View source for World Development Information Day

{{Short description|International observance, 24 October}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name  = World Development Information Day
|type          = International
|longtype      = United Nations
|image         = Flag of the United Nations.svg
|caption       = 
|official_name = 
|nickname      = 
|observedby    = [[list of minor secular observances#October|Worldwide]]
|date          = October 24
|duration    = 1 day
|frequency    = annual
|scheduling    = same day each year
|celebrations  = 
|observances   = 
|relatedto     = [[United Nations Day]]
}}

In 1972, the [[United Nations General Assembly]] decided to institute a '''World Development Information Day''' coinciding with [[United Nations Day]] on October 24. The General Assembly had the object of drawing the attention of world [[public opinion]] each year to [[development informatics|development problems]] and the necessity of strengthening international co-operation to solve them.<ref name="UN_ARES3038XXVII">{{UN document |docid=A-RES-3038(XXVII) |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=27 |resolution_number=3038 |accessdate=2008-10-24|title=Dissemination of information and mobilization of public opinion regarding problems of trade and development
|date=19 December 1972}}</ref>

The day was further recognized as the date on which the International Development Strategy for the [[Second Nations Development Decade]] was adopted in 1970.

On May 17, 1972, the [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UN Conference on Trade and Development]] (UNCTAD) proposed measures for information dissemination and for the mobilization of public opinion relative to trade and [[right to development|development problems]]. These became known as resolution 3038 (XXVII), which the UN General Assembly passed on December 19, 1972. This resolution called for introducing World Development Information Day to help draw the attention of people worldwide to development problems. A further aim of the event is to explain to the general public why it is necessary to strengthen [[international cooperation]] to find ways to solve these problems. The assembly also decided that the day should coincide with United Nations Day to stress the central role of development in the UN's work. World Development Information Day was first held on October 24, 1973, and has been held on this date each year since then.

In recent years many events have interpreted the title of the day slightly differently. These have concentrated on the role that modern [[information and communications technology|information-technologies]], such as the [[Internet]] and [[mobile telephone]]s free from [[digital divide]] can play in alerting people and finding solutions to problems of trade and development. One of the specific aims of World Development Information Day was to inform and motivate young people and this change may help to further this aim.

==See also==
*[[World Telecommunication and Information Society Day]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://sangonet.org.za/thetha/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=60 Sangonet.org]
* [https://www.un.org/ga/president/57/pages/speeches/statement021024-DevelopmentInfo.htm Un.org]

{{United Nations}}

[[Category:1972 in international relations]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1973]]
[[Category:United Nations days]]
[[Category:October observances]]


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