Mariamz

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has delivered a five year action plan for the UN entitled “The Future We Want,” elaborating on high level goals set out last year (and sharing directly with the world on Twitter).

Here are some key points from an information society perspective:

• Technology continues to knit us more closely together… Yet, economic uncertainty and social inequity are widespread.
• We are… preparing to empower future generations by offering quality, relevant and universal education to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
• On conflict, my agenda highlights early warning and action on conflict by mapping, linking, collecting and integrating information from across the international system.
• We will also adopt a preventive approach to human rights. The era of impunity is dead. We have entered a new age of accountability.
• When events slip off the front page, when the cameras leave, the UN must be ready to maintain focus and attention.. We have a responsibility to help societies in transition… we will support “transition compacts” with agreed strategic objectives and mutual accountability in fragile and conflict environments.
• We will do even more to promote women’s political participation worldwide
• Today we have the largest generation of young people the world has ever known. They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life.
• We will harness the full power of transformative partnership across the range of UN activities by creating a New UN Partnerships Facility. It will work with the private sector, civil society, philanthropists and academia to advance common goals, catalyze commitments and promote accountability.

Ban Ki-moon