Information and communications technologies for sustainable development A/RES/74/197 Noting also the convening of the World Telecommunication Development Conference by the International Telecommunication Union in Buenos Aires, from 9 to 20 October 2017, under the theme “Information and communications technology for Sustainable Development Goals”, Noting further that technological change includes new and powerful tools for development, and mindful of its impacts, opportunities and challenges and that Governments, the private sector, international organizations, civil society and the technical and academic communities should take into account the social, economic, ethical, cultural and technical issues related to rapid technological advancements in order to deepen their understanding of how to harness their potential to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Reaffirming the value and principles of multi-stakeholder cooperation and engagement that have characterized the World Summit on the Information Society process since its inception, and recognizing that the effective participation, partnership and cooperation of Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities and all other relevant stakeholders, within their respective roles and responsibilities, especially with balanced representation from developing countries, have been and continue to be vital in developing the information society, Conscious of the challenges faced by States in preventing and combating the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, including by terrorists, and emphasizing the need to continue international cooperation in this regard and to reinforce technical assistance and capacity-building activities, at their request, for the prevention, prosecution and punishment of such use in accordance with national and international law, Reiterating the pledge that no one will be left behind, reaffirming the recognition that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, and the wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all se gments of society, and recommitting to endeavour to reach the furthest behind first, 1. Recognizes that information and communications technologies have the potential to provide new solutions to development challenges, particularly in the context of globalization, and can foster sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development, competitiveness, access to information and knowledge, trade and development, poverty eradication and social inclusion that will help to expedite the integration of all countries, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, into the global economy; 2. Welcomes the remarkable evolution and diffusion of information and communications technologies, underpinned by the contributions of both the public and private sectors, which have seen penetration into almost all corners of the globe, created new opportunities for social interactions, enabled new business models and contributed to economic growth and development in all othe r sectors, while noting the unique and emerging challenges related to their evolution and diffusion; 3. Recognizes the potential of information and communications technologies to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 and other internationally agreed development goals, noting that they can accelerate progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, accordingly urges all Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities and all other relevant stakeholders to integrate information and communications technologies into their approaches to implementing the Goals, and __________________ 10 6/12 Resolution 70/1. 19-22407