people access to wired and mobile networks.
On the national level, the representative of Togo shared that his country has digitized its public services portal, providing an interface where people can carry out various administrative processes online using a single account. While noting that Africa offers a multitude of opportunities through the use of ICTs, he stressed that their use engenders risks that call for protection of youths and strengthened cybersecurity.
Turning to globalization and interdependence, the representative of Portugal, speaking on behalf of the 33 “champion countries” for the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration, stressed that as the world was reeling from the socioeconomic downturn caused by COVID-19, millions of migrants on the frontlines rose to the challenge of being truly “essential workers”. She further highlighted the need for efforts to facilitate mutual recognition of formally and informally acquired skills and competencies acquired by migrants.
The representative of El Salvador, commending the positive contributions of migrants in countries of origin, transit and destination, pointed out that her country has always defended their rights, without discrimination. Further stating that migration should be a choice and not an obligation, she emphasized that her Government has prioritized the allocation of resources to promote socioeconomic opportunities aimed at preventing irregular migration.
On a similar note, the representative of Mexico expressed that her country would join the pledge to create incentives to reduce the cost of remittances for migrants. She also stressed the importance of implementing protection measures towards refugees including ensuring their physical integrity as well as combating racism and xenophobia.
Reports were also presented by Director of the Division on Technology and Logistics, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs; and Chief of the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Also speaking were representatives of Singapore (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Nigeria (on behalf of the African Group), Botswana (speaking on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries), Malawi (speaking on behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries), Singapore, Bangladesh, Armenia, Nigeria, Mongolia, South Africa, Indonesia, Belarus, Cuba, Ethiopia, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Russian Federation, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cameroon, Bahrain and Oman. The Permanent Observer for the Holy See also made a statement.
Representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also spoke.
The representatives of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan also spoke in exercise of the right of reply.
Before taking up ICT for sustainable development as well as globalization and interdependence, the Committee concluded its general debate which had begun on 3 October. Its speakers were representatives from Guinea, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Türkiye and Venezuela. The Permanent Observer for the Holy See and the representative of the International Renewable Energy Agency also made a statement.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 10 October, to take up sustainable development.
General Debate
ALASSANE CONTE (Guinea), associating himself with the “Group of 77” and China and the African Group, shared that his country’s population saw an improvement in its conditions in the past decade, with average life expectancy extending by 2-3 years. Working with the United Nations system, he added, his country finalized its joint programme of work for 2022 with a budget including measures targeted at capacity-building for institutional governance, social cohesion, food security and access to basic social services. He further highlighted that efforts have been undertaken in his country to combat corruption through account freezes and legal actions.
SERGE PAMPHILE MEZANG AKAMBA (Cameroon), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said the international community failed in fulfilling the commitment on 0.70 per cent of gross national income target for official development assistance (ODA) which should have been achieved 47 years ago. “We need money”, he stressed — whether it is financing for development, climate action or building resilience in the Sendai Framework. He called for alleviating the debt burden and reforming the international trade system, as well as an international tax regime so developing countries can mobilize additional local resources to be allocated for sustainable development. Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, he stressed.
RUSLAN BULTRIKOV (Kazakhstan), noting that economic and political sanctions have become “a new norm” that erodes the supply chains which ensure food security, stressed that such problems contribute to soaring inflation, job losses and fears of a worldwide recession, especially in developing countries. Facing the global food security crisis, he said his country will continue to act as a reliable supplier of grain and other food staples. Stating that Central Asia has already become a region of vast opportunities for international cooperation, he underscored the importance of establishing the United Nations regional centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
BORIS HOLOVKA (Serbia) highlighting the interdependence of economic, social and environmental issues, reaffirmed commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. His country’s European integration and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda are complementary and mutually interpenetrating processes, he noted, adding that Serbia has adopted the Leave No One Behind principle into its normative framework. Highlighting the urgent need to tackle food safety and climate change, he noted Serbia’s commitment to efforts to unite the international community in the fight for the survival of the living world.
ALARA İSTEMİL AYDİL (Türkiye), stressing that it is not acceptable that more than 800 million people face hunger in the twenty-first century, noted that her country facilitated the Istanbul deal on shipment of Ukraine’s grain through the Black Sea. This is making grain available for global markets, and has helped bring down global food prices. Further, Türkiye has increased its ODA from $967 million in 2010 to more than $8.1 billion in 2020. Highlighting the importance of the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries as an ambitious road map to address the challenges of least developed countries, she also emphasized the need to keep empowering youth. Her country is ready to make concrete contributions for the implementation of the youth agenda of the Secretary-General, she said, recalling Türkiye’s offer to host the United Nations Youth Centre.
