UN Secretary-General’s Strategy on New Technologies

The UN Secretary General has announced a new strategy on technologies which is meant to define and guide the United Nations system in the use of technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, blockchain and robotics for the attainment of the 2030 Agenda.

The Strategy on New Technologies sets out 5 principles and 4 Commitments to build internal capacity, advocacy and dialogue, cooperative frameworks and norms, and member state support.

The strategy has identified four strategic commitments for the UN and also the wider UN system. In quote, he stated that “These combine elements of external engagement and support with internal measures intended to upgrade our knowledge of and engagement with new technologies and foster a system of learning, innovation and entrepreneurship”.

The launch of this strategy comes a month after the UN Secretary General announced a High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation this July.

The strategy will align the use of technology in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and to facilitate their alignment with the values enshrined in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the norms and standards of international law.