Accessible Arab Region 2025: ICT for ALL

KEY MESSAGES

1-   Digital Accessibility and Inclusion

• Access to Information and communication technologies (ICTs) is a fundamental enabler of digital inclusion, empowering all people to benefit from digital opportunities, and driving educational, social and economic inclusion.
• Digital accessibility is part of human rights and essential to meet the needs of everyone, not only persons with disabilities, and it is foundational to education, innovation, and social inclusion.  It is gaining strong momentum in the Arab region—an evolution that ITU and ESCWA, through their joint regional efforts, have actively supported.
• Inclusive universal design should be integrated in the development of all digital products and services, from the start (accessibility by design) to ensure that digital accessibility features are embedded throughout the processes and enhance their usability. ESCWA’s Arab Digital Inclusion Platform (ADIP) has contributed to promoting accessibility-by-design principles by offering practical tools and guidelines to governments and stakeholders for embedding digital accessibility throughout digital service lifecycles.
• A participatory approach is essential in the development of inclusive digital platforms, products and services for taking account of the needs of all segments of society.  Involving persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in the development process, from design to policymaking, testing and implementation, ensures that the developed products and services meet actual needs and are based on their experiences.
• Promoting inclusive communication and usability should be a priority, to simplify language use, ensure consistency across services, and use accessible content formats, such as alternative text and captioned videos.
• Content responsibility should be emphasized to ensure having meaningful and culturally sensitive content and promote the adoption of content guidelines to enhance clarity and consistency.

2-   Policies and Strategies/Governance

• National digital accessibility policies and legal frameworks in the Arab region should be developed and aligned with international standards and commitments - the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  Through the ADIP’s National Roll outs, ESCWA is promoting the development of national Digital accessibility policies in line with the global guidelines and standards.
• ESCWA and ITU are called to develop a regional accessibility act (or declaration), similar to other regions, to harmonize efforts and promote digital accessibility by design for all digital products and services in the Arab region.
• Digital accessibility requirements and standards should be mandatory in the development and deployment of digital and smart technologies, to ensure accessible digital infrastructure in smart cities, mobile services, and metaverse environments.  Mandated compliance can be enhanced through regulations and penalties, and incentives for the adoption of successful models.
• National procurement policies should integrate digital accessibility standards to ensure compliance in the purchasing and development of digital products and services.
• Effective governance and monitoring frameworks are required to oversee digital accessibility policy implementation, with periodic evaluation of performance indicators and a labelling system to certify compliance.  Data can be analysed to track progress and guide policies, and a tool/mechanism can be developed to ensure compliance to digital accessibility.  ESCWA was called to extend ADIP tools to support such mechanisms with evidence-based assessments.
• Digital inclusion should be mainstreamed into national digital accessibility policies, strategies and legal frameworks, and aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially goal 10 on reducing inequalities.
• Cooperation amongst all stakeholders and public-private partnerships in the Arab region are important for the implementation of digital accessibility policies and application of its standards. It fosters collaboration between service providers, designers and policy makers towards developing inclusive digital solutions to existing challenges.
• Collaboration between government and industry manufacturers can contribute to provide equitable pricing and licensing conditions that reflect contributions from all cultures and communities.
• Engagement of various stakeholders, including persons with disabilities and their organizations, in decision-making is important for the development, implementation and monitoring of national digital inclusion policies and strategies.  This needs clear timeframes and objectives and addressing the various barriers facing individuals.
• Cybersecurity policies and standards should be enhanced and strictly applied to build digital trust and protect people, especially vulnerable populations.
• A holistic approach should be followed when making digital inclusion policies that seek designing technology for everyone, regardless of ability or age, and accounting for various aspects in accessibility that combine physical, digital, and service design aspects.

3-   Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

• Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies (ETs) can catalyse the use of digital solutions to respond to development needs and make digital transformation more inclusive and accessible.   They can reduce costs and help resolve past and existing digital accessibility challenges, contributing to bridging the digital accessibility gaps.  For example, linguistically accurate and technologically advanced solutions can support the needs of deaf individuals.
• Regulating AI and ETs in the Arab region is essential to ensure they are used ethically, inclusively, and efficiently in public services and that they include accessibility features to benefit everyone. The implementation of AI initiatives needs a human centric vision for it to add value in any country.
• Investing in inclusive digital technologies and innovation is a must to enhance responsiveness and meeting the needs of everyone.
  Sharing and exchange of best practices on e-accessibility through the regional platform developed by ESCWA - the Arab Digital Inclusion Platform (ADIP) - is essential for promoting the development of inclusive innovative solutions and avoiding the mistakes of previous experiences.  
• Promoting the use the ESCWA ADIP’s tools related to e-accessibility policies and guidelines could ensure that AI and ETs are inclusive in the Arab region, and including an AI learning model that reads Arabic language would support the search for shared best practices in Arabic.  
• Scaling successful initiatives across the region can increase impact. ESCWA’s Content Adaptation Smart Tool (CAST) is a practical example, using AI to generate accessible content by creating image descriptions and semantic structure.

4-   Affordability and Infrastructure

• Ensuring affordability of access to Internet and assistive technologies is essential, especially in low-income and rural areas and where cost is a barrier.  Affordability can be supported through subsidies, partnerships and universal service funds.
• Investing in digital public infrastructure to enhance infrastructure readiness, increase connectivity and expand coverage would expand the reach of services to remote and underserved areas and help account for the growing population and urbanization.

5-   Capacity Building and Training 

• Building capacities and digital skills are important for empowering all people to access essential services and participate in the digital economy, especially for vulnerable/marginalized groups and people in rural areas.   
• Providing education and training opportunities would empower local communities and promote equity and sustainability.  Both developers and policy makers can benefit from learning on digital accessibility and universal design, tools and standards, and on affordability and inclusiveness in the development/deployment of digital solutions and services.
• Digital accessibility and skills should be incorporated in educational curricula and national training programmes to enhance student's capabilities to prepare for the existing and future digital challenges.  Training should be widely offered for free or at minimal cost to promote upskilling and use of available digital technologies. Competitions can promote digital accessibility through recognizing initiatives and innovation.
• Certification programmes for digital accessibility professionals, and engagement and participation in the co-design and testing of digital products and services can improve the quality of digital solutions.
• Raising awareness among employees and decision-makers on the continuous systemic commitment for digital accessibility is crucial. Highlighting successful practices from ESCWA’s ADIP and ITU’s global and regional initiatives can support this cultural shift across sectors.