The United Nations International Telecommunication Union - Background Guide 2018 "Technology is a force multiplier like nothing's ever been." ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The United Nations
International
Telecommunication Union
Background Guide 2018
"Technology is a force multiplier like nothing's ever been."
-Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations1
Introduction
Welcome delegates, to the 2018 Rock Valley College Model United Nations conference! We are
pleased to welcome you to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The following
background guide provides basic information on the ITU and its position in the United Nations
(UN) including its mandate, mission, and primary goals. This guide also offers basic information
on the two topics delegates will vote upon on the day of the conference. However, delegates are
expected to research beyond this study guide in order to have comprehensive knowledge of both
topics, their country’s positions on the topics, and how they relate to the ITU. We encourage you
to explore your Member State’s policies in depth. The topics under discussion for the
International Telecommunication Union are:
1. The Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the World
Economy
2. Mitigating inequality through ICTs
The International Telecommunication Union
On May 17, 1865, twenty founding members signed the first International Telegraph Convention
held in Paris and established the International Telegraph Union (the original ITU). The ITU
began to draw up international regulations on the use of telephones at the 1885 International
Telegraph Conference in Berlin. Soon, the ITU changed its name to International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1932 and officially became a specialized agency under the
United Nations in 1947.1
Expanding their reach in the telecommunications field, the ITU combined the International
Telegraph Regulations and Telephone Regulations in 1988 to form the International
Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs). At the 2012 World Conference in Dubai on
International Telecommunications (WCIT-12), necessary revisions were made to the ITRs in
response to the rapid technological advancement.2 Today, the ITU is concerned with the whole
the whole Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs ) sector, which includes
“anything from digital broadcasting and television to the internet and mobile technologies.” 3
Additionally, 193 countries and around 800 private-sector entities are members of the union.4 In
carrying out its mission of “connecting the unconnected,” the ITU has three main sectors-
Radiocommunications, Standardization, and Development- and also hosts study groups, focus
1
ITU. Overview of ITU’s History. [2018].
2
ITU. Overview of ITU’s History. [2018].
3
ITU. Overview of ITU’s History. [2018].
4
ITU. About International Telecommunication Union (ITU).[2018]2
groups, and workshops.5 Finally, the ITU is guided by its Connect 2020 Agenda which lists for
goals: growth, inclusion, sustainability, and innovation6.
In order to accurately stimulate the committee, it will be key for delegates to understand the
ITU’s role as the facilitator of multi-sector dialogue and regulations, and the establisher of global
best practices and standards.
Topic 1: The Role of ICTs in the World Economy
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.4 states: “by 2030 ensure that all men and women,
particularly the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources.”7 Through the
use of business, government programs, and ICTs, the ITU will play a vital role in achieving this
goal globally.
Entrepreneurship has become the base for both developed and developing economies. According
to the European Union, entrepreneurship lead to the creation of small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) which represent “99% of all businesses in the EU.”8 Within the last five
years, “they have created around 85% of new jobs and provided two-thirds of the total private
sector employment in the EU.” 9 To combat the challenges being faced by SMEs, the ITU should
focus on supporting entrepreneurship through widespread policy. Helping SMEs access different
markets through internationalisation, supporting the underrepresented members of society pursue
their projects, and increasing consultancy services for entrepreneurs are multiple ways the ITU
can continue development of SMEs.
Entrepreneurship can help close the digital divide. In a joint study of ITU and Korea Agency for
Digital Opportunity and Promotion (KADO), rural Indian Internet kiosks can benefit the
economy by influencing agriculture, business, education and e-governance, and spreading the
Internet demand onto the community rather than individuals.10 These kiosks increase access
because most are owned and operated by local entrepreneurs.11 Thus, investing in our developing
5
ITU, What does ITU do? [2018].
6
ITU, Connect 2020 Agenda. [2018].
7
UN-DESA, Sustainable Development Goals, 2018.
8
European Commission. Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) - Growth - European
Commission. [2018].
9
European Commission. Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) - Growth - European
Commission. [2018].
10
ITU and KADO, Case Study: India Enabling Rural India with Information and Communication and Technology
Initiatives, [2004], pp. 38.
11
Ibid. pp. 30-37.3
nations improves both the country and other global businesses by increasing the customers, and
improving the quality of both the economic goods and workers.
As seen with this case study, there is value in digital literacy. According to the Cornell
University Digital Literacy Initiative, digital literacy is “the ability to find, evaluate, [use], share,
and create content” using ICTs. Essentially, it is centered around how well people are able to
utilize ICT when it is given to them. Naturally, students who have not traditionally had access to
ICT cannot fully benefit from the device or network without knowledge on how it works.12Thus,
education is one of the most impactful sectors in which ICT can be used for long term national
growth.