ASBINA MARIN SEVILLA (Venezuela), aligning herself with the Group of 77, stated that her country’s efforts toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have been undermined by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the economic and financial blockade imposed by the United States, which violates the Charter of the United Nations. Pointing out that this type of aggression has pillaged as much as $550 million, which could have been used to finance development, she pressed for a complete session of such measures. To tackle climate change, she underscored that developed countries should meet their obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while respecting the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
GABRIELE CACCIA, Permanent Observer for the Holy See, stressed the importance of transforming political commitments into action by recovering “our sense of shared identity as a single human family”. It is essential to allocate resources in a manner that allows every person to achieve his or her integral human development and protects the planet from any form of exploitation. Noting that the most serious social crisis the world faces is the crisis of human relationships, he said this flows from an anthropological vision dominated by individualism, indifference and a culture of waste, in which the transcendent dignity of the person is often trampled.
ALAIN WILFRIED BIYA, Permanent Observer for the International Renewable Energy Agency, underscored the importance of the rapid shift to a more resilient and sustainable energy system with renewables at its heart. Noting that the renewable energy sector could employ 43 million by 2050, he said his Agency, along with the United Arab Emirates, has launched the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform, a new global climate finance facility to accelerate the transition to renewable energy in developing countries. Further, the Agency participated in the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, led by the Secretary-General, he said.
The representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea noted in July, Japan’s nuclear regulator approved a decision to discharge contaminated water into the sea, causing a serious negative environmental impact on the Pacific Ocean, a common asset for mankind. Experts noted that 1.25 tons of nuclear waste water was discharged and within 50 days, the strong current can spread that discharge. The action is impudent and many countries have denounced it as a nuclear terrorist act. He noted even Japanese people have protested the decision.
Introduction of Reports
SHAMIKA N. SIRIMANNE, Director, Division on Technology and Logistics, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), introduced the report of the Secretary-General on progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society at the regional and international levels. For those with Internet access, she said, digital technologies contributed to mitigating the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, by enabling teleworking, e-commerce and online learning. Digital technologies also played a pivotal role in medical response and data analytics. However, these developments were not available to all, she pointed out, stressing the importance of affordable high-quality bandwidth to access digital resources and services
SHANTANU MUKHERJEE, Director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presented the Secretary-General’s report on a New International Economic Order (document A/77/214). The pandemic, war in Ukraine and growing climate crisis have slowed economic growth, increased uncertainty and exacerbated persistent development and technological divides between developed and developing countries. Technology transfer and industrialization challenges in developing countries remain to be resolved while the unsustainable use of natural resources continues, he noted. High inflation disproportionately hurt the poor and vulnerable while increasing interest rates in developed economies raise financing costs, adds to debt burdens, reduces foreign exchange reserves for many developing countries and puts them at greater economic risk, he continued.
Within this context, the report reviews the ideas and proposals on a New International Economic Order and examines how they can support an end to the pandemic, foster inclusive economic recovery, accelerate climate action, build resilience and ensure the inclusive sharing of benefits from digitalization and the adoption of new technologies, he said. As such, the report analysed the scale and depth of the immediate and long-term impacts of the crises on people, countries’ economies and options for recovery in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The report further examined the role played by fiscal and monetary inventions during the pandemic and how they can further contribute to building an inclusive and resilient economic recovery which advances the 2030 Agenda and accelerates climate action, he added. Coordinated monetary and fiscal policies and targeted investments must work in tandem to maintain macroeconomic stability while providing the appropriate stimulus for accelerating climate action and minimizing transition costs, he emphasized.
The report also explained how international cooperation and national action can harness the full potential of digital transformation and rapid advances in science, technology and innovation. International cooperation focused on technology transfer, capacity-building and financing could help developing countries to leapfrog the adaptation of low-carbon technologies and close the digital divide, he underlined. To that end, United Nations mechanisms and processes can drive the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through inclusive partnerships. Concerted multilateral actions are needed to overcome the pandemic, support inclusive digital and climate transitions, address financing gaps, resolve unsustainable debt situations and strengthen the trading system’s resilience, he stressed.
