4. The objectives of the Plan of Action are to build an inclusive Information Society; to put
the potential of knowledge and ICTs at the service of development; to promote the use of
information and knowledge for the achievement of internationally agreed development
goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; and to address new
challenges of the Information Society, at the national, regional and international levels.
Opportunity shall be taken in phase two of the WSIS to evaluate and assess progress
made towards bridging the digital divide.
5. Specific targets for the Information Society will be established as appropriate, at the
national level in the framework of national e-strategies and in accordance with national
development policies, taking into account the different national circumstances. Such
targets can serve as useful benchmarks for actions and for the evaluation of the progress
made towards the attainment of the overall objectives of the Information Society.
6. Based on internationally agreed development goals, including those in the Millennium
Declaration, which are premised on international cooperation, indicative targets may
serve as global references for improving connectivity and access in the use of ICTs in
promoting the objectives of the Plan of Action, to be achieved by 2015. These targets
may be taken into account in the establishment of the national targets, considering the
different national circumstances:
a) to connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points;
b) to connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools with
ICTs;
c) to connect scientific and research
centers with ICTs;
d) to connect public libraries, cultural
centers, museums, post offices and archives
with ICTs;
e) to connect health
centers and hospitals with ICTs;
f) to connect all local and central government departments and establish websites
and email addresses;
g) to adapt all primary and secondary school curricula to meet the challenges of the
Information Society, taking into account national circumstances;
h) to ensure that all of the world’s population have access to television and radio
services;
i) to encourage the development of content and to put in place technical conditions
in order to facilitate the presence and use of all world languages on the Internet;
j) to ensure that more than half the world’s inhabitants have access to ICTs within
their reach.
7. In giving effect to these objectives, goals and targets, special attention will be paid to the needs of developing countries, and in particular to countries, peoples and groups cited
in paragraphs 11-16 of the Declaration of Principles.
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