E/2003/27 E/CN.6/2003/12 first century”,27 on the potential of the media and of information and communications technologies to contribute to the advancement and empowerment of women. It also recalls the United Nations Millennium Declaration28 and its Development Goals to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease, to stimulate development that is truly sustainable and to ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies, are available to all. 2. The Commission notes that, globally, there are substantial differences in participation in, access to and use of media and information and communications technologies, their content and production. Such differences have important implications for policy development at national, regional and international levels. A focus on the gender dimensions of information and communications technologies is essential in order to prevent and combat any adverse impact of the digital revolution on gender equality and the perpetuation of existing inequalities and discrimination, including the sexual exploitation of women both through the traditional media and new technologies. The media and information and communication technologies also offer tools for enhancing women’s full access to the benefits of information and new technologies and can become central tools for women’s empowerment and the promotion of gender equality. Efforts are therefore necessary to increase women’s access to and participation in the media and information and communication technologies, including in their decision-making processes and new opportunities created through information and communication technologies. 3. The Commission welcomes the convening of the World Summit on the Information Society, which is to be held in Geneva in December 2003 and in Tunis in 2005, and urges all participants to take the following recommendations into account and to integrate gender perspectives in every facet of the Summit. It further encourages the participation of women in the Summit, to include significant numbers of gender equality experts and women experts in the field of information and communication technology as members of national delegations, organizations of civil society and the business community. 4. The Commission urges Governments and, as appropriate, the relevant funds and programmes, organizations and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders, to take the following actions: (a) Prioritize the integration of gender perspectives and ensure women’s early and full participation in the development and implementation of national policies, legislation, programmes, projects, strategies and regulatory and technical instruments in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) and media and communications, and create monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure implementation of gender-sensitive policies and regulations as well as to analyse the gender impact of such policies in consultation and collaboration with women information technology specialists, women’s organizations and gender equality advocates; __________________ 27 28 8 General Assembly resolution S-23/3, annex. General Assembly resolution 55/2.