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ROAM-X indicators for advancing Global Digital Compact and WSIS+20 review

ROAM-X indicators for advancing Global Digital Compact and WSIS+20 review
UNESCO
29 March 2023
Last update: 20 April 2023

On 16 March 2023, UNESCO held a workshop at the 2023 World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) entitled “Applying Internet Universality ROAM-X framework for WSIS+20 review and Global Digital Compact (GDC)”.

The event was organised by UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP) and the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) and featured 10 speakers, including Ms Leocadie Ndacayisaba, the Minister of Communication, Technology, Information and Media of Burundi.  The workshop was attended by some 70 stakeholders from government, academia, and media to explore the use of the ROAM-X framework for digital policies that prioritize human rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation, and to support the implementation of the WSIS+20 review and the UN Secretary-General’s Global Digital Compact.

Access to the Internet and meaningful access to information are two different concepts: the ROAM-X framework promotes meaningful access to information, building capacities to derive social economic value from information and technology.
Marielza Oliveira Director for Division for Digital Inclusion, Policies and Transformation and Secretary of the Information for All Programme
The ROAM-X indicators connect global with national and enables understanding of the disconnects as well as the connections. It creates a body of evidence, and voices that can speak to this evidence to inform decisions made at the global level such as Global Digital Compact.
Anriette Esterhuysen Senior Advisor, Internet Governance, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
The principles and themes highlighted in the ROAM-X framework are echoed by the Global Digital Compact. There is a strong vision on the access to information dimension in both frameworks aiming to design shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all.
Stephen Wyber International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
The ROAM-X framework is promoting values for a connecting society that are aligning with the Global Digital Compact: its multistakeholder approach is not only crucial for the completion of the voluntary national assessment but also for the development of the GDC as a global digital cooperation instrument.
Onica Makwakwa Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP)

The workshop also discussed updating the ROAM-X framework’s indicators to address emerging digital trends and challenges such as climate, energies and environment.

Internet Universality ROAM-X framework for digital cooperation

The ROAM principles align with WSIS Action Lines, particularly C3: Access to information and knowledge; C7-E-Science, C8: Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content, C9-Media and C10: Ethical dimensions of the Information Society. 

Moreover, the 303 ROAM-X Indicators and the national assessments in 44 countries, provide guidance to stakeholder on implementing the ROAM principles and making policy recommendations. They also support IFAP's priority areas of developing human rights-based policies for AI, social media, Internet and date governance, and emerging technologies.

Join the Global Dynamic Coalition

UNESCO encourages more countries and stakeholders to join the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Universality ROAM-X Indicators for human-centered digital governance.

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