|
World leaders at the World Summit on the Information Society, recognized young
people as the future workforce and earliest adopters of ICTs and called for
their empowerment. The Geneva Action Plan calls upon governments in their
national e-strategies to address the special requirements of children and youth,
especially the most marginalized, and other disadvantaged and vulnerable groups,
and through appropriate educational administrative and legislative measures, to
ensure their full inclusion in the Information Society. It also encourages ICT
services and assistive technologies that will facilitate easy and affordable
access to children and youth and promote ICT applications suited to their needs.
ITU has launched a special global initiative for children and youth from
developing countries and countries in transition. The aim is to increase their
access, use and knowledge of ICT to facilitate their integration in and
contribution to the Information Society.
Under this umbrella initiative,
governments and private sector are called upon to work together to extend the
benefits of ICT to the leaders of tomorrow.
-
The Youth Education Scheme
— YES — that supports the young in ICT education, which represents a
critical solution for bridging the digital divide. This programme provides
young people with scholarships.
Call for action: ITU Member States and Sector Members are encouraged
to pledge additional scholarships to help students in developing and least
developed countries access advanced courses in the field of Information and
Communication technologies.
-
The Youth Incentive Scheme,
an internship initiative, which aims to integrate youth in the ICT field,
encouraging and supporting first job opportunities.
Call for action: ITU Member States and Sector Members are encouraged
to launch internship opportunities in their own institutions/companies for
young professionals in the ICT and related fields.
-
ITU TELECOM
Youth Forums,
during which a contest is launched and the participants propose projects
designed to integrate young people into the Information Society. The ITU
Youth programme helps active and motivated Alumni shape their ideas into
concrete projects that can be implemented in their region, country or
community.
Call for action: ITU Member States and Sector Members are encouraged
to sponsor the implementation of projects put forward by Youth Forum Alumni.
-
Global Network of Helplines for
Children. The World Summit on the Information Society recognized
the important role played by Child Helplines in helping children in
distress.
Child Helpline International (CHI) and ITU, with the support of
the Government of the Netherlands, are collaborating on the development of a
global, multilingual portal to expand the availability of information and
services for children.
Call for action: ITU Member States and Sector Members are encouraged
to promote this global portal in their country/region as well as establish a
Child Helpline if they have not already done so.
-
Cybersecurity information for
Children and Youth. Children and young people need support,
advice and guidance regarding their use of communication technologies. A
dedicated space for children and youth was created within the ITU’s
Cybersecurity Gateway:
www.itu.int/cybersecurity/citizens.html to provide
best practices and share experiences on how to make cyberspace a safer place
for your children
Call for action: ITU Member States and Sector Members are encouraged
to take concrete steps towards making cyberspace safer for children.
|
