London, April 9 : Internet access must be considered as a basic human right in developing countries else there is a risk of ever-widening inequality, new research has said.
People around the globe are so dependent on the Internet to exercise socio-economic human rights such as education, healthcare, work, and housing that online access must now be considered a basic human right, according to researchers from University of Birmingham in the UK.
In developing countries, Internet access can make the difference between people receiving an education, staying healthy, finding a home, and securing employment — or not, said the study published in the journal Politics, Philosophy & Economics.
“The Internet has unique and fundamental value for the realisation of many of our socio-economic human rights – allowing users to submit job applications, send medical information to healthcare professionals, manage their finances and business, make social security claims, and submit educational assessments,” said Dr Merten Reglitz, lecturer in global ethics at the University of Birmingham.
“The Internet’s structure enables a mutual exchange of information that has the potential to contribute to the progress of humankind as a whole — potential that should be protected and deployed by declaring access to the Internet a human right.”
The study outlined several areas in developed countries where Internet access is essential to exercise socio-economic human rights, like education, health, housing, work and social security.
For people in developing countries, Internet access can also make the difference between receiving an adequate level of healthcare or receiving none.
“Small businesses can also raise money through online crowdfunding platforms. The World Bank expects such sums raised in Africa to rise from $32 million in 2015 to $2.5 billion in 2025,” said the study.
"Upatikanaji wa mtandao lazima ufikie kuwa haki ya msingi ya binadamu katika nchi zinazoendelea, vinginevyo kuna hatari ya kuongezeka kwa ukosefu wa usawa, ""utafiti mpya umesema." Watu duniani kote wanategemea sana mtandao ili kutekeleza haki zao za kijamii na kiuchumi kama vile elimu, huduma za afya, kazi na makazi, na kufikia mtandao sasa lazima kuonwa kuwa haki ya msingi ya binadamu, kulingana na watafiti kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Birmingham nchini Uingereza. "Kama vile utafiti unavyoonyesha, ""upatikanaji wa mtandao unaweza kufanya tofauti kati ya watu kupata elimu, kukaa na afya, kupata nyumba, na kupata ajira au la,"" alisema utafiti uliochapishwa katika jarida la siasa, falsafa na uchumi." "Intaneti ina thamani ya kipekee na ya msingi kwa utekelezaji wa haki zetu nyingi za kijamii na kiuchumi za binadamu, ikiruhusu watumiaji kuwasilisha maombi ya kazi, kutuma habari za matibabu kwa wataalamu wa huduma za afya, kusimamia fedha zao na biashara, kufanya madai ya usalama wa kijamii, na kuwasilisha tathmini za elimu, ""alisema Dk Merten Reglitz, mhadhiri wa maadili ya kimataifa katika Chuo Kikuu cha Birmingham." "Ujenzi wa mtandao unawezesha kubadilishana habari ambazo zinaweza kuchangia maendeleo ya binadamu kwa ujumla, uwezo ambao unapaswa kulindwa na kutumiwa kwa kutangaza upatikanaji wa mtandao kama haki ya binadamu, ""aliongeza, ""Utafiti huo ulionyesha maeneo kadhaa katika nchi zilizoendelea ambapo upatikanaji wa mtandao ni muhimu kwa kutekeleza haki za kijamii na kiuchumi kama elimu, afya, makazi, kazi na usalama wa kijamii." Kwa watu katika nchi zinazoendelea, upatikanaji wa mtandao unaweza pia kufanya tofauti kati ya kupokea kiwango cha kutosha cha huduma za afya au kupokea hakuna. <unk> Biashara ndogo ndogo pia inaweza kukusanya fedha kupitia majukwaa ya mtandaoni ya ufadhili wa umma. Benki ya Dunia inatarajia kiasi hicho cha fedha kuchukuliwa katika Afrika kuongezeka kutoka $ 32 milioni katika 2015 hadi $ 2.5 bilioni katika 2025, utafiti huo ulisema.