Monday, June 23, 2025
  • Login
Euro Times
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Finance
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Stock Market
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Investing
  • Health
  • Technology
  • Home
  • Finance
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Stock Market
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Investing
  • Health
  • Technology
Euro Times
No Result
View All Result

Africa the Least Connected with 60 percent of the Population Offline — Global Issues

by Global Issues
December 12, 2022
in World
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
Home World
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


  • by Thalif Deen (united nations)
  • Monday, December 12, 2022
  • Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 12 (IPS) – The digital divide – between the world’s rich and poor nations —remains staggeringly wide.

For over 2.7 billion people, many of them living in developing and least developed countries (LDCs), meaningful connectivity remains elusive, according to a UN report released during the 17th Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa, last month.

“Bridging the gap will be a catalyst for advancing an open, free, secure and inclusive Internet, and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “

Africa is one of the regions which is the least connected, with 60 per cent of the population offline, due to a combination of lack of access, affordability and skills training.

Africa’s burgeoning youth population, however, holds the key to transforming the region’s digital future. There is immense potential in empowering youth to thrive in a digital economy and leapfrogging technologies, says the UN.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres says. “With the right policies in place, digital technology can give an unprecedented boost to sustainable development, particularly for the poorest countries”.

This calls for more connectivity; and less digital fragmentation. More bridges across digital divides; and fewer barriers. Greater autonomy for ordinary people; less abuse and disinformation, he declared.

While COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation in some sectors like health and education, it also exacerbated various forms of digital inequality, running deep along social and economic lines, says the UN report.

Globally, more men use the Internet (at 62 per cent compared with 57 per cent of women). And in nearly all countries where data are available, rates of Internet use are higher for those with more education.

Besides the digital divide– between the world’s “haves and have-nots”– there is also a marked increase in “gender divide”. In Africa, only 21 % of women have access to the Internet. The gender divide starts early as Internet use is four times greater for boys than for girls.

Emma Gibson, the Campaign Lead, Universal Digital Rights, for Equality Now, told IPS challenges in our digital society, including unequal access to digital technology and platforms, online gender-based and sexual violence, internet shutdowns, and AI and algorithmic biases, profoundly affected those with the least power and privilege.

“Women, children, and people in other groups facing discrimination are all disproportionately impacted”, she said.

“Widespread patriarchy and misogyny found in the physical world are being replicated, exacerbated, and facilitated in the digital realm, with violence against women and children perpetrated online on a huge scale”.

Offenders are rarely held to account, and this is unsurprising considering that there is currently no universal standard for ending online sexual exploitation and abuse.

“From the explosion in online violence towards women and girls to the threats posed by internet shutdowns, it is clear that there is an urgent need to bring in a new global agreement to protect our human rights in the digital world”.

“All of us have a right to safety, freedom, and dignity in the digital space, and the Internet needs to work in our interests, not against them”, declared Gibson.

The increase in Internet use has also paved the way for the proliferation of its dark side, with the rampant spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, the regular occurrence of data breaches, and an increase in cybercrimes, according to the UN.

“Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented 182 Internet shutdowns in 34 countries in 2021, an increase from 159 shutdowns recorded in 29 countries in 2020, demonstrating the power governments have in controlling information in the digital space.”

The theme of Addis Ababa Forum, “Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future”, called for collective actions and a shared responsibility to connect all people and safeguard human rights; avoid Internet fragmentation; govern data and protect privacy; enable safety, security and accountability; and address advanced digital technologies.

“The Internet is the platform that will accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Our collective task is to unleash the power and potential of a resilient Internet for our shared sustainable and common future,” said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, during the Internet Governance Forum.

Gibson of Equality Now said in developing solutions, it is important to acknowledge the continuum of injustices, power imbalances, and gendered violence that predate technology and which manifest and multiply online.

The root causes of these need to be addressed when developing and implementing policies to ensure universal, secure, and safe access for all.

“A human-centered and resilient digital future not only includes ensuring affordable access but meaningful and secure access to digital technologies.”

“We need a universal approach to defining, upholding, and advancing digital rights so that everyone has universal equality of safety, freedom, and dignity in our digital future,” she noted.

IPS UN Bureau Report

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram

© Inter Press Service (2022) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service

Where next?

Related news

Browse related news topics:

Latest news

Read the latest news stories:

  • The Digital Divide: Africa the Least Connected with 60 percent of the Population Offline Monday, December 12, 2022
  • More than 11,000 children killed or injured in Yemen conflict: UNICEF Sunday, December 11, 2022
  • No time to waste, as Haiti famine risk rises, warns UN emergency food aid agency Sunday, December 11, 2022
  • UN chief condemns recent deadly armed group attacks in eastern DR Congo Saturday, December 10, 2022
  • Does UN Peacekeeping work? Here’s what the data says Saturday, December 10, 2022
  • Africa Fights Back Against Wildlife Poachers, but Drought is Devastating Friday, December 09, 2022
  • COP15: Super Reefs Offer Hope for Ocean Recovery Ahead of Biodiversity Summit Friday, December 09, 2022
  • Guterres: Put human rights at the heart of efforts to reverse today’s damaging trends Friday, December 09, 2022
  • Ukraine war: Attacks against civilians and infrastructure must stop, disarmament chief tells Security Council Friday, December 09, 2022
  • UN Emergency Response Fund, a ‘lifeline of hope’ to meet record needs Friday, December 09, 2022

In-depth

Learn more about the related issues:

Share this

Bookmark or share this with others using some popular social bookmarking web sites:

