Access, Agency, Voice.


WACC

Session 205

Tuesday, 7 July 2026 16:00–16:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room G3, ITU Varembé Building Interactive Session 1 Document
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Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation


How communities in the Global South are shaping another technological world

Presentations and discussions challenging the idea that there is only one technological future. Other technological worlds are possible and they are being created by local communities and indigenous peoples of the global South: through community radio stations, community connectivity networks, community digital archives, and social and community-based mobile virtual network operators invite us to think about other possibilities.

Panellists
Philip Lee General Secretary WACC, United Kingdom Moderator

Philip Lee is currently General Secretary of the international non-governmntal organisation WACC specialising in communication rights and is editor of its quarterly journal Media Development. His publications include Many Voices, One Vision: The Right to Communicate in Practice (ed.) (2004); Communicating Peace: Entertaining Angels Unawares (ed.) (2008), and Public Memory, Public Media and the Politics of Justice (co-ed.) (2012). 


Carlos Baca Redes AC, Mexico

Carlos Baca has been working since 2012 through the organizations Redes, A.C. and Rhizomatica in the design and facilitation of capacity-building processes and in supporting organizations working with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in the development of telecommunications and community communication projects. Since 2019, he has worked as an expert consultant for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), leading capacity-building programmes that support Indigenous, rural, and remote communities in developing their own connectivity and communication initiatives, such as the Training Programme in ICT Network Management in Latin America and Africa. Since 2020, he has coordinated the capacity-building area of LocNet, a global initiative led by APC and Rhizomatica in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, which works to strengthen community-led approaches to digital inclusion and local network development. Carlos holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities “Alfonso Vélez Pliego” (BUAP), and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences from UDLAP.


Maroua Ghith Local Democracy Association, Tunisia

Maroua Ghith is a Tunisian educator, volunteer and social worker, dedicated to community development and civic engagement. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature, Language, and Civilization and serves as an English Club Teacher and Secretary General of the Local Democracy Association (LDA). Passionate about education, she promotes learning through interactive and engaging workshops that foster effective communication, personal growth, and empowerment for youth and children. As an international exchange alumna, Maroua gained valuable international experience in leadership, project development, and community engagement. She actively contributes in the design and implementation of initiatives that create meaningful social impact especially within the framework of the LDA Tunisia.


Roxana Widmer Iliescu Head of Digital Inclusion International Telecommunication Union, Switzerland

Roxana WIDMER-ILIESCU heads the Digital Inclusion Service at the Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), where she has dedicated over 28 years to advancing the global digital inclusion agenda. She advises ITU Members on inclusive digital policies and strategies that enable everyone’s participation in the digital society, economy, and environment. A passionate advocate for ICT and digital accessibility, Roxana promotes human-centred technologies and equitable digital opportunities for all—regardless of age, gender, ability, or location. To support global efforts toward building a digitally inclusive world where no one is left behind, she has spearheaded the development of more than 90 ITU-D key resources aimed at fostering the implementation of available, affordable, and digitally accessible technologies.


Topics
Cultural Diversity Digital Divide Digital Inclusion Emerging Technologies Human Rights Media
WSIS Action Lines
  • AL C2 logo C2. Information and communication infrastructure
  • AL C3 logo C3. Access to information and knowledge
  • AL C6 logo C6. Enabling environment
  • AL C8 logo C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content

Community-involvement in the development and implementation of WSIS-Action Lines is essential to the validity, integrity, and sustainability of information and communication technologies. Civil society, including marginalised communities, need to be involved in designing and using communication infrastructures that are appropriate to their local contexts and that respect cultural values and the dignity of all life.

Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 1 logo Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 5 logo Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 16 logo Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

Equitable access to communication underlies genuine social progress and the sustainable development goals. In today's digital world, the concept of digital justice stands firmly on universal principles of human rights and democratic accountability. Governments, corporations, the private sector, and civil society organisations must play their part in guaranteeing accessibility, affordabilty, and accountability.

GDC Objectives
  • Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Objective 3: Foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights
Links

https://waccglobal.org/resources/digital-justice/progressive-decolonial-approach-digital-ecosystems/

https://waccglobal.org/media-development-2025-4-articles/