Preamble
Representatives of the governments of 47 countries, 22 international organizations,
54 private sector entities and 116 non-governmental organizations (NGO) of the
Asia-Pacific region gathered at the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, held in
Tokyo from 13 to 15 January 2003, to develop a shared vision and common strategies
for the "Information Society". The objective of the conference was
to discuss how best to work together to contribute to the region's effective
transition to an Information Society that will accelerate and enhance regional
economic, social, cultural and technological development.
The conference emphasized that a primary aim of the Information Society
must be to facilitate full utilization of information and communication technologies
(ICT) at all levels in society and hence enable the sharing of social and
economic benefits by all, by means of ubiquitous access to information networks,
while preserving diversity and cultural heritage.
The Conference endorsed the important role that ICTs can play in achieving
the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which describe a fundamental
set of principles and guidelines for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy,
environmental degradation and gender inequality.
1. Shared vision of the Information Society
The concept of an Information Society is one in which highly-developed
ICT networks, equitable and ubiquitous access to information, appropriate
content in accessible formats and effective communication can help people
to achieve their potential, promote sustainable economic and social development,
improve quality of life for all, alleviate poverty and hunger, and facilitate
participatory decision-making processes. The Information Society in the Asia-Pacific
region must:
| 1) |
Provide equitable and appropriate access for all to well-developed, affordable
and easily-accessed information and communication network infrastructures.
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| 2) |
Use ICTs as a driving force for the promotion of sustainable economic and
technological development by enlarging the gross national product (GNP) through
increased technological innovation and continuous research and development resulting
in reduced levels of poverty through robust economic growth.
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| 3) |
Enhance the sharing and strengthening of global knowledge for development
by ensuring equitable access to information for educational, scientific, economic,
social, political and cultural activities, leading to a vibrant public domain
of information.
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| 4) |
Preserve the rich and diverse cultural heritage and social values of the
Asia-Pacific region in the information age.
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| 5) |
Provide information and communication services targeted at disadvantaged
groups in society, in particular those from lower income groups, to contribute
to the alleviation of poverty.
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| 6) |
Use ICTs to strengthen traditional media such as broadcasting and print,
which will continue to have an important role in disseminating content in the
Information Society.
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| 7) |
Promote the use of ICTs for capacity-building and human resource development,
including ICT literacy, with special reference to the requirements of people
with disabilities.
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| 8) |
Ensure the security and reliability of information and communication networks
so as to build confidence and trust in the Information Society.
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| 9) |
By providing a secure environment for communication, ensure that the use
of information and communication services does not place vulnerable groups at
risk.
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| 10) |
Facilitate the important role played by the private sector and civil society
in the development of diversified information and communication technologies,
networks and services in the Information Society. Concurrently, acknowledge
the significant role of governments in terms of creating stakeholder partnerships
that engender trust and confidence, promote fair competition, and encourage
innovative private sector investment and new initiatives, and promote global
and regional cooperation, while protecting consumers and safeguarding public
interests.
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| 11) |
Promote strategies to assess and deal with the environmental impact of ICTs.
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| 12) |
Continue the ongoing spirit of cooperation and solidarity among the countries
of the region.
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2. Recognizing the unique features of the Information Society in the Asia-Pacific
region
In building an Information Society for the Asia-Pacific region, we should
take into account its unique features:
| 1) |
Geographic and demographic diversity: The region comprises the earth's largest
land mass and vast ocean as well as many small islands. The region has over
65 per cent of the world's population, including over 75 per cent of the world's
poor. Many countries of the region have very low population densities spread
over large percentages of their areas. Many rural populations are also inaccessible,
and have limited contact with other communities.
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| 2) |
Cultural and linguistic diversity: This region enjoys a richness of ancient
and modern cultures, including diverse languages, social traditions and customs.
Of the more than 6,800 languages in the world, 3,500 (51 per cent) are spoken
in the Asia-Pacific region, including languages without written scripts.
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| 3) |
Institutional stability: Generally speaking, the region is institutionally
stable. Such stability will enable the region
to attract more investors, including innovators,
entrepreneurs, operators, manufacturers and vendors
in the field of ICTs.
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| 4) |
Productive workforce: the region's economic growth depends on a large, productive
workforce capable of fully utilizing ICTs. Given the strong integration of the
region into the global economy, this would maintain and enhance the competitive
position of its enterprises, leading to the growth of decent employment.
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| 5) |
Gender issues: Unequal power relations and other social and cultural aspects
have contributed to differential access, participation and status for men and
women in the region. In this regard, more attention should be given to overcoming
these constraints and ensuring that women can equally benefit from the increased
use of ICTs for empowerment and full participation in shaping political, economic
and social development.
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| 6) |
Disability issues: There are an estimated 400 million persons with disabilities
in the Asia-Pacific region. The majority are poor and have been excluded from
the benefits of ICT development due to the lack of appropriate or affordable
technology for persons with disabilities. More effort, including implementation
of disability-concerned regional plans of action and programmes, should be made
to ensure equitable access to ICTs for persons with disabilities.
