3 May 2007

A Korean official has called upon the United Nations (UN) to make websites more accessible for disabled persons.

Lee Do-Hoon of the Republic of Korea made the comments at a UN committee meeting on information held yesterday in New York, which was attended by delegates from around the world.

The UN Department for Public Information (DPI) must "pay due attention to improving website accessibility for the disabled", Mr Lee told the committee.

Other representatives called for other types of accessibility, with Jiro Kodera of Japan and Simon Pidoux of Switzerland urging the body to make its online information available in a wider range of languages.

Elmer G Cato of the Philippines called for the UN to help bridge the digital divide from which the country suffers in some areas.

"We would like to see the DPI make full use of new technology to allow the public better and faster access," said the official.

Last year in his role as Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan urged the world's governments to make the web a more inclusive place by focussing on accessibility.

© Adfero Ltd

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