On 27 October 2003, UNIS Vienna in collaboration with Styria Medien AG, the Vienna Institute for Development and Cooperation (VIDC), Frauensolidarität and the Diplomatic Academy organized a panel discussion in preparation of the UN WSIS: "How to provide access for all to information and knowledge?-Technologies, Opportunities, Responsibilities".
The discussion formed part of a two-days conference "Women Crossing the Digital Divide - Information for Empowerment" organized by two Austrian non-governmental organizations ("Frauensolidarität" and the Vienna Institute for Development and Cooperation), in collaboration with UNIS Vienna.
The mix of the panel (three women, three men, from Africa, Asia and Europe representing science, technology, TV and print media, the UN Secretariat and NGOs) ensured a fruitful discussion of very different aspects and challenges faced by an information society:
Dorothy Okello of the "Women of Uganda Network" (WOUGNET) discussed the lack of basic education in her country which makes it impossible to use ICTs, even if they are accessible.
The editor-in-chief of the leading Austrian daily "Die Presse" Andreas Unterberger emphasized two gaps (a) a deep gap in regard of communication hardware between the first and third world. This gap could be healed by huge financial investments. And (b) a growing gap inside the first world manifested in a growing divide of the information elite and the infotainment society.
Hermann Maurer from the Institute for Computer Supported New Media (IICM) of the University of Technology Graz, said that it would be important to reach the opinion leaders first and then, the rest of the people. He also proposed the creation of a worldwide medicine server.
Konrad Becker of the NGO "Institute for New Culture Technologies" asked for open and free access to information for all. "Intellectual property" must not be restricted only to big companies who have technical and financial backing, Becker said.
Nasra Hassan of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) talked about the "hunger" for information, knowledge and being part of the development of the developing countries. She called for a parallel process of education and technology, so that digital advances do not widen the information gap between the developed and the developing world.
The discussion was attended by more than 60 participants and was enriched by a lively audience inter-action with panelists. Critical comments, notes and proposals included:
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For more information on the
UN World Summit on the Information Society,
visit
www.itu.int/wsis
