Introduction
During the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Indigenous Peoples called for their full and effective participation in the Information Age on their own terms. While implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action has been limited, there are many examples of Indigenous Peoples creatively engaging Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) independently, or in partnership with NGOs, private sector, governments and intergovernmental organizations, and other Indigenous Peoples. Innovative software, hardware, and existing technologies are being employed to, among other things: defend their human rights, and preserve, manage, and promote their unique cultural heritage. Nevertheless, political will, cooperation, and comprehensive, multi-stakeholder strategies are essential to promote, attain, and sustain a more equitable Information Society, with the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples.
This report summarizes Indigenous Peoples’ engagement with the Information Society and provides an overview of their participation during the WSIS process. Particular attention is given to the relevance of “knowledge societies” and the WSIS Plan of Action’s C8 Action line on “Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content.” Drawing on Indigenous Peoples’ Declarations, statements, and interviews, as well as intergovernmental and academic reports, this review also samples innovations and emerging trends with a view toward guiding strategies, projects, and policy-making, in the post-WSIS environment.
Read UNESCO’s WSIS+10 Working Papers >>
Thanks to @simsa0 for the full report link!