Link to this page from your site/blog

<p><a href="https://www.globalissues.org/news/2022/12/12/32624">The Digital Divide: Africa the Least Connected with 60 percent of the Population Offline</a>, <cite>Inter Press Service</cite>, Monday, December 12, 2022 (posted by Global Issues)</p>

… to produce this:

The Digital Divide: Africa the Least Connected with 60 percent of the Population Offline, Inter Press Service, Monday, December 12, 2022 (posted by Global Issues)





Source link

Tags: AfricaConnectedGlobalIssuesofflinePercentpopulation
Previous Post

Buying NFTs isn’t a Complicated Process | by DEFIX SOLUTIONS | The Capital | Dec, 2022

Next Post

Stock Based Compensation: A List Of The Worst Offenders And A Few Of The Best

Related Posts

Zohran Mamdani ahead of Andrew Cuomo in key pre‑primary poll ahead of NYC mayoral race, Vivek Ramaswamy reacts

Zohran Mamdani ahead of Andrew Cuomo in key pre‑primary poll ahead of NYC mayoral race, Vivek Ramaswamy reacts

by TOI World Desk
June 23, 2025
0

Zohran Mamdani is forward of Cuomo in rank alternative in NYC mayoral ballot. In a surprising shift on the eve...

Ethiopians and Eritreans embrace at rare border reopening

Ethiopians and Eritreans embrace at rare border reopening

by Girmay Gebru - BBC Tigrinya, Zalambessa
June 23, 2025
0

There have been celebrations on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea as communities from the frontier villages got here collectively...

The Path to Peace Between Israel and Iran — Global Issues

The Path to Peace Between Israel and Iran — Global Issues

by Global Issues
June 23, 2025
0

Monitoring Iran and selling the peaceable use of nuclear power. The IAEA applies safeguards to confirm states are honoring their...

Experts Assess Iran Strikes, Response and What Comes Next – The Cipher Brief

Experts Assess Iran Strikes, Response and What Comes Next – The Cipher Brief

by Suzanne Kelly
June 23, 2025
0

EXPERT SUMMARY -- Given this weekend’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear amenities and the unimaginable quick tempo at which occasions are...

Key players tangle at UNSC at ‘perilous turn’ of US-Israel-Iran conflict | Conflict News

Key players tangle at UNSC at ‘perilous turn’ of US-Israel-Iran conflict | Conflict News

by Euro Times
June 23, 2025
0

Tensions soar on the UN as Iran and its allies condemn US navy actions, whereas the US and Israel reject...

I visited Iran to see what it’s REALLY like – I ended up in hiding in terror and fleeing for my life

I visited Iran to see what it’s REALLY like – I ended up in hiding in terror and fleeing for my life

by Oliver Harvey
June 22, 2025
0

EMERGING from a carpet store in Iran’s lovely and historic metropolis of Esfahan, I used to be engulfed by a...

Next Post
Stock Based Compensation: A List Of The Worst Offenders And A Few Of The Best

Stock Based Compensation: A List Of The Worst Offenders And A Few Of The Best

Elon Musk Slashes Crypto Bot Activities with One Tweet, DOGE Co-Founder Verifies

Elon Musk Slashes Crypto Bot Activities with One Tweet, DOGE Co-Founder Verifies

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Singapore’s New Rules Threaten Crypto Founders With Jail and 0K Fines

Singapore’s New Rules Threaten Crypto Founders With Jail and $200K Fines

June 23, 2025
Zohran Mamdani ahead of Andrew Cuomo in key pre‑primary poll ahead of NYC mayoral race, Vivek Ramaswamy reacts

Zohran Mamdani ahead of Andrew Cuomo in key pre‑primary poll ahead of NYC mayoral race, Vivek Ramaswamy reacts

June 23, 2025
10 Attractive Dividend Stocks After The Iran Strikes

10 Attractive Dividend Stocks After The Iran Strikes

June 23, 2025
Air India Express diverts flights from Qatar amid Iran’s retaliation 

Air India Express diverts flights from Qatar amid Iran’s retaliation 

June 23, 2025
Bitcoin Dominance Hits New Cycle High Above 66% – How This 4-Year ATH Affects Altcoin SeasonBitcoin Dominance Hits New Cycle High Above 66% – How This 4-Year ATH Affects Altcoin Season

Bitcoin Dominance Hits New Cycle High Above 66% – How This 4-Year ATH Affects Altcoin SeasonBitcoin Dominance Hits New Cycle High Above 66% – How This 4-Year ATH Affects Altcoin Season

June 23, 2025
Volatility Returns:  Billion in Liquidations as Bitcoin Tests 0,000 Floor

Volatility Returns: $1 Billion in Liquidations as Bitcoin Tests $100,000 Floor

June 23, 2025
Euro Times

Get the latest news and follow the coverage of Business & Financial News, Stock Market Updates, Analysis, and more from the trusted sources.

CATEGORIES

  • Business
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Finance
  • Health
  • Investing
  • Markets
  • Politics
  • Stock Market
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • World

LATEST UPDATES

Singapore’s New Rules Threaten Crypto Founders With Jail and $200K Fines

Zohran Mamdani ahead of Andrew Cuomo in key pre‑primary poll ahead of NYC mayoral race, Vivek Ramaswamy reacts

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2022 - Euro Times.
Euro Times is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Finance
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Stock Market
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Investing
  • Health
  • Technology

Copyright © 2022 - Euro Times.
Euro Times is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In