This High-Level Dialogue, hosted by UNCTAD with the support of the President of the General Assembly, will present the main findings and policy recommendations from the Digital Economy Report 2021 to Member States in New York and others interested.
The Digital Economy Report 2021 provides a fresh and holistic view of cross-border flows of digital data. It examines recent trends and global developments in the data-driven digital economy, and reviews existing data governance approaches at national, regional and multilateral levels. The Report calls for innovative governance approaches with the full participation of all countries and that ensure that data can flow securely across borders – as freely and necessary as possible, while ensuring more equal distribution of benefits within and between countries, addressing risks related to human rights and national security.
This High-level Dialogue builds on the High-level Thematic Debate on Digital Cooperation and Connectivity: Whole-of-Society Approaches to End the Digital Divide organized by the President of the General Assembly in April 2021 and is aligned with the work promoted by the UN Secretary-General through the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation and the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, as well as with recent UNSG reports on “The Highest Aspiration. A call for Action on Human Rights” and “Our Common Agenda” and its elements related to the Global Digital Compact.
Programme:
Welcome remarks
- H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly
- Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD
Presentation of the Digital Economy Report 2021
- Ms. Shamika N. Sirimanne, Director, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD
Interactive panel discussion and Q&A
Moderated by Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson, Head, E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch, UNCTAD
- H.E. Mr. Thomas Schneider, Ambassador, Federal Office of Communications OFCOM, Switzerland
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Mr. Fayaz King, Deputy Executive Director of Field Results and Innovation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- Mr. Stephen MacFeely, Director of Data and Analytics, World Health Organization
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Ms. Angela Me, Chair of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities, Chief of the Research and Trend Analysis Branch, UN Office of Drugs and Crime
Closing remarks
- Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD
