Session
Emergency situations can be described as any situation in which the life, rights or well-being of people can be put under threat unless immediate and appropriate action is taken. Usually, these types of situations require application of exceptional measures, quick and collectively coordinated action response, as single or unilateral actions often show to be insufficient given the negative impact these have on people.
The world has seen a variety of these, from natural disasters relating to destructive earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, to the biological ones such as epidemics and made-man emergencies such as terrorist attacks, wars, degradation of environment and others forms of accidents.
The necessary almost instantaneous response is always with people. And not rarely is that the responses are insufficient or not executed timely. Technology showed to be a reliable partner to people in preventing emergencies or combating them much more effectively.
The 131 NRIs as people-led multistakeholder discussion processes have been at the forefront of action dialogues when emergencies threatened their communities. From the Afghanistan IGF whose community faced series of terrorist attacks, to Haiti IGF discussions during devasting effects of hurricanes. The most recent and still ongoing emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic, has affected the world and with that all 131 NRIs whose respective communities are continuously discussing ways how digital technologies and digital policy can help overcome the devastating effects the pandemic had in some parts of the world and prevent future scenarios.
The local actions, through the NRIs, grew to the extent that leadership from various sectors in countries and regions started new initiatives to help people to fight the pandemic, going up to the extent where laws and policies are changed.
This session will focus on concrete effects the emergency situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, had on people and role of digital technologies and policy. It will look into good practices that emerged for people to benefit more from digital technologies.
Programme
The session will cover several policy areas, with key discussants coming from different NRIs, ensuring regional diversity.
The key discussants will speak for up to 3 minutes and each section will be followed by the interactive exchange discussions, between 5 and 10 min long, with participants communicating inputs over chat and oral exchanges during dedicated time announced by the moderators.
Moderators: Prof. Flavio Wagner (Brazil) and Ms. Mary Uduma (Nigeria)
| 16:50-16:55 UTC | Moderators introduce the topic, organizers and speakers |
| 16:55-17:15 UTC |
Session block I
The COVID-19, for example, is an emergency that has also exacerbated a number of digital policy issues. Which concretely in your communities?
Open discussion. |
| 17:15-17:35 UTC |
Session block II
Examples of good practices for combating emergency situations using data-based technologies and emerging technologies: focus on vulnerable groups.
|
| 17:35-17:55 UTC |
Session block III
How to tailor our policies and actions to support the most vulnerable ones?
|
| 17:55-18:15 UTC |
Session block IV What are good policy practices from stakeholders around the world, taking advantage of Internet services, to support economies?
Open discussion. |
| 18:15-18:20 UTC | Conclusion |
To be completed