A/HRC/RES/57/29 Taking note of the document of the Office of the Envoy of the Secretary-General on Technology, entitled “Achieving universal and meaningful digital connectivity: setting a baseline and targets for 2030”, of 2022, and the targets contained therein, Recognizing the importance of access to information and communications technology for the full enjoyment of human rights, strengthening democracy, the rule of law and empowering civic engagement, attaining the Sustainable Development Goals and bridging all digital divides, Recognizing also that universal connectivity means connectivity for all and that meaningful connectivity is a level of connectivity that allows users to have a safe, accessible and productive online experience at an affordable cost, and recognizing that universal and meaningful connectivity is essential for the enjoyment of human rights, Acknowledging the need for sustained investment in digital infrastructure and capacity-building to bridge the digital divide, in particular within and among countries, encouraging States to ensure that digital cooperation and investment in digital infrastructure advances human rights, especially privacy, is inclusive and transparent and ensures reliable Internet connectivity for all, without discrimination of any kind, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, Affirming that strengthened international cooperation is required to close all digital divides, between and within countries, and recognizing the challenges that these divides pose for many countries for the enjoyment of human rights, in particular developing countries, which have pressing development needs and limited resources, Recognizing that digital divides, including age, disability, gender, geographical, urban and rural divides, may reflect and amplify existing social, cultural and economic inequalities, Emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to promote the safe digital inclusion of women and girls, acknowledging the importance of efforts to promote, mentor, attract and retain women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and research and to ensure that woman and girls have access to affordable, meaningful, reliable and high-quality Internet connectivity, including broadband connectivity. Emphasizing also that, in the digital age, technical solutions to secure and protect the privacy and confidentiality of digital communications, including measures for encryption and anonymity, are important to ensure the enjoyment of all human rights offline and online, Stressing the need to ensure that measures offline or online for the protection of national security, public order and public health are in full compliance with international law obligations and that the principles of lawfulness, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality are respected, and stressing also the need to protect human rights, including the freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association and privacy, and personal data in the response to health or other emergencies, Noting with concern that over one third of the world’s population, predominantly within developing countries, especially women and girls, do not have access to the Internet, Expressing concern that many forms of digital divide remain between and within countries, and recognizing the need to close them, including through international cooperation that promotes meaningful connectivity, especially for developing countries, and recognizing also that the gender digital divide, which includes significant gender disparities in access to and use of information and communications technology, undermines women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of their human rights, Recognizing that violations and abuses of women’s and girls’ rights online are a global concern that hinder the equal exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the basis of gender, and may deter women and girls from using information and communications technology, which can exacerbate the gender digital divide and widen gender inequalities in society, and that the barriers that women and girls using the Internet face, including as a result of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, are exacerbated by offline inequalities, Stressing the importance of empowering all women and girls by enhancing their access to information and communications technology, by promoting digital literacy and the participation of women and girls in education and training on information and 2