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| 7) |
Youth issues: Youth forms the majority of the population in the Asia-Pacific
region and is a force for socio-economic development. Equipping young people
with knowledge and skills on ICTs to prepare them for full participation in
the Information Society is an important goal.
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| 8) |
Digital divide disparities: In the region as a whole, there is a noticeable
disparity in access to, and use of, the latest ICTs, including Internet access
and broadband availability, between and within countries. It is recognized that
the barriers to equitable access result from differences in education and literacy
levels, gender, age, income and connectivity. In this context, particular attention
should be given to least developed countries, economies in transition and post-conflict
countries.
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| 9) |
Imbalance of information flows: While there is substantial internal international
trade within the Asia-Pacific, North American and European regions, the same
cannot be said for the flow of information between these regions. There is potential
for growth in information flows between the Asia-Pacific region and the rest
of the world, as well as between countries within the region.
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| 10) |
Pioneering role in selected ICT areas: Within the region, some countries
have been pioneering, inter alia, broadband, satellite and mobile telecommunication
services, among others, which are having a significant impact on the way people
communicate and on the delivery of government and business services. The experience
gained by those countries in this field can be shared with others to promote
good practice at local, national, regional and global levels.
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| 11) |
Special circumstances of regional small island developing States: These
countries, vulnerable to environmental hazards, and characterized by small,
homogenous markets, high costs of access and equipment, human resource constraints
exacerbated by the problem of "brain-drain", limited access to networks
and remote locations, will require particular attention and tailored solutions
to meet their needs.
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3. Advancing the region's Information Society
In order to promote the development and advancement of the Information
Society, it is necessary to address many issues, within and across sectors,
while ensuring that the essential platform of ICT infrastructure and services,
standards and innovation is established.
(1) Priority areas for action
a) Infrastructure development
The development of the Information Society must be based on platforms of
internationally interoperable technical standards, accessible for all, and
technological innovation of ICTs, as well as systems to promote the exchange
of knowledge at global, regional and subregional levels through any media.
In this regard, in addition to enhancing people's awareness of the advantages
of using ICTs, reliable, advanced and appropriate, ICT technologies and services
infrastructure are required.
As a sharp increase in the volume of international and regional Internet
traffic is anticipated, it is important to strengthen regional and international
broadband network infrastructure by using new technologies to enhance network
efficiency and provide the capacity to match the needs of the countries in
the region.
Working towards open and flexible international and interoperable standards
is an important issue for all countries so as to ensure that all can utilize
the technology and associated content and services to their maximum potential.
Development and deployment of open-source software should be encouraged, as
appropriate, as should open standards for ICT networking.
b) Securing affordable, universal access to ICTs
In order to achieve affordable and universal access it is important to enable
existing and new technologies to provide connectivity to all, in particular
through institutions accessible to the public such as schools, libraries,
post offices and multi-purpose community centres. Special attention should
be paid to how ICTs can benefit the disadvantaged, through innovative initiatives.
High-quality access, attainable through broadband, has great potential to
help better deliver essential services required to meet basic human needs
through applications such as e-education and e-health, as well as e-business
and other ICT applications. Also, new technologies, such as wireless and satellite
networks can assist remote areas, including small island nations, to gain
access to information and knowledge.
c) Preserving linguistic and cultural diversity and promoting local content
Linguistic and cultural diversity enriches the development of society by
giving expression to a range of different values and ideas. It can facilitate
the spread and use of information by presenting it in the language and cultural
context most familiar to the user, thereby further encouraging the use of
ICTs.
Promoting broadband networks in the Asia-Pacific region could not only support
research, business and personal activities, but also help to preserve cultural
diversity and indigenous knowledge and traditions. In this context, an effort
should be made to support multilingual domain names, local content development,
digital archives, diverse forms of digital media, content translation and
adaptation. The development of standard and recognized character sets and
language codes should also be supported.
d) Developing human resources
In order for people to make the most of the Information Society, they must
have enhanced levels of ICT literacy and ICT skills. To achieve this, relevant
education and training should be promoted at every level, from primary to
adult, to open up opportunities for as many people as possible, and especially
for the disadvantaged. The capacity of developing and least developed countries
to apply ICTs effectively must be enhanced through regional and international
cooperation.
ICTs can contribute to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, and
the sharing of knowledge and information. Teachers act as a gateway to the
Information Society, and their skills development and curriculum resources
need increased support.
It is also important to improve both basic and advanced education in science
and technology. This will help to create a critical mass of highly qualified
and skilled ICT professionals and experts that will continue to serve as a
foundation for the region's ICT development. It is recognized that education
in network infrastructure development and operation is of particular importance,
and is critical to the availability of efficient, reliable, competitive and
secure ICT network services.
e) Establishing legal, regulatory and policy frameworks
The transition to the Information Society requires the creation of appropriate
and transparent legal, regulatory and policy frameworks at the global, regional
and national levels. These frameworks should give due regard to the rights
and obligations of all stakeholders in such areas as freedom of expression,
privacy, security, management of Internet addresses and domain names, and
consumer protection, while also maintaining economic incentives and ensuring
trust and confidence for business activities. In order to secure prompt settlement
of disputes, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should be considered along
with normal judicial proceedings.
f) Ensuring balance between intellectual property rights (IPR) and public
interest
While intellectual property rights play a vital role in fostering innovation
in software, e-commerce and associated trade and investment, there is a need
to promote initiatives to ensure fair balance between IPRs and the interests
of the users of information, while also taking into consideration the global
consensus achieved on IPR issues in multilateral organizations.