MARION BARTHELEMY, Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presented the Secretary‑General’s report on fulfilling the promise of globalization (document A/77/253). While noting that important mechanisms have been put in place to support developing countries in responding to the pandemic, she underscored that more needs to be done. Pointing out that insufficient rules and mechanisms to respond to crises have highlighted the need for reforming the international financial system, she stressed the need for a new policy framework to foster a different type of globalization based on international solidarity and bring benefits to more people and societies.
Turning to the report’s policy recommendations, she first noted that there is a need for a more resilient and diversified globalized architecture that is better equipped to respond to global shocks. Countries should focus their efforts towards diversifying supply channels and implementing supportive policies, she underlined. Second, she pointed to the need for major reforms of the international financial system to ensure equitable access to financial resources for recovery from the pandemic and for implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Third, she continued, globalization must go hand in hand with increased global solidarity and cooperation on science, technology and innovation in responding to common challenges and supporting the most vulnerable. Lastly, she added that a new inclusive and impactful multilateral governance should be ensured, with the United Nations at its core, and with well-defined objectives shaped around the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
BELA HOVY, Chief of the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, presented the Secretary-General’s report on international migration and development (document A/77/236). The report presents the latest global levels and trends in international migration, analyses how migration has been integrated into voluntary national reviews, takes stock of the United Nations system’s progress in monitoring migration-related targets and indicators, discusses recent initiatives on improving migration data and presents the current status of ratification of relevant international legal instruments, he said.
Over the next few decades, migration will be the sole driver of population growth in many high-income countries as the number of deaths will progressively exceed the number of births, he noted. By contrast, population increase in low-income and lower-middle-income countries will continue to be driven by an excess of births over deaths for the foreseeable future. Net outmigration, experienced by some countries, contributes to population ageing, slows down population growth and exacerbates population decline, he added. In referencing the $605 billion in remittances to low and middle-income countries and $773 billion globally, he underlined their contributions of remittances to poverty reduction, basic service access at the household level and enhanced financial inclusion of migrant families. When invested productively, remittances foster local entrepreneurship and job creation, he emphasized.
On Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 10, he pointed out the great variability in the coverage of migration-related topics in the voluntary national reviews presented in 2021. While well-managed migration policies, trafficking in persons and remittances were well covered, only a few countries reported actions on addressing the adverse drivers of migration, promotion inclusion and harnessing the contributions of diaspora communications. Voluntary national reviews have yet to reflect the 360-degree approach towards migration as advocated by the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, he stressed. Similarly, progress in monitoring migration-related indicators remained uneven, he noted. Following the request to develop a limited set of indicators for the review of progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, he shared his expectation that the coverage and quality of migration-related indicators will improve over the next few years. He then spotlighted several initiatives on improving migration data in line with Objective 1 of the Global Compact.
The representative of Mexico, stressing that issues regarding information and communications technology (ICT) should be addressed in a holistic approach, asked what the United Nations can do to address data governance effectively and how all interested parties can be involved in such a process.
Indonesia’s representative asked how the international community can see ICT as an “enabler” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. She also asked what the United Nations can do to address the data divide, which is a big challenge especially in developing countries.
Ms. SIRIMANNE responded that the international community has witnessed an emerging data divide between those who collect and analyse data, and those who own data but cannot benefit from them. In this regard, she stressed that the United Nations has a big role to play as the only forum where all countries involved can discuss issues such as the taxonomy of data, regulations in terms of privacy and competition as well as taxation. Noting that data not only has private value but also social value, such as using data to monitor pandemics and disasters, she pointed to the need to facilitate data-sharing agreements.
Ms. BARTHELEMY cited a high-level committee working with the entire United Nations system, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to improve the data of the system and Member States, and on data as a public good. This work is in the early phase.
Mr. HOVY responded to Indonesia’s delegate on immigration data, citing ways to improve the breakdown of migration data, such as using appropriate questions during population censuses, or using new, albeit expensive, data collection systems.
Mr. MUKHERJEE insisted on the cross-border nature of data flows and on the importance of international cooperation to collect these flows. These questions are inseparable from the access of all countries to digital infrastructures, and from everyone’s access to high bandwidth to reduce the digital divide.
