Meaningful connectivity is about more than just broadband
Attending the 2024 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) / UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Fall meeting in New York, 5Rights highlights the importance of ensuring child safety online as world leaders and industry focus on connecting the 2.6 billion who remain offline.
In addressing the Broadband Commission on behalf of our Chair and Founder, Commissioner Baroness Beeban Kidron, 5Rights Executive Director Leanda Barrington Leach warned of the dangers of pursuing connectivity without considering children’s development and well-being.
“Children are excited by the potential of the internet – yes. Children want to be connected – yes. But all too often those who are connected are saying they want less if it is not better. We are failing the next generation. This is a tragedy. Sacrificing the development and well-being of our children for short-term economic growth is the opposite of sustainable. We must recognise this, take responsibility, and change our approach – fast. We must put in place the global governance structures and standards so connectivity is a force for good and not a means to automate the exploitation of the vulnerable.”
Leanda Barrington-Leach, 5Rights’ Executive Director.
Gathering in New York ahead of the Summit of the Future, the 2024 meeting focused on bridging the gaps “Towards a Resilient, Safe, and Inclusive Digital Future”. The meeting of Commissioners, High Representatives and Special Guests leveraged the Commission’s mandate to develop resilient, safe, and inclusive digital strategies, discussing practical solutions towards delivering on the UN 2030 Agenda. The Commission urged governments, industry, academia and civil society to collaborate to support the implementation of the UN Global Digital Compact.
“The question is, how do we collectively harness digital technologies to protect, empower, and include every member of our society… Achieving this requires stronger collaboration across industries, governments, academic institutions, and international organizations. It requires us to be bold in our vision and especially intentional in our interventions.”
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation.
Both the scale of the task and the extent of collaboration required are global, as affirmed by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “Our work is interconnected with the lives of billions around the world,” and with this comes an understanding that “This is a responsibility and an opportunity to use the power of broadband power to do good — now and for generations to come.”
Ahead of the Plenary gathering, 5Rights also participated in the Commission’s Working Group on Data Governance in the Digital Age, which is developing a Data Governance Toolkit: A Roadmap for the Digital Age. This toolkit, through a multi-stakeholder approach, is designed to provide governments and regulators with practical guidance for effective data governance, addressing capacity and implementation challenges at the country level to ultimately foster sustainable development and international cooperation.
5Rights is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the progress of connectivity is aligned with the development needs of children and their well-being.
For more information, see the website of the Broadband Commission.