United Nations A/RES/57/304 General Assembly Fifty-seventh session Agenda item 112 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Fifth Committee (A/57/649/Add.1)] 57/304. Information and communication technology strategy The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/239 and 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on an information and communication technology strategy,1 and welcomes the significant step it represents in developing a strategic framework to guide the further development of information and communication technology in the United Nations, as called for in its resolution 56/239; 2. Stresses the importance of information and communication technology as a strategic tool for strengthening the functioning of the United Nations, and recognizes its potential for application throughout the Organization to improve effectiveness and work practices, to facilitate multilingualism, including public information activities, and to enhance programme delivery, as mandated; 3. Notes with interest key elements of the approach set out by the SecretaryGeneral, notably the three broad areas of sharing and dissemination of information, administration and management, and the servicing of United Nations organs and governing bodies as a framework for classifying initiatives; priority given to robust infrastructure, system security, reliable field connectivity, and internal human resources capacitybuilding; a governance structure; and the requirement to ensure that investments in information and communication technology generate tangible returns commensurate with their cost; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide further information and to make proposals, to be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004–2005, on the further strengthening of governance and central leadership arrangements, including a mechanism to assess the results achieved and apply the lessons learned and the suggestion made by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions2 that the head of the Information Technology Services Division of the Office of Central Support Services of the Secretariat be enabled to act as a chief information and communication technology officer of the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General also to make proposals on how best to reflect this function in the organizational structure of the Organization; _______________ 1 2 02 56161 A/57/620. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7), para. 87. Distr.: General 16 May 2003