MUHAMMAD IMRAN KHAN (Pakistan), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77, stressed that the pandemic has laid bare existing inequalities in the digital sphere, while highlighting the risk of digital divide. Pointing out that some 2.9 billion people remain offline, 96 per cent of whom live in developing countries, he underscored that the lack of capacity to engage meaningfully with ICT remains a key issue. Factors behind the digital divide such as lack of infrastructure, high cost of digital equipment, lack of digital skills and literacy must be tackled with investments in digital infrastructure, technology transfer and capacity-building, he added.
Turning to globalization, he noted that the impact of the current crises is felt the most in developing countries, which in turn serves as a reminder of a need for strong multilateral cooperation. In this regard he proposed that the international community should renew its commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, while also stressing that there is “no peace without sustainable development, and no sustainable development without peace”. Recalling that the global growth in mistrust is a consequence of deepening inequalities within and among countries, he underlined the need for equal representation in global financial and political institutions.
ANA PAULA BAPTISTA GRADE ZACARIAS (Portugal), speaking on behalf of the 33 “champion countries” for the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration, highlighted the landmark consensual adoption by the General Assembly of the first Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum, which provides a clear road map for Member States to ensure that migration truly becomes safe, orderly and regular. Noting that the Second Committee will negotiate a draft resolution on international migration and development in 2022, she added that the contributions of migrants to sustainable development became particularly evident during the pandemic. As the world was reeling from the human toll and the socioeconomic downturn caused by COVID-19, millions of migrants on the frontlines rose to the challenge of being truly “essential workers”, she said.
Stressing that the value and dignity of labour of all migrant workers in all sectors remains instrumental in the post-pandemic recovery as well, she highlighted the need for efforts to facilitate mutual recognition of formally and informally acquired skills and competencies acquired by migrants. By adopting a specific resolution on international migration and development, the Committee can play an important role. However, this resolution needs to be comprehensively updated, she said, noting that this has not happened in the last four years, given the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 on the work of the Committee. The Global Compact for Migration is the “centre of gravity” of international discussions concerning migration, she stressed, calling for alignment between the different texts concerning the issue.
BURHAN GAFOOR (Singapore), speaking on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and aligning himself with the Group of 77, reaffirmed commitment to an open, rules-based, multilateral trading system. Highlighting the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, he said that ASEAN will continue to emphasize the principles of economic integration and free trade. Stressing the importance of accelerating inclusive digital transformation and bridging the digital divide, he highlighted the ASEAN Digital Integration Framework and its Action Plan, which will serve as the blueprint for the Association’s digital integration efforts.
Even as global trade becomes increasingly digitalized, he added, the international community must not lose sight of emerging challenges that could derail the progress so far. Pointing to the launch of the updated ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2021-2025, he said it will help ensure there are no weak links in the collective efforts to secure cyberspace. He also welcomed the Secretary-General’s proposal for a Global Digital Compact that will outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all.
GEORGE EHIDIAMEN EDOKPA (Nigeria), speaking on behalf of the African Group, lamented the bleak reality that 1 billion children worldwide have been left behind in education during the pandemic, which has also plunged over 40 million people on his continent into abject poverty. However, “the 2030 Agenda is still within our reach”, he said. ICT are drivers that can make a difference, if used appropriately; but many people are excluded due to a lack of affordable access.
He noted that African entrepreneurs are not lacking in ideas: development of mobile financial services, mobile money, mobile currencies, among others. However, current infrastructure is lacking to develop the full potential of ICT in Africa. Digital connectivity is more important than ever to facilitate cross-border trade, bridge the digital divide and provide millions of African children with access to quality education. He stressed the importance of removing barriers to connectivity by all means and access to affordable bandwidth for developing countries.
LORATO MOTSUMI (Botswana), speaking on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, stated the pandemic has exposed an imbalance in the accessibility of ICT infrastructure, especially in her group of States where many remain without Internet access. Referring to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which suggests that only 34 per cent of the people in landlocked developing countries use the Internet, she pointed out that challenges include inadequate connectivity, insufficient digital infrastructure and lack of skills and access to energy.
Noting that the resources needed for infrastructure development far outweigh what is available from any single source, she underscored the Group’s need for support in policy development, financing, innovation and capacity-building, to achieve effective connectivity. She added that all stakeholders, including development partners, transit countries and relevant United Nations agencies, should act on the call by her Group to enhance support in this regard. Welcoming initiatives such as ITU’s “Partner2Connect Digital Coalition” in cooperation with the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, she called for more support towards the initiative and regular reporting on its implementation.
