Press Conferences , Edited News | ITU
Storyline
Briefing reporters on the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Facts and Figures 2024 report in Geneva on Wednesday, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said: “We must intensify our efforts to connect the world in order not to leave anyone behind.”
ITU’s annual report on global connectivity found that an estimated 5.5 billion people are online in 2024, an increase of 227 million people based on revised estimates for 2023.
While an estimated 68 per cent of the global population is now online and all indicators tracked in the report show improvement, stubborn digital divides persist and about one-third of the world’s people remain offline.
The estimates featured in the report from ITU, the UN Agency for Digital Technologies, show that connectivity continues to increase worldwide but reveal the complexities of reaching communities in low-income countries.
Recognizing the urgent work that remains to connect the 2.6 billion people that are offline, Mr. Zavazava said: “We renew our commitment to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity so that everyone can access the Internet in optimal conditions, at an affordable cost, anytime, anywhere.”
Speaker:
Source: UNTV CH and ITU
Restrictions: NONE
Language: English/NATS
Dateline: 27 November 2024 Geneva, Switzerland
TRT: 01:45
Speakers:
1. Wide shot. Exterior. United Nations Office at Geneva.
2. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: “Globally, our 2024 estimates show that one-third of humanity still does not use the internet, and that accounts for 5.5 billion people who are online, an increase of 227 million people based on our revised estimates for the year 2023. An estimated 2.6 billion are estimated to be offline, down from revised estimate of 2.8 billion for the year 2023.”
3. Wide shot, press briefing room
4. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: “We embrace new technologies as they come. But it is not only about technology, it is what technology can do for the people.”
5. Wide shot, briefing table
6. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau:“We should look at technology with a human face. What is it that we are doing with the technology that we are producing? It is not only about investing in technology, but making sure some of the technology could be personal technology, like my smartphone. And some technology could be communal to make sure that communities have access.”
7. Wide shot, press briefing room
8. SOUNDBITE (English): Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau: “We must intensify our efforts to connect the world, not to leave anyone behind. To address the barriers that I outlined, affordability being one of them, digital skills being another, and many other factors that I mentioned. We renew our commitment to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity so that everyone can access the Internet in optimal conditions, at an affordable cost, anytime, anywhere.”
9. Aerial. Exterior. International Telecommunication Union headquarter building. Geneva, Switzerland.
10. Animation. ITU Flag.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WIPO , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO , IFRC
Rolando Gómez, of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Organisation Internationale pour la Francophonie, and the GIGA Connectivity Forum.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food
Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Launch of the latest report of the Special Rapporteur "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide".
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
A clearer picture of needs across Iran is beginning to emerge after the conflict this month with Israel, which left hundreds dead, several hospitals hit and a spike in Afghan refugees returning home, the UN’s top official in Tehran said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
The blistering early-summer heatwave that’s brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , WFP , WMO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations in Iran, the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Meteorological Organisation, and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Human Rights Council annual panel on adverse impacts of climate change.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
The first meagre midweek delivery of urgently needed medical goods to enter Gaza in months will provide scant relief to the enclave’s people, who continue to be shot and killed as they search for food, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
2
1
2
Statements , Edited News | HRC
Enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Myanmar presented by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and oral update by Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organisation, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organisation.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNOG
The conflict-impacted people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urgently need much more international assistance than they are getting today, the UN’s top aid official said on Thursday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Forms of sex-based violence against women and girls, and the concept of consent in relation to violence against women and girls