Deprivation is no longer limited to food, shelter, or healthcare. It has extended into the digital world, where technology has become an essential gateway to education, employment, healthcare, and public services.
Yet millions of people around the world continue to experience digital poverty due to the lack of internet connectivity, limited access to digital devices, or insufficient digital skills. As a result, they are deprived of opportunities for education, employment, access to information, and essential services.
In many refugee camps and underserved communities, the absence of digital connectivity has become a new form of exclusion, widening social inequalities and limiting people’s ability to exercise their rights and participate fully in economic and social life.
Today, digital justice is an integral part of social justice. Ensuring safe, equitable, and inclusive access to technology is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for achieving sustainable development and guaranteeing equal opportunities for all.
At IOHR, we believe that bridging the digital divide is a shared responsibility, and that technology should serve as a bridge to equality and empowerment, rather than a source of exclusion and marginalization.
Access to the digital world today is a fundamental step toward accessing human rights.
References:
* United Nations (UN) – Global Digital Compact
* International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – Facts and Figures 2024
* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Guidance on Digital Inclusion and Education