Copyright holders and distributors of content should be cognizant of the
need to ensure that content is accessible for all, including persons with
disabilities. In this connection, access requirements should be included in
legal, regulatory and policy frameworks, where appropriate.
g) Ensuring the security of ICTs
Among the challenges to the region are the general lack of awareness of
information security issues, the rapidly evolving complexity, capacity and
reach of information technology, the anonymity offered by these technologies,
and the transnational nature of communication frameworks. Recognizing the
principle of fair, equitable and appropriate access to ICTs for all countries,
special attention should be paid to the fact that ICTs can potentially be
used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining
international stability and security, and may adversely affect the integrity
of the infrastructure within States, to the detriment of their security in
both civil and military fields. A multi-pronged approach is needed to address
these challenges, and cybercrime, on all fronts, with emphasis on preventive
approaches, national guidelines and regional and international cooperation.
At the same time, action to address cybercrime and to ensure a safe and secure
Information Society must respect the sovereignty of nations and maintain respect
for the constitutional and other rights of all persons, including freedom
of expression.
All stakeholders concerned with ICT issues should take the necessary steps
to enhance security, user confidence and other aspects of information and
system/network integrity in order to avoid the risk of wholesale disruption
and destruction of the network systems on which they are increasingly dependent.
Effective information security could be guaranteed not only by technology,
but also by education and training, policy and law, and international cooperation.
In the long term, development of a "global culture of cybersecurity",
based on a common understanding of regulations and appropriate mechanisms
for information and technology exchange and international cooperation, should
be promoted.
h) Fostering partnerships and mobilizing resources
The private sector plays an important role in the development and diffusion
of ICTs, while civil society, including NGOs, works closely with communities
in strengthening ICT-related initiatives. Increased cooperation and partnerships
are needed between governmental and intergovernmental organizations, the private
sector and civil society, for effective design and implementation of various
initiatives, by giving priority to locally-available human resources. All
stakeholders are urged to mobilize resources for the development of the Information
Society, including through increasing investment in telecommunication infrastructure,
human capacity building, policy frameworks and the development of culturally
sensitive local content and applications. International and regional organizations,
including financial and development institutions, have an important role to
play in integrating the use of ICTs in the development process and making
available the necessary resources for this purpose.
(2) Cross-sectoral priority programmes and activities
To make significant progress, all countries of the region will need to mainstream
ICTs, with special reference to gender, within their national and regional
development strategies, and across all sectors.
In this context, the following initiatives can support social and economic
development, including the emergence of e-communities, while at the same time
ensuring that traditional models are recognized and respected, so that the
non-users of ICTs are not marginalized.
a) e-government
ICT networks can offer better public services to citizens by more efficient
and effective dissemination of information and delivery of essential government
services. E-government can also generate a greater sense of community participation,
and improve informed decision-making and development programme implementation.
b) e-business
Through the application of ICT, businesses in all sectors can achieve increased
productivity and profitability, reach wider markets, lower their transaction
costs and control inventories more effectively. On the consumer side, ICTs
can bring to consumers greater satisfaction through their interaction with
many potential suppliers, beyond the constraints of location.
c) e-learning
Access to education and knowledge is essential for economic, social and
cultural development, and as a means of personal empowerment, community development
and business efficiency. ICT networks have the potential to offer unprecedented
educational opportunities to all groups in all areas of the Asia-Pacific region.
Implementation of affordable and universal educational programmes, content,
broadband networks and hardware should be promoted.
d) e-health
Access to healthcare information and services is
a basic right. Many countries lack adequate healthcare facilities and personnel,
particularly in rural and remote areas. The use of ICTs promotes social inclusion
of all members of society by enabling equitable access to healthcare services,
as well as empowering citizens to better manage their own health and to participate
more effectively in the healthcare process.
e) Community information and communication centres
Community information and communication centres
are critical to ensure inclusive access to information and social services,
particularly in rural areas.
(3) National and regional e-strategies
Comprehensive ICT strategies that have been endorsed
at the highest political levels and that include clear goals need to be formulated
at community, national, regional and global levels in order to create the
Information Society. These strategies will be encouraged to be designed and
implemented through collaboration and participation of all stakeholders. In
this regard, awareness of the vast potential of the positive use of ICTs should
be promoted among all concerned.
4. Conclusion
This Declaration was adopted at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Regional
Conference and will be submitted as the Asia-Pacific region's input to the
WSIS process. Furthermore, the Conference recognizes the importance of the
declaration and plan of action resulting from the WSIS process, taking into
account internationally agreed goals, including those of the Millennium Declaration.
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