CM/Res.896 (XXXVII)
RESOLUTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Thirty- seventh Ordinary Session in Nairobi, Kenya from 15 - 26 June 1981,
Recalling the decision taken by the General Conference of Unesco at its Twenty-first Session (Delgrade, September – October 1980) to establish an International Programme for the Development of Communications (IPDC);
Stressing that this decision is the logical conclusion of the numerous discussions held previously at the United Nations General Assembly and the General Conference of Unesco, as well as at various other meetings and conferences, in particular those organized by the OAU,
Recalling also that the establishment of the IPDC within the framework of Unesco is the result of a consensus reached by Member States wishing to create an international instrument designed to “increase co-operation and assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and to reduce the gap between various countries in the communications field”,
Supporting unreservedly the assertion contained in the recommendation on the IPDC adopted by the Inter-governmental Conference (Paris, April 1980) that “in order to reduce the existing limitations on indigenous capacity for the production and distribution of messages”,
Stressing that gaps are particularly apparent and appreciable between Africa and the rest of the world, in as much as the communication infrastructures and facilities on the African continent fall considerably short of the needs of populations and countries,
Reaffirming accordingly, that the launching and the rapid and effective implementation of the IPDC represent a contribution to the continent’s cohesion and to the exchange of information between African countries, as well as a decisive step towards the formulation and gradual establishment of a New World Information and Communications Order:
INVITES
The authorities to both developed and developing countries to give particular priority, by all means to their disposal, to the achievement of the Programme’s objectives;
The Government of all African countries to take measures as rapidly as possible, with a view to the formulation of national policies for the development of communications, the establishment of the necessary infrastructures both in urban and rural regions, and the introduction of ways and means of facilitating communication both within countries, between individuals and social entities, and between African countries themselves;
The developing countries, in particular those that possess oil resources and all those possessing the necessary means, to make financial or other appropriate forms of contribution to the IPDC;
The developed countries, as a token of international solidarity and attachment to the principle of inter-dependence in all fields of communication to take part without delay in the effort to increase the resources of the IPDC in order that it may be launched and established, and attain the necessary degree of effectiveness to be credible;
The regional bodies, as well as professional associations and other non- governmental organization of Africa, both national and regional, to co- operate as closely as possible, with the IPDC, particularly in the fields of the
press, radio and television, book production and copyright, the cultural industries and artistic activities, cinema and leisure activities;
The Organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the World Bank and UNDP, as well as the African Development Bank and the regional African organizations, to provide their support, skills, experience and resources for the purpose of ensuring the satisfactory operation of the IPDC.