Establishment of an Intergovernmental Committee on Technology for Development in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia — E/RES/2014/35 | UN Mandate Registry
Establishment of an Intergovernmental Committee on Technology for Development in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Endorses the establishment of an intergovernmental committee on technology for development in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, as set out in Commission resolution 315 (XXVIII), the text of which is annexed to the present resolution.
Resolution 315 (XXVIII)
Establishment of an intergovernmental committee on technology for development
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,
Referring to the 2005 World Summit Outcome,3 in which the States Members of the United Nations recognized that science and technology, including information and communications technology, are vital for the achievement of the development goals, and to Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/68 of 5 November 2004 on science and technology for development,
Referring also to the outcome of the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva in 20034 and in Tunis in 2005,5 in particular the Tunis Agenda for the Information SocietyError: Reference source not found and the international mechanisms and forums it generated,
Referring further to goal 8 of the Millennium Development Goals, which includes a target on making available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technology,
Recognizing the importance of increasing the participation of the Governments of States members of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in identifying priorities and planning and improving the Commission’s programme of work in the field of technology for development,
Recognizing also the need to enhance coordination and integration between the Commission and Arab regional organizations regarding technology-for-development policies and programmes, to meet the needs of member States and develop such technology to achieve inclusive development in the Arab region,
Taking into consideration the recommendations resulting from the evaluation undertaken by the Commission of its working mechanisms, including a proposal to establish a committee on technology for development,
Stressing the important role of the Commission in promoting information and communications technology sectors and related industries and enhancing their role in development, the information society and the digital economy in member States and linking them to the international process of the World Summit on the Information Society and the mechanisms and international forums it generated for Internet governance; and invigorating the role of member States at the international level in those international forums,
Stressing also the important role of the Commission’s Technology Centre in the fields of science and technology and in networking scientific and technological research with major economic sectors in member States,
Taking into consideration the efforts undertaken by the Commission under subprogramme 4, Information and communications technology for regional integration, of programme 19, Economic and social development in Western Asia, of the biennial programme plan and its achievements in that field in advancing the information and communications technology sector and scientific and technological research,
Guided by the work of other United Nations regional commissions regarding the establishment of specialized committees on technology for development,
1
Endorses changing the name of subprogramme 4 of programme 19 of the biennial programme plan, from “Information and communications technology for regional integration” to “Technology for development and regional integration”;
2
Decides to establish an intergovernmental committee, to be named the Committee on Technology for Development, comprising representatives from States members of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia with experience in the field, which would replace the Consultative Committee on Scientific and Technological Development and Technological Innovation, use the resources allocated to it and undertake the following:
a
Identifying priorities of the Commission’s programme of work and medium-term plans regarding technology for development, including scientific research and innovation, the digital economy and the information society, knowledge economies and emerging areas;
b
Monitoring the progress achieved in the field of technology, including information and communications technology, Internet governance, the digital economy and the information society on the one hand, and areas related to scientific research and transfer of technology on the other hand; and formulating recommendations to strengthen the development of those fields;
c
Following up regional and international processes, conferences and forums relevant to subprogramme 4, and coordinating regional efforts to implement decisions and recommendations of those conferences;
d
Supporting the secretariat of the Commission in continuing to follow up the implementation of the Tunis Agenda on the Information Society adopted by the World Summit on the Information SocietyError: Reference source not found and participating in the activities and projects related to the World Summit beyond 2015;
e
Advancing the work of the secretariat in supporting cooperation with the ministerial councils and the organizations and unions of the League of Arab States, including the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information Technology, the Arab Administrative Development Organization and other specialized organizations, in harmonizing policies and strategies, supporting communication and partnerships and coordinating positions at the international level in addition to building capacities;
3
Also decides that the Committee shall hold its sessions once every two years, with effect from 2016;
4
Requests the Executive Secretary of the Commission to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission at its twenty-ninth session.
