"Digitalization: No One is Left Behind" Conference
Keynote speech
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin
30 October 2023
Your Excellency,
President Nausėda,
Excellencies, and ladies and gentlemen,
I'm deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to join you in this magnificent presidential palace in the great city of Vilnius, as this year marks the 100th anniversary of Lithuania's accession to ITU.
And this milestone anniversary occurs the same year that ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas started his mandate — marking the first time that a Lithuanian has assumed a top leadership position at our organization.
With 2.6 billion unconnected people around the world still being digitally excluded and the many, many others who are struggling to stay online, the emphasis of this conference on ''leaving no one'' behind is critical.
The focus on elderly populations is also very timely, when the more than 1 billion people aged 60 and older are increasingly facing unique challenges when it comes to connecting with each other, loved ones, and the world around them.
This number will double by the middle of the century.
Ageing- healthy ageing, is an issue that touches everyone in this digital era.
Challenges exist even in EU countries like Lithuania, where it is estimated that people aged 55 and older will make up more than 45% of the country's population by 2050.
And if we look at older women, they outnumber men across the EU.
These older women experience higher material deprivation, which often translate into the inability to pay for necessities like heating, electricity, rent, telephone or Internet services.
As the first woman to be elected Secretary-General of ITU, I often make a point of saying that careers have no gender.
I also believe that technology has no age limit.
And I know you believe that, too.
The “Lithuania 2030" progress strategy envisions a smart society where people of all ages and backgrounds are educated, interested in science and innovation, using the latest technologies, and committed to lifelong learning.
It's a vision that resonates deeply with ITU's top priorities of universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.
As the UN agency for digital technologies, ITU is committed to ensuring technology empowers everyone regardless of age, gender, ability, economic status, or location.
Today, I would like to share three calls to action that can help us achieve our shared vision of a digitally inclusive society that truly leaves no one behind.
First, let's focus our efforts on affordability, accessibility and safety — in other words, let's make connectivity meaningful.
Lithuania has made excellent progress in the development of digital infrastructure. 88% of households have Internet access, and 100% of the population is covered by at least a 4G mobile network.
But to close the usage gap, the elderly, like every other member of society, need affordable, reliable, and accessible digital products and services that empower them to participate fully in our interconnected world.
As an international technical standards body, ITU helps advance accessibility by making it a requirement right from the design stage.
In 2019, for example, ITU and WHO issued a new international standard for the manufacture and use of smart devices, including smartphones and audio players, to make them safer for listening.
Our Development Sector also supports vulnerable communities by helping our members track progress towards accessibility implementation and by providing training, policy and strategy advice.
You can find all of this and more in ITU's first-ever report focused on older persons called “Ageing in a Digital World: From Vulnerable to Valuable" available for free on our website.
Second, let's give older persons the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world with confidence.
More than ever, older persons rely on their ability to use digital technologies effectively.
We need to focus our effort on digital skills, without neglecting basic digital skills, which can be life-changing.
That's why we need to ensure that everyone, everywhere has the skills they need to not only keep up with the pace of digital transformation but also succeed in today's digital economy.
This requires targeted training programmes that address the unique needs of older adults.
The project launched by President Nausėda today is a great example of this — by giving older people the confidence they need to safely use the Internet, from creating secure passwords to protecting themselves from online fraud.
This is how digital skills and trust go hand in hand.
To create a more inclusive digital society, ITU helps governments, the private sector, academia, and other key stakeholders build their capacity, including through our self-paced programmes ICTs for better ageing — to equip citizens of all ages with the necessary digital skills and capacities for the job market and lifelong learning.
Finally, let's work together to forge innovative partnerships and digital policies that prioritize older persons' specific needs.
This means engaging with governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia to develop policies and innovations that promote digital inclusion at all levels, and everywhere.
Back in 2003 — before the words “digital" or “Internet" entered our vocabulary — the World Summit on the Information Society (or “WSIS") came together to do just that: leverage technology to improve the lives of millions.
Since then, we have strengthened our work with many stakeholders to advance ICTs and Older Persons.
And just last year, ITU, WHO, UNDESA, the Global Coalition on Aging and other stakeholders launched the Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize, which recognizes innovative solutions for the increasing population of older persons.
The WSIS Multi-stakeholder Alliance on ICTs and Older Persons is focusing on things like design and accessibility, capacity building and education, cybersecurity, and innovation that are open for all to join.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are here to move forward together.
This was the clear message delivered by European Commission President von der Leyen at last week's Global Gateway Forum.
As we commemorate a century of Lithuanian membership in ITU, let's remember that every person — regardless of age — has an essential role to play in shaping our shared digital future.
We're already at the midpoint of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and almost halfway through the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.
Digital offers unmissable opportunities to foster intergenerational connections and enhanced quality of life for ageing populations in Lithuania, across Europe, and all over the world.
Together, we can create a future where age is no barrier to participation, where no one is left behind, and where the SDGs are a reality for all, including for older adults who feel empowered to learn, grow, and thrive in the digital era.
Thank you.
