UNESCO says it will continue to assist its member states in their efforts to empower their citizens, including persons with disabilities and marginalised groups, to access information and knowledge through the increasing use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). <
The organisation has since published a report, summarising the recommendations of a group of experts on how UNESCO could assist its member states in facilitating social inclusion of persons with disabilities through ICTs. This document provides an overview of the background and rationale for the expert meeting, organised by UNESCO in cooperation with the Global Initiative in February.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the disabled community, IT&T industry, research and educational institutions, non-governmental organisations working in the subject area, and United Nations family organisations. The experts recommended to UNESCO to have its UNESCO ICT-accessible. It said for UNESCO to achieve this goal the organisation should improve its online presence and the accessibility of its website. It should also create accessible physical environment, develop appropriate procurement and recruitment policies, and ensure training and retaining of the employees.
UNESCO was also encouraged to foster effective use of ICT that are accessible, adaptive and affordable for person with disabilities. Specific guidelines and tools were needed to teach persons with disabilities and to ensure that corresponding ICT competencies were embedded in initial teacher training. The experts stressed the importance of identifying arguments for shifts in policy practices and determining funding opportunities where UNESCO could get involved. It was important to co-operate with organisations of persons with disabilities in order to get the best possible input and to have credible action lines and projects for funding.
They also recommended focuses on touch points, such as WorldWide Web, broadcasting, publishing, languages, in the system in which people and humans interacted with information and services. It also included e-governance, which could be used to promote e-voting and e-democracy initiatives for citizen participation in an accessible way, as well increase participation in cultural activities.
Post published in: News