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2. Deepen knowledge and understanding of critical areas of
support for the definition, implementation and evaluation of poli-
cies by, for example:
• Creating a regional working group to elaborate proposals on
options and strategies for the development of digital televi-
sion (goal seven)
• Establishing a regional working group to exchange experi-
ences and criteria used for the development and use of free
software (goal eight)
• Promoting regional dialogues, exchanges and cooperation on
national experiences in Internet governance (goal 14)
• Establishing a working group that assesses national and
regional financing requirements (goal 23).
3. Create, sponsor and reinforce concrete regional initiatives and
projects by, for example:
• Promoting the development of regional ICT infrastructure,
including broadband capacity through backbones (goal one)
• Developing and expanding advanced ICT-based networks for
research and education (goal ten)
• Linking national educational portals with a view to estab-
lishing a network of educational portals (goal 16)
• Strengthening the interconnection of digital information
networks for disaster prevention (goal 18)
• Supporting and fostering, with technical cooperation
programmes, institution-building and methodological
strengthening and the development of ICT access and usage
indicators (goal 26).
eLAC and the World Summit: parallel processes and a
concrete contribution from the region
eLAC2007 was elaborated at a time when the countries of the
region were preparing for the second phase of the World Summit
on the Information Society, scheduled to be held in Tunis in
November 2005. Through eLAC2007, the countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean have succeeded in combining a polit-
ical consensus with an operational agreement for the regional
development of digital public policies. In formulating realistic,
measurable and flexible goals under eLAC2007, the countries
seek to coordinate their public policies and to promote regional
practices and forms of cooperation in order to improve the
quality and effectiveness of their contributions to the process of
the World Summit on the Information Society. In this regard,
the structure of eLAC2007 has developed in the spirit of the
World Summit; this Plan of Action reinforces the implementation
of the Geneva consensus and focuses on short-term goals geared
towards tangible results without losing sight of the ambitious,
long-term vision.
Against this background, the purpose of eLAC2007 is to act as
a link between the goals of the global community and the needs
of the countries of the region, in accordance with the situation
existing in each of them.
One step at a time towards 2015
The idea behind eLAC2007 is to be able to demonstrate the
positive impact that international cooperation has had in a rela-
tively short space of time with a view to ensuring that interest
in this crucial issue for the development of the region does not
peter out once the visibility of the World Summit fades after its
second phase. In order to show results, the countries of the
region formulated concrete, measurable goals. The most impor-
tant objective of eLAC2007 is to strengthen the creation of
strategic partnerships between institutions that are convinced
that coordinated action can achieve successes that individual
action cannot attain, without the need to sacrifice particular
interests.
In this context, ECLAC, in cooperation with other agencies and
international, regional and sub-regional organizations, supports
governments and actively promotes coordination and collabora-
tion. The objective is to create effective cooperation scales and
models that contribute in a positive way to the global agenda.
The road to the fulfilment of the global goals in 2015 is long and
the challenges formidable. In order to fulfil its commitments, the
region is seeking to foster a solid base that will facilitate future
agreements and multi-year programmes, based on regional coop-
eration that will grow from strength to strength, thus approaching
the global goals one step at a time.
Goals eLAC2007
Goals of the World Summit
on the Information Society
A. Access and digital inclusion
1. Regional infrastructure
9 a, 9 d, 9 k, 9 j,
2. Community centres
6 a, 6 d, 23 d, 10 d
3. Online schools and libraries
6 b, 23 b
4. Online health centres
6 e, 9 c, 18
5. Employment
19 b, c
6. Local government
6 f, 10 f,
7. Alternative technologies
6 h, 6 j, 9 l, 13 a, 13 p,
B. Capacity-building and knowledge creation
8. Software
10 e, 10 j, 13 p,
9. Training
11 a, 11 c, 11 e, 11 g,
10. Research and education networks
6 b, 6 c, 22 a,
11. Science and technology
19 d, 22
12. Firms
13 m, 16 c
13. Creative and content industries
23 g,
14. Internet governance
13 b, 13 c,
C. Public transparency and efficiency
15. Electronic government
13 n, 13 g, 15 a, 15 b, 15 c,
16. Electronic education
11 l, 11 n, 11 f,
17. Electronic health
18 b, 18 c
18. Disasters
20 c, 18 f
19. Electronic justice
20. Environmental protection
20 a, b,
21. Public inform. and cultural heritage 10 a, 10 b, 10 h, 13 h, 23 c,
D. Policy instruments
22. National strategies
8 a, b, 8 c, 8 d, 8 e, 26 b
23. Financing
26 a, 27 a, 27 b, 27 c, 27 d
24. Universal access policies
9 b, 10 d, 27 d, 27 g
25. Legislative framework
12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e,
12 f, 12 g, 12 i, 12 j, 13 i, 13 j,
24 c, 25 c
26. Indicators and measurement
28 b, 28 c, 28 f,
E. Enabling environment
27. Regional follow-up
28 a, c, 29 b
28. Solidarity with disfavoured countries 7, 9i, 27D2b
29. Minimizing obstacles
27 D2c
30. Radioelectric spectrum
9 d i, 13 r
Correspondence between the regional goals of eLAC2007 and the
WSIS Plan of Action