Understanding this, the idea of education can be spliced into two separate issues. First, ICTs are
key in educational development. For example, Internet access in classrooms and knowledge
sharing using cellular networks can both transform education quality to be more inclusive,
improving the pace of learning and advancement. Second, when ICTs are introduced into a
country where educational systems might not be as strong, digital literacy is crucial. ICTs are
increasingly being applied in an education setting to improve instruction, learning, and
assessment. 13 ICTs improve the ability to interact with new material as well as knowledge
seeking skills, all the while expanding access to education. Education is an essential precursor to
any real and lasting growth that can further lead to innovation. Using ICTs in classrooms has
been found to “assist students in accessing digital information, support student centered and
self-directed learning, produce a creative learning environment, promote collaborative learning
in a distance-learning environment, improve teaching and learning quality, and [facilitate] access
to course content.”14 However, even when digital literacy is not used in an educational setting, it
can still be important in development.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization—UNESCO—stated that
digital literacy improves employability because it is a “gate skill.” This means that employers
often seek out potential employees with digital literacy to act as a catalyst for development of
future skills. Thus, delegates should consider not only education using ICTs, but also the
long-term benefits of education as a state develops its urban and rural areas.
The accessibility of ICTs is accompanied by advancement, specially artificial intelligence (AI).
The potential for AI to make a serious impact within the medical field, as well as manufacturing,
is great. Understanding the challenges that arise within the growing market of computer science
and its technological rise in the 21st century will directly impact the spread of ICTs and their
various uses within the developed and developing world. While these technologies hold great
promise, they are also seen as a threat, potentially disrupting labour markets and contributing to
12
Cornell University Digital Literacy Resource, Digital Literacy is…, [2009].
13
Jo Shan Fu, ICT in Education: A Critical Literature Review and Its Implications, [2013].
14
Ibid., p.113 -114.4
income inequality. It will be key to address these issues as well as foster creativity to in hopes of
economic and socio-economic development.
Questions a Resolution Must Answer (QARMA)
What measures are necessary to ensure an equal distribution of technology in both rural and
urban areas?
In what ways do ICTs promote economic well-being?
How can we fix the technological divide in developing countries?
How can ICTs improve digital literacy, as well as impact childhood education within developing
countries country?
Topic 2: Mitigating inequality through ICTs
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 represents the United Nations’ mission to “reduce
inequality within and among countries.”15 The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
recognizes the striking disparities and its position in reaching this goal of equality. Focusing on
women and girls, individuals with disabilities, and developing nations, the ITU supports the use
of information and communication technologies (ICTs), which the World Bank defines as
infrastructure and components that enable modern technologies to reshape the world’s
economies, governments, and societies.16 But there are still many gaps, including access and
quality, which widen the “digital divide.”
The equal participation of women in technological sustainable development processes remains a
critical area of concern. Out of the 60% of the world’s population that do not have access to
ICTs, women and girls make up the majority . According to the UN Entity for Gender Equality
and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), 14% fewer women compared to men have a
cell phone,17 and women are 25% less likely to have access to the Internet.18 Unfortunately these
numbers are even larger in developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).19
15
UN-DESA, Sustainable Development Goals, 2018.
16
World Bank, Digital Development Overview, 2018.
17
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, A Conceptual Model of Women and Girls’ Empowerment, 2017, p. 2.
18
Intel, Intel Announces Groundbreaking ‘Women and the Web’ Report with UN Women and State Department,
2013.
19
ITU, 2017 ITU Facts and Figures, 20175
Commemorating the 2017 International Girls in Information and Communication Technologies
Day, UN-Women estimated that there would be a gross domestic product (GDP) increase of
about $13 to $18 billion dollars for 144 developing countries if there were an increase of access
to the Internet for 150 million women.20 In order to bridge today’s statistics to tomorrow’s
possibilities, more needs to be done.
According to the UN, “Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary
foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.”21 One area ITU uses focuses on the
process of gender mainstreaming, which is “a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender
equality.”22 In 2013, ITU passed the Gender Equality and Mainstreaming (GEM) Policy to
empower both men and women and increase their access to ICTs.23 Further, UN Women and the
ITU have joined together to launch two initiatives. With more collaborative efforts the ITU can
help to provide girls and women to improve access to the health, promote literacy, job training
and education, enabling the exercising of legal rights and participation in the government for
equal rights.
