Forging Paths to Digital Transformation and Inclusive Digital Societies
A Partner2Connect Digital Coalition Event hosted by Twitter
Remarks
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
18 September 2022
Excellencies,
Secretary-General,
Broadband Commissioners,
Partners, friends of the P2C Digital Coalition,
UN Development community, colleagues,
Good afternoon.
What pleasure to be here in person at the New York offices of Twitter. I guess I should start with a disclaimer: I'm afraid my remarks are likely to considerably exceed the 280-character limit.
But more seriously, let me begin by extending my sincere thanks to Sinéad McSweeney, Vice President of Public Policy & Managing Director of Twitter Ireland, along with the entire team at Twitter, for hosting our event today, for their continued collaboration with ITU, and for pledging to Partner2Connect.
Just about one year ago, in this very same city and on the occasion of the UN General Assembly, we gathered to launch Partner2Connect, in close cooperation with the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology, and UN-OHRLLS.
Reflecting on this past year, I could not be more proud of what we have accomplished together.
We have an Action Framework, which has served as the guiding document for the Coalition.
We launched the P2C Online Pledging Platform, through which resources from public and private sector players around the world are being mobilized.
We've amassed over 450 pledges worth around $27 billion, from over 230 entities and more than 100 countries around the globe.
We hosted an inspiring discussion programme at the World Telecommunication Development Conference in Kigali, which among other important outcomes, adopted a Resolution on P2C, reinforcing the mandate of this Coalition and giving it further impetus to extend its reach and impact.
And we've built an extraordinary P2C community— a vibrant and action-oriented group, striving together towards a meaningfully connected planet.
Your efforts to 'Partner2Connect' go to the core of the vision outlined in the UN Secretary General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, and are supporting global efforts to lay the groundwork for a solid and effective Global Digital Compact.
Dear colleagues,
Our achievements so far testify to what can be done when action-oriented multistakeholder leadership comes together to advance a common cause.
But we still have quite some way to go.
Today's session will help us to:
- Further discuss key challenges and opportunities for digital transformation and digital inclusion
- Take stock of the progress already achieved by some of our pledge-makers
- Announce new and inspiring pledges
- And present future plans for the Coalition, which include monitoring and reporting progress on the implementation of our P2C pledges.
I look forward to working together with our UN colleagues to help governments advance their digital transformation journeys and move closer to our goal of a fully connected planet.
Let me conclude by inviting you all to attend our first P2C Annual Update Meeting, which will take place in Geneva, at the ITU Headquarters on December 8. I hope to see many of you there.
Now, back to David to lead us through the session. Thank you.
