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Montreal, 17 November 2005 – The International Secretariat of Orbicom, the Network of UNESCO Chairs in Communications, located at the Université du Québec à Montréal, is launching today in Tunis – in the context of the Second Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) from 16 to 18 November – two scientific publications: From the Digital Divide to Digital Opportunities: Measuring Infostates for Development and Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2005/2006.

Both volumes were made possible in collaboration with the following agencies: International Telecommunications Union (ITU), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), UNESCO, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie (AIF).

The measuring instrument From the Digital Divide to Digital Opportunities: Measuring Infostates for Development provides a much-needed ICT composite index and covers a period of 9 years (1995-2003). This edition is based on a three-part work plan :

• The ICT opportunity index based on the Infostate conceptual framework and model,
• Detailed regional analyses with a policy focus for countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, and
• Women in the Information Society, which incorporates quantitative and qualitative research to study the gender digital divide
.

The completely updated edition of the Digital Review of Asia Pacific reports on how 29 economies are using ICT in business, government and civil society, with special focus on key national initiatives, enabling policies and environment, local online content, open source movement, research and development, etc. Included are three sub-regional chapters on the Pacific Island States, ASEAN and APEC. Also included are four thematic chapters on the issues identified urgent for engagement in order to build more inclusive information societies: bridging the digital divide, Internet governance, appropriate ICT for Asia Pacific, etc. The new edition incorporates the Digital Divide Index on the individual economies.

Two projects of this magnitude would not have been possible without collective competences and dedicated efforts of many specialists and networks of all continents. Believing that « communication links us together », we take pride in having coordinated and managed these two projects, a truly collaborative global endeavor, in direct response to the WSIS Action Plan.

About Orbicom

Orbicom, the International Network of UNESCO Chairs in Communications, is a specialized network of UNESCO with consultative status with UN-ECOSOC. It embodies 26 chairs in communication and over 250 associate members in 73 countries with representation from communication research, ICT for development, journalism, multimedia, public relations, communications law, and more. The Network established in 1994 with a view to promote communication development through a multidisciplinary approach.

Information: Orbicom
International Network of UNESCO Chairs in Communications
Phone : (514) 987-8743
www.orbicom.uqam.ca

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Source : Huguette Lucas, agente d’information
Division des relations avec la presse et événements spéciaux
Service des communications
Université du Québec à Montréal
Tél. : (514) 987-3000, poste 6832#
Téléc. : (514) 987-3251
lucas.huguette@uqam.ca

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