This passion for equality can also be seen in ITU’s work in disabilities. In 2014, ITU adopted
Resolution 175 Telecommunication/information and communication technology accessibility for
persons with disabilities and persons with specific needs.24 Through this mandate the ITU has
promoted accessibility of ICTs for those with disabilities by developing innovations like eye
typers and foot mouse, and text-to-speech technologies. Such usage of technologies and ICTs
helps people with different abilities to integrate effectively in their communities. This is
especially crucial because around 10% of people in the world live with a disability and 80% of
those individuals live in a developing nation.25 In addition these numbers are increasing. 26 It is
important to consider the potential barriers to gaining an access to such technologies. As this is
addressed, ICTs can also become an avenue to removing the negative perspective of disability,
the “attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder [individuals’] full and effective
participation in society” as desired in the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities.27
20
Intel, Intel Announces Groundbreaking ‘Women and the Web’ Report with UN Women and State Department,
2013.
21
UN, Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls, 2018.
22
Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, Gender Mainstreaming: Strategy
for Promoting Gender Equality, 2001, p. 1.
23
ITU, Gender Mainstreaming in ITU, 2013.
24
ITU. ITU's Mandate on ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Specific Needs.
25
Disabled World, Disability Statistics: Information, Charts, Graphs, and Tables, 2018.
26
Division for Social Policy and Development, Backgrounder: Disability Treaty Closes a Gap in Protecting Human
Rights, 2008.
27
Division for Social Policy and Development, Backgrounder: Disability Treaty Closes a Gap in Protecting Human
Rights, 2008.6 Questions a Resolution Must Answer (QARMA) What steps can be taken to ensure greater technological accessibility, especially in developing countries? How can ICTs broaden their horizons toward greater inclusivity, as well as diversity? How can ICTs influence positive social change among minority communities? How can ICTs influence economic production in both the developed and the developing world? Position Statements A position paper is a general statement of your country’s position on each of the topics to be discussed by your committee. Although not mandatory, delegates must submit a position statement in order to be eligible for a position statement award at RockMUN committee. For double delegate committees, this means one position statement for each Member State in the committee, not one from each delegate. For each topic of discussion, you should outline a brief summary of the topic, and discuss your State’s relevant history and current stance regarding the topic, including important documents, as well as proposals for future actions. Position papers should be no more than two pages. Submit statements as a PDF file to rvcmun@gmail.com by Friday, March 30th. Bibliography Disabled World. (2018). Disability Statistics: Information, Charts, Graphs, and Tables. [Website]. Retrieved on 6 March 2018 from: https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/. Division for Social Policy and Development. (2008). Backgrounder: Disability Treaty Closes a Gap in Protecting Human Rights. [Website]. Retrieved on 6 March 2018 from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/backgrounder-disability-treaty-closes-a-gap-in -protecting-human-rights.html.
7 European Commision. (2018). Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) - Growth - European Commission. [Website]. Retrieved 26 Feb. 2018 from: ec.europa.eu/growth/smes_en. Fu, Jo Shan. (2013). International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), Vol. 9, Issue 1. Retrieved February 2018. Intel. (2013). Intel Announces Groundbreaking ‘Women and the Web’ Report with UN Women and State Department. Retrieved in February 2018 from: https://newsroom.intel.com/news-releases/intel-announces-groundbreaking-women-and-the-web- report-with-un-women-and-state-department/ International Telecommunication Union, Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity and Promotion. (2004). Case Study: India Enabling Rural India with Information and Communication and Technology Initiatives. International Telecommunication Union. (2018). About International Telecommunication Union (ITU). [Website]. Retrieved February 2018 from: International Telecommunication Union. (2018). Connect 2020 Agenda. [Website]. Retrieved 3 March 2018 from: https://www.itu.int/en/connect2020/Pages/default.aspx International Telecommunication Union. (2013). Gender Mainstreaming in ITU. [Website]. Retrieved on 3 March 2018 from: https://www.itu.int/en/action/gender-equality/Pages/itu-gem-intro.aspx. International Telecommunication Union. ITU's Mandate on ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Specific Needs. [Website]. Retrieved on 2 March 2018 from: https://www.itu.int/en/action/accessibility/Pages/ITUmandate.aspx. International Telecommunication Union. (2018). Overview of ITU’s History. [Website]. Retrieved Feb. 2018 from:
8 International Telecommunication Union. (2018). What does ITU do? [Website]. Retrieved 3 March 2018 from: https://www.itu.int/en/about/Pages/whatwedo.aspx. Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. (2001). Gender Mainstreaming: Strategy for Promoting Gender Equality. [Website]. Retrieved from: www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/factsheet1.pdf. United Nations. Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls. [Website]. Retrieved on February 2018 from: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2018). Sustainable Development Goals. [Website]. Retrieved on 3 March 2018 from: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs. World Bank. (2018). Digital Development: Overview. [Website]. Retrieved on February 2018 from: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopme[Website].nt/overview.
You can also read
