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UNESCO Shapes a Fairer Digital Future Through Global Cooperation

From open-source tools to digital literacy, UNESCO's bold vision is rewiring the internet for equity. Discover how policy meets action in closing the global tech gap.

The image shows a whiteboard with a drawing of a bridge and a diagram of the National STEM Open...
The image shows a whiteboard with a drawing of a bridge and a diagram of the National STEM Open Educational Resource. The text written on the whiteboard is likely related to the open educational resource, providing further details about the resource.

UNESCO Shapes a Fairer Digital Future Through Global Cooperation

UNESCO plays a key role in shaping the digital world by promoting fair access, ethical standards, and global cooperation. As a UN agency focused on education, science, and culture, it leads efforts to bridge the digital divide and support open technologies. The organisation was formally tasked by the 2005 Tunis Agenda to oversee action lines from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). These include improving access to information, advancing e-learning, and addressing the ethical challenges of digital spaces. UNESCO also helps prepare the annual WSIS Forum and contributes to the Internet Governance Forum.

Alongside the International Telecommunication Union, UNESCO co-founded the Broadband Commission. This body works to expand high-speed internet access worldwide. The agency also champions open standards, such as open data, open educational resources, and open-source technologies. To guide its digital policies, UNESCO introduced the concept of 'Internet Universality'. This framework rests on four pillars: human rights, openness, global accessibility, and collaboration among governments, businesses, and civil society. The agency further supports digital literacy, multilingualism online, and the responsible use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education. Its Institute for Information Technologies in Education leads research and training in this area.

UNESCO’s work spans from policy-making to practical initiatives that strengthen digital inclusion. By backing open technologies, ethical guidelines, and global internet access, the agency aims to create a more equitable and connected world. These efforts align with its broader mission to foster peace, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable development.

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