Our Common Humanity in the Information Age Principles and Values for Development
New York, 29 November 2006
In September 2000, the heads of the Member States of the United Nations gathered in New York for a historic meeting. Unanimously, they signed on to a document called The Millennium Declaration, which outlined a common set of values and principles, including solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility. In the context of these fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century, the Declaration called for "broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future, based upon our common humanity in all its diversity". The Millennium Declaration was also the source document for the Millennium Development Goals, eight benchmarks aimed at halving global poverty by 2015.
Against this backdrop, a global, multi-stakeholder forum was organized at the United Nations in the framework of the Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (GAID), in partnership with interested UN departments, agencies and NGOs, on the promotion and inculcation of these values and principles and lending them practical expressions in the actions of governments, civil society, the private sector and individuals across the globe.
People all over the world were invited to take ownership of the summit, in affirmation of our common humanity.
Our Objectives
The meeting aimed at reviving the spirit of cooperation through:
Sending a message that the global community is one family with common values and promoting the concept of equity and fairness through ICT.
Strengthening the United Nations as a positive force for good, based on inclusion and partnership.
Sharing global public goods, especially ICT, whose benefits reach across borders, generations and populations.
Promoting equity, eradication of diseases, environmental sustainability and peace and security.
Building awareness that the ecological balance of the planet is fragile and is easily compromised by common threats to mankind, such as poverty, climate change, global warming, natural disasters, famine and conflicts, and, if there is no effort to deal with these threats, our common destiny is at stake.
Participants
The summit featured prominent leaders and individuals in governments, private sector, entertainment, sports, science and technology and media from the five regions; Nobel Laureates and other prestigious awards winners from the five regions. These dynamic speakers engaged in a series of interactive roundtable discussions based around the values affirmed in the Millennium Declaration.
Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (UNDESA), Foreign Policy Association, Friends of the UN, Global Compact, UNDP, UNFIP, UNESCO, UN Millennium Project, The World Bank, WFUNA, ICCC, Alliance of Civilizations, CORE, UNGO-IRENE, World Peace Prayer Society, Institute for a Culture of Peace
If you have any questions, you may wish to contact Ms. Enrica Murmura at murmura AT un DOT org or by telephone (212) 963-5913.
Our Common Humanity in the Information Age Principles and Values for Development New York, 28-29 November 2006
Youth Forum
The Youth Forum will be held at the United Nations on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006 as an exciting prelude to the day-long conference on the following day, "Our Common Humanity in the Information Age".
Young leaders in various fields will be invited to engage in an interactive forum whose goal is to provide input into the values and issues to be discussed the next day. Six youth representatives will take the results of Tuesday's youth deliberations into Wednesday's panel discussions, alongside of experts, celebrities, UN officials, and outstanding members of various disciplines.
Our Common Humanity in the Information Age Principles and Values for Development New York, 29 November 2006
Information for Participants
Dear Participants,
Welcome to the Special Event on Our Common Humanity in the Information Age: Principles and Values for Development, which will be held in the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on 29 November 2006.
The event is organized by the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), in partnership with the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), United Nations Department of Public Information (UN-DPI), United Nations Global Compact, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), United Nations Millennium Project, World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), Pace University, The World Bank, Alliance of Civilizations, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Friends of the United Nations, International Institute for Culture of Peace, International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC), United Nations Non-Governmental-Organizations Informal Regional Network (UN- NGO-IRENE) and the World Peace Prayer Society.
Information and communication technology (ICT) has a key role to play in helping the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the set of eight time-bound targets for reducing poverty and ameliorating other social and economic ills, the General Assembly President said.
Leaders from Government, the private sector, science and technology, media, entertainment and sports from around the world will gather at the United Nations on Wednesday, 29 November to convey the message that the global community is one family with common values.
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