{"id":284885,"date":"2025-04-24T12:31:35","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T16:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/79\/?p=284885"},"modified":"2025-04-24T14:47:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T18:47:02","slug":"pga-remarks-at-the-event-of-empowering-the-digital-citizen-of-the-future-towards-an-integrated-digital-public-infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/79\/2025\/04\/24\/pga-remarks-at-the-event-of-empowering-the-digital-citizen-of-the-future-towards-an-integrated-digital-public-infrastructure\/","title":{"rendered":"PGA Remarks at the event of Empowering the Digital Citizen of the Future: Towards an Integrated Digital Public Infrastructure"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u200b<\/p>\n

Remarks by the President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n

H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang<\/strong><\/p>\n

at <\/strong>the event of Empowering the Digital Citizen of the Future:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Towards an Integrated Digital Public Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, 24th<\/sup> April 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

[As Delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your Excellencies,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ladies and gentlemen,<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the outset, I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The targeting of civilians is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any\u00a0circumstances.<\/p>\n

I am honoured to address this important and timely event.<\/p>\n

I extend my sincere appreciation to H.E. Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India, for the invitation to join you today.<\/p>\n

I commend India on the success of its digital transformation and leadership in investing in digital public infrastructure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Indeed, digital public infrastructure holds the key to inclusion in the global digital society.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And these technologies are evolving at breakneck speed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From the inception of the internet to advances in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, digital technologies are impacting every aspect of human life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They are transforming economies \u2013 reducing costs, opening new doors to education and healthcare, and empowering citizens like never before.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In India, for example, it means \u201canywhere access\u201d to \u201canytime vaccination\u201d for any registered pregnant woman or child across the country.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I was privileged to see the U-WIN digital initiative myself earlier this year and appreciate what happens when digital public infrastructure and women and girls are at the heart of the digital revolution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

These technologies hold vast potential to unleash progress across the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet, their reach has not expanded in parallel to the pace of their development.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2.6 billion people remain \u201coffline\u201d, with limited or no internet access.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is especially true for women and girls in different parts of the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In low-income countries, 9 out of every 10 young women and adolescent girls lack online access.\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As these technologies reshape how we live and work, and function as a society, the impacts of the digital divide are only becoming more pronounced.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Billions of people are effectively being left behind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Clearly, we must do more, and we must do it faster.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Global Digital Compact, adopted as part of the Pact for the Future, offers a road map for improved digital cooperation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It recognises that resilient, safe, inclusive and interoperable digital public infrastructure has the potential to deliver services in scale and increase social and economic opportunities for all<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This has the possibility of creating an open, inclusive and safe digital space that protects and promotes human rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I call on Member States and the wide range of stakeholders \u2013 including media and technology companies, civil society actors and many others \u2013 to take ownership of the Global Compact\u2019s implementation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This means:<\/p>\n

-Supercharge efforts to bridge the digital divide<\/p>\n