Do your bit: Focus on days highlighting international issues International Days and Observances
World Telecommunications Day
Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for All
World Telecommunications Day theme for 2008
17 May
The focus of much of telecommunications activities world wide is to harmonize national policies, bridge technological differences, foster interconnectivity and interoperability of systems on a global scale. The result is to bring the world closer - through a phone call, via an email, by watching TV or surfing the web.

One of the key objectives of the World Telecommunications Day is to increase global awareness of the advantages that information and communications technologies have to offer and increase access to ICTs for a greater percentage of the population, especially the lower income groups in developing countries.

"The theme of this year’s observance, “connecting persons with disabilities”, highlights the importance of making ICT equipment and services accessible to meet the needs of persons with disabilities ... It is vital that we change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities, ensuring that all fundamental rights and freedoms are honoured, including the right to fully participate in the information society, and bring forth input, ideas and effort from the disability community. "

- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Since 2006, the World Telecommunication Day carries added significance as 17 May has also been identified by the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society as "World Information Society Day".

Additional Resources:

GDRC has been working on themes related to this international day/observance, in its programme on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

GDRC reaffirms its committment to uphold the objectives of the World Telecommunications Day, and work towards better understanding of, and action on, " ... bringing the world a little closer".

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