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The Bureau reaffirmed IFAP’s commitment to building inclusive and equitable knowledge societies, reviewed progress in implementing the IFAP Strategic Plan 2023–2029, and discussed the planned activities commemorating the Programme’s 25th anniversary. A number of recommendations and decisions were adopted during the meeting.
In an era marked by rapid advancements in frontier digital technologies, such as AI and Quantum, IFAP’s role has become increasingly relevant. IFAP’s mission is of paramount importance to bridge digital divides, tackle gender gaps, promote digital literacy, support multilingualism, preserve digital heritage and navigate ethical complexities.
Ambassador Salih AbdullahChair of IFAP
While IFAP is reaffirming its role in building inclusive knowledge societies in the digital and AI era, the 25 year milestone offers a prime opportunity to revitalize the Programme by linking IFAP’s six priorities directly to the World Summit of the Information Society +20 (WSIS+20) and Global Digital Compact (GDC) objectives. This will contribute to synchronizing local action with global mandates and transforming high-level policy into tangible, community-level progress.
Mariya GabrielUNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information
Creation of National IFAP Committee in Libya
The Bureau acknowledged the contributions of Member States, Working Groups, National Committees and partners to the implementation of IFAP’s Strategic Plan 2023-2029.
The Bureau particularly welcomed the formal announcement of Mr Al- Baour Abdulbaset, Director of the Libyan National Authority, on the establishment of the National IFAP Committee in Libya. This further expands IFAP’s global network to 24 National Committees and reinforces its capacity to translate the Programme’s priorities into action at the national level.
Global Roadmap for Multilingualism in the Digital Era and Plan of Action
In line with its Priority on promoting multilingualism in cyberspace, IFAP supports the implementation of UNESCO’s Recommendation 2003 concerning multilingualism, the International Decade of Indigenous languages, as well as the latest significant outcome, Global Roadmap for Multilingualism in the Digital Era: Advancing the Role of Language Technologies and the Proposed Plan of Action.
The Roadmap recognizes language technologies and AI as critical enablers for multilingual access to information, services and knowledge. The IFAP Bureau recommended that Member States, the IFAP community and stakeholders implement the Roadmap and its Plan of Action, and submit it to the 14th IFAP Council in 2027.
Expanded partnership and enhanced cooperation with IFLA
The Bureau highlighted the expanded partnership of IFAP to include more than 40 IGOs, NGOs and partners, and particularly the enhanced collaboration between IFAP and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
Claire McGuire, Manager of Policy and Advocacy of IFLA, presented the jointly produced issue brief, Global Network of Libraries and Local Impact: A Policy Roadmap to Build an Inclusive Digital Future. She highlighted IFAP’s endorsement of the IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto and the IFLA-UNESCO School Library Manifesto, which has strongly supported their wider implementation, with the manifestos now available in 38 languages.
Partnership with Communication University of China
The meeting formally launched a three-year partnership between IFAP and the Research Institute on Information and Communication Accessibility of the Communication University of China, covering the period from 2026 to 2029.
Guilherme Canela, the IFAP Secretary, stressed that this partnership is instrumental to advance IFAP’s priority on Information Accessibility, in line with IFAP’s Strategic Plan 2023-2029. It coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 25th anniversary of the Information for All Programme in 2026.
Peng Zheng, Vice President of the Communication University of China, Liang Qin, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, and Professor Haizheng Fu, Executive Dean of the Research Institute on Information and Communication Accessibility at the Communication University of China, shared experiences and initiatives aimed at promoting accessible information and communication, fostering inclusion and advancing shared cultural rights through accessible communication.
Special screening event of accessible film Nezha
Following the Bureau meeting, IFAP’s Secretariat, in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO and the Communication University of China, hosted an accessible film screening. The event presented the Guangming Cinema Project and featured an accessible English version of the Chinese animated film Nezha. The Guangming initiative produces accessible audiovisual content for persons with visual impairments and has already reached more than 800,000 people, illustrating how innovation and partnership can expand equal participation in cultural life.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/ifap-bureau-meeting-advances-global-cooperation-inclusive-digital-futures