CLEMENT AMAMAI DIMA NAMANGALE (Malawi), speaking on behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries, deplored the growing inequalities between the poorest and most vulnerable and the rest of the world. The disproportionate impact of the pandemic on least developed countries on subsequent economic difficulties have exposed a divide in global governance, with the cost of debt servicing leading to great risks. He called for better representation of least developed countries within international financial institutions to afford more coherence and participation in processes.
He further called for those States to have access to ICT essential for building productive capacities, noting that online education during the pandemic was inaccessible to many children because only a small proportion of the population has Internet access. The development of those technologies is a key aspect of the Doha Agenda. After years of bandwidth improvements, the situation worsened in 2021 due to a drop in revenue caused by the pandemic. He noted the proposal to set up an online university is an innovative idea, further underlining that it is essential to increase cyber resilience, especially for women and children. Least developed countries have the tools and resources necessary to reduce connectivity problems, he added.
WAN ZHI YI (Singapore), aligning herself with the Group of 77 and ASEAN, said the pandemic has accelerated the pace of digital transformation while also amplifying the digital divide. Calling for international cooperation to accelerate efforts to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet by 2030, she added that building and maintaining secure and resilient systems is essential as online threats become more sophisticated. Her country has launched public consultations on a proposed Code of Practice for Online Safety, she said, also voicing support for the Secretary-General’s initiative for a Global Digital Compact.
ESTEFANIA FONSECA VALDERRABANO (Mexico), reiterating that universal connectivity should be at the core of digital cooperation, added that such efforts should also focus on issues such as data protection, disinformation and protection of human rights online. In this regard, she shared that her country would facilitate with Indonesia a resolution on ICTs and development. On migration, she expressed that her country would join the pledge to create incentives to reduce the cost of remittances for migrants. She also stressed the importance of ensuring support for protection measures towards refugees including ensuring their physical integrity as well as combating racism and xenophobia.
NIRUPAM DEV NATH (Bangladesh) lamented that some countries were reduced to a role of data provider without taking advantage of the digital transformation. He called for closing the digital divide and catching up with developing countries in artificial intelligence, and for investments to guarantee them access to affordable Internet service. Resources and political will must match these challenges. The recent Education Summit showed that opportunities to use digital platforms for countries in special situations were much needed, he added. Migrants represent 10 per cent of global GDP, but the pandemic has made that precarious, he warned, calling for implementation of the commitments made under the Global Compact for Migration.
ARAKSYA BABIKYAN (Armenia) emphasized the importance of ensuring access to sustainable and affordable ICT and open Internet, promoting digital connectivity for all to reduce inequalities and enabling the full realization of economic and social rights. As a landlocked developing country, Armenia has prioritized the data-driven and inclusive digital transformation of its public administration system and economy, she said. Armenia has also created common standards and a digital environment which aim to ensure high quality public service delivery, increase the private sector’s competitiveness and create a digital skills workforce that focuses on vulnerable groups. On unlocking the potential of digital technologies to provide innovative solutions which promote women’s empowerment and full and equal participation, she reiterated Armenia’s commitment to implementing the Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation’s Global Acceleration Plan. Promoting inclusive and action-oriented approaches at the global and national levels on ICT are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
OWOICHO-OCHE AGBO (Nigeria), aligning himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, stated that it is imperative that all stakeholders work together for an inclusive ICT approach in line with the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. Highlighting that his country remains the continent’s largest ICT market with 82 per cent of its telecommunications subscribers and 29 per cent of Internet usage, he shared that his Government has strengthened ICT adoption through policies, guidelines and regulations. He further called on all Member States to use ICT to combat illegal financial flows and reduce to the bare minimum the process and cost of recovering such assets.
ENKHBOLD VORSHILOV (Mongolia), aligning himself with the Group of 77 and China and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, said there is a pressing need to address the major impediments developing States face both between and within countries, between women and men and between city and rural inhabitants on harnessing ICT for development. In referencing his country’s preparation for a global information society through general and ICT education, he spotlighted Mongolia’s multidimensional policy for digital development, e-Government services and national guidelines to create an effective and transparent digital government, establish national information security systems and improve public digital literacy levels. Mongolia actively participates in the development and implementation of the action plan for the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway and is focused on regional cooperation towards connectivity for all, he said.
