26 July 1991

32nd plenary meeting

International cooperation in the field of informatics

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its decision 1989/179 of 27 July 1989, its resolution 1990/58 of 26 July 1990 and decision 7.1 adopted by the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its one hundred and thirty-first session,

Taking note of the report on international cooperation in the field of informatics prepared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

Considering the existing disparities in the level of development of informatics between the developed and developing countries,

Reaffirming the importance of the development of informatics as an instrument of international cooperation and endogenous development,

1. Recommends that more effective use be made of the existing coordinating mechanisms, with a view to regular consultations and coordination concerning informatics within the United Nations system, including consultations and coordination between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, through its Intergovernmental Informatics Programme, the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization;

2. Invites the above-mentioned organizations to continue to reinforce their subprogrammes concerning international cooperation and regional strategies in informatics in developing countries, in particular the Informafrica project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;

3. Invites Member States to encourage and promote activities to expand the endogenous skills of their populations in the field of informatics, and calls upon donor countries to make voluntary contributions to the Intergovernmental Informatics Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, with a view to strengthening its ability to provide appropriate support for projects in the field of informatics for the benefit of developing countries;

4. Decides to keep this issue under review and to examine it at its regular session of 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at that session a report on the implementation of the present resolution.