JOSEPH EDWIN HAYDN DAVIES (South Africa), aligning himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, highlighted the digital divide between developing and developing countries to demand urgent action. While the new digital frontier offers a huge opportunity to even the playing field, access to these beneficiary technologies and its benefits must be shared equitably, he emphasized. As affordable, high-quality bandwidth and digital resources are a prerequisite for prosperity, he called for universal access. The United Nations must ensure that frontier technologies respond to the interests of all countries and that data capabilities for development are fairly distributed through open-source ICT, transparency and technology sharing, he urged. There should be human-centric technology development, inclusive international cooperation and appropriate regulatory and governance frameworks that eliminate global inequalities, he emphasized.
EGRISELDA ARACELY GONZÁLEZ LÓPEZ (El Salvador) said new technologies offer opportunities for development and to mobilize investment, particularly for developing countries. El Salvador has developed a national digital strategy and has an institutional architecture, as well as an initiative aimed at reducing the digital divide, particularly in the national education system. She called for increased support to developing countries to further promote technology transfer and capacity-building. On migration, El Salvador commends the positive contributions of migrants in countries of origin, transit and destination and has always defended their rights, without discrimination. Believing that migration should be a choice and not an obligation, her Government has prioritized the allocation of resources to promote socioeconomic opportunities aimed at preventing irregular migration.
Right of Reply
The representative of Japan, taking the floor in exercise of the right of reply to respond to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s delegate, said that he would not repeat his previous explanation. Stating that the delegate’s statement was totally unacceptable, he reiterated that his Government will continue to explain its efforts to the international community in a transparent manner and is willing to discuss based on scientific evidence in appropriate fora.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s representative, responding to Japan’s delegate, stated that as the only country which has ever been targeted by a nuclear attack, Japan should know well how gruesome and terrifying it is to suffer from a nuclear disaster. He added that Japan should sincerely reflect on its past war crimes, if it wishes to coexist with other nations in a peaceful way, and never discharge “nuclear-polluted water” into the sea.
Statements
ADWITYA HAPSARI (Indonesia), associating herself with the Group of 77 and ASEAN, expressed concern that the digital divide is a reality for many countries. Moreover, the shortage of human capital as well as insufficient resources make it difficult for developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. She called for the international community not to neglect South-South cooperation and recommended accelerating connectivity by exchanging good practices between States.
ALEKSANDRA SHMAT (Belarus) stated that the intertwined state of countries has led to supremacy of some and vulnerability of others. She called for an end to the imposition of unilateral coercive measures by some countries, which not only violates the Charter of the United Nations but also goes against the needs of the developing countries. Acknowledging that voluntary migrations have had a positive impact on her State’s economy and its sustainable development, she stressed the importance of ensuring that the rights, interests and freedoms of migrants are protected.
OUINIBANI KONATE (Burkina Faso), associating himself with the Group of 77, African Group, Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, hailed the spectacular progress made in the digital field, while also stressing the persistence of the digital divide, which should be corrected before 2025. He explained that the use of new communication technologies has allowed the diversification of social networks. Thus, the proportion of households with access to the Internet increased from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to 13 per cent in 2019. Recalling that his country has been experiencing a serious security crisis for more than seven years marked by the influence of terrorist groups in part of the territory, he noted in those regions, acts of sabotage and destruction of communication infrastructure deprive millions of Burkinabè people of access to wired, mobile and Internet networks.
PEDRO LUIS PEDROSO CUESTA (Cuba), aligning himself with the Group of 77, reiterated the need for a new economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, common interest and cooperation between all States. While the pandemic has shown how interconnected countries are, the impact has not been proportional which has led to the survival of an unjust, economic order. A more participatory and inclusive order must also have new financial architecture and greater access to financing under favourable conditions, he noted. As the multilateral trade system must not be used to impose the interests of a few on others to hamper development efforts, he rejected unilateral coercive economic measures while detailing his country’s progress despite the blockade by the United States.
NEBIYU TEDLA NEGASH (Ethiopia), aligning himself with the Group of 77, Group of Least Developed Countries, Group of Landlocked Developing Countries and the African Group, spotlighted his country’s national progress. As global digital cooperation is critical to achieving the 2030 Agenda, all relevant stakeholders should provide financial and technical assistance to countries trailing in the digital economy, he urged. Ethiopia supports South-South cooperation and remains committed to a multilateral, universal, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable global trading system, he said. On migration, he underlined its role as a positive force for development and highlighted Ethiopia’s work in advancing the Global Compact for Migration while ensuring the dignity and safety of its citizens who travel abroad for work.
ZHAO HAIBO (China), aligning himself with the Group of 77, stressing the need to promote a “booming digital economy” which adds an impetus to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, stated that the international community should deepen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, while jointly creating an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for development. Opposing unilateralism and protectionism, he emphasized that the world must secure a stable and smooth global supply chain. To share the dividends of technological development, he stressed that the Global Development Initiative has set digital economy and connectivity as its priority areas and worked with countries in advancing their sustainable development.
REEM FAHAD O. ALOMAIR (Saudi Arabia) said ICT must adapt to today’s reality — warning that digital transformation will not come without challenges. Her Government has the Vision 2030 programme which seeks to put in place a programme of dematerialization of the public service. It is also a participatory digital platform with the main objective of guaranteeing the competitiveness of companies and protecting jobs. The Government has also launched a smart infrastructure project called “Neon”. ICT should be used to achieve the Goals and thus close the digital divide.
ABDULLAH ALHAMMADI (United Arab Emirates) insisted on international solidarity to help developing countries emerge from the current crisis. In this regard, he called for supporting the multilateral trading system through support for global trade, customs and tourism organizations as the United Arab Emirates does. He urged for the creation of intellectual property rights at the global level. The country aims to develop a system to protect intellectual property rights, and called on bridging the digital divide in developing countries and erasing digital illiteracy.
DINUSHI SONALI RUPATHUNGA HETTIWELIGE (Sri Lanka), associating herself with the Group of 77, said that her Government is using ICT to achieve the Goals and combat the consequences of the pandemic. The benefits of those technologies in the context of the pandemic have not been equal, she said, insisting on the need to address the digital divide and improve access and resources to digital services. ICT is also used to improve the transparency of the judicial system. The Government aims to deliver digital public service and has developed cybersecurity laws against cybercrime.
BORIS A. MESCHCHANOV (Russian Federation) spotlighted his country’s work on digitizing Government processes particularly on social services and taxation. It is implementing artificial intelligence in agriculture, urban planning and transport and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the ICT sector. While the technological blockade against the Russian Federation has changed the ICT architecture, it will not have an impact on achieving universal, economic and sustainable growth in the mid-term, he said. In pointing out the growth in equality, monopolization of growing sectors and erosion of national sovereignty, he welcomed a global digital compact and called for a global national policy on Internet management. To avoid further fragmentation of global trade and financial systems, unilateral economic measures, cancel culture, unfair competition, currency weaponization and the politicization of international financial institutions should be rejected. Turning to migration, he welcomed progress but noted the discrimination against migrants, especially Russian-speaking migrants in the West.
MOHD RUSLAN (Malaysia), aligning himself with ASEAN and the Group of 77, called for swift access to new technologies and digitalization. As enhancing capacity-building in science, technology and innovation is fundamental, especially for vulnerable countries, the international community must bridge the digital divide through strengthened knowledge-sharing, collaboration and scaled-up investments. He then spotlighted Malaysia’s science, technology and innovation-related legislation, blueprints, road maps and development efforts while reiterating the urgent need to bridge the elusive vaccine divide. The global community must collectively address common challenges and take affirmative actions that are science and evidence-based, he stressed.
NIGAR BAYRAMLI-HAMIDOVA (Azerbaijan), aligning herself with the Group of 77, Group of Landlocked Developing Countries and the 33 “champion” countries of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, called for a more equal, connected and comprehensive digital transformation which leaves no one behind in the global digital era. As ICT is one of four target sectors for her country’s economic diversification, she spotlighted Azerbaijan’s investments in national broadband infrastructure and creation of a new digital telecommunications corridor in the region, amongst other initiatives. Azerbaijan, she pledged, will contribute to the rapid application of advanced technologies, development of the digital economy, and improvement in research and development. On migration, she reiterated her country’s commitment to the Global Compact as an effective instrument to regulate global human mobility.
JIGME NORBU (Bhutan), aligning himself with the Group of 77, Group of Least Developed Countries and the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, stated that while his country has been in the midst of a major digital transformation, it still faces challenges including the high cost of establishing infrastructure and delivering services to its mountain terrains, gaps in digital skills and literacy as well as minimizing its vulnerability to cybersecurity threats. Emphasizing that unequal access to knowledge and technology would create disparities in education, opportunities and wealth, he called for support to developing countries through predictable finance as well as in technology and capacity-building.
SERGE PAMPHILE MEZANG AKAMBA (Cameroon), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, expressed concern over the existing digital divide becoming a data divide, whereby data is confiscated by digital mega-platforms, at the expense of sustainable development. The industry also suffers from a huge carbon footprint due to the obsolescent nature of the materials and the energy required to operate it. Cameroon has developed a normative framework to curb cybercrime and ensures the safety of users.
KHALID AL SAAD (Bahrain) emphasized the need to strengthen the ICT to achieve the 2030 Agenda. In citing his country’s leading role on ICT in the region, he spotlighted several national initiatives which included strengthening cooperation between public institutions, expanding Internet coverage across the country and launching a prize on the use of ICT in education. Bahrain, he added, has organized events on online governance, used electronic and online tools for accounting and online payments and worked on establishing structures, policies and norms across all public institutions. As Bahrain continues to strengthen financial services and create more jobs, it will also continue to adopt digital policies to deliver on the 2030 Agenda by guaranteeing services, strengthening innovation and creativity and promoting the business sector, he said.
IBRAHIM AMADOU (Togo), aligning himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, stated that his Government has included its digital transformation strategy as part of the country’s road map for 2022-2025 which pursues inclusive and sustainable growth. Building on this, he added that it has also established the “Digital Togo Agency” to coordinate its digital projects. While noting that Africa offers a multitude of opportunities through the use of ICTs, he stressed that their use engenders risks that call for protection of youths and strengthened cybersecurity. He further shared that his country has digitized its public services portal, providing an interface where people can carry out various administrative processes online using a single account.
FAIZA MASOUD SAIF AL NABHANI (Oman) underlined the priority that her country gives to ICT, which offer opportunities to generate income and employment, among others. It also plays an important role in increasing productivity in other sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, finance and health. The sector is growing exponentially, and Oman has launched a national strategy for online services and helped develop the business sector. She highlighted her Government’s initiatives including the electronic library programme. Oman is putting in place policies and legislation to ensure appropriate and widespread use of the technologies, given the myriad of opportunities they present.
GABRIELE CACCIA, Permanent Observer for the Holy See, stated that despite international and regional migration being among the most prominent dimensions of globalization today, millions of irregular migrants are far from enjoying its positive effects. To avoid the risk of these migrants being taken advantage of by smugglers or abandoned at sea, he emphasized that States should take a more coherent and proactive approach in the coordination of search and rescue operations, while also increasing legal pathways for migration. Noting that migrants too often disappear before their arrival to the destinations and are automatically assumed to be dead, he called on Member States and relevant organizations to continue to address this tragedy.
KALLIE AULTMAN, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, stated that at least 110 of its national Societies provided humanitarian services to nearly 8.9 million people on the move in 2020, supplying food, water, health interventions, shelter and information. While calling on Member States to reduce vulnerabilities in the migration process and ensure unconditional access for humanitarian organizations, she also stressed the need to ensure that people on the move are in national registration systems and have access to essential services. She further highlighted the importance of addressing the adverse drivers of migration through disaster risk reduction measures, climate adaptation and anticipatory action.
IDA JALLOW, International Telecommunication Union, noted that 1.5 billion people have come online in the past 5 years, but 2.7 billion have no access. “Today, leaving no one behind means leaving no one offline”, she stressed. The vulnerable and populations living in isolation are the most excluded, she noted before calling for the mobilization of resources and reflection on the benefits of technological advances for these groups. She mentioned the issue of spectrum and radio frequencies from satellites and urged for technology sharing. Citing a joint ITU-United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) programme to connect every school worldwide, she called for every person to be online by 2050.
PÄR LILJERT, the representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), welcomed the Secretary-General’s report and shared his belief that it will advance multilateral efforts. IOM will continue to work with Member States, United Nations agencies, partners and migrants and mobilize the already available tools and capacity-building mechanisms to encourage Member States to integrate migration and migrants as a cross-cutting issue into national development plans while ensuring that rights are respected. In referencing the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November, he urged all to keep in mind the effects of climate change in driving human mobility and consider the situation of vulnerable countries in particular.