Digital Inclusion Crucial For Individuals & Communities Says Advice NI

The organisation Advice NI has called for more digital inclusion across Northern Ireland, as they fear that the lack of digital resources in the country is leading to many individuals and communities getting left behind. The digital world is so important now to the future health and wealth of all countries and their people and so they are rightly very concerned about the lack of digital access in many areas in NI.

The problem arises when service providers move all their services online without giving sufficient support to users or providing a viable alternative for people who do not yet have access to digital platforms. This is a bad state of affairs for both the consumer and the provider. To make matters worse, Northern Ireland is one of the most digitally deprived regions across the UK.

Lack Of Internet Access Can Lock People Out Of Vital Services

Speaking on this subject at Advice NI’s “Working Together For Digital Empowerment” event, Patricia Donald, Head of Communication and Digital, is quoted in an article on the Business Eye website, saying:

“The move to digital is meant to streamline services and increase accessibility, but for those without internet access, digital literacy, or the devices needed to connect, it does the opposite—it locks them out of vital services and isolates them further. We cannot afford to overlook those who are digitally excluded. When essential services like healthcare, banking, and public services move online, entire communities’ risk being left behind. This is not just an inconvenience; it is a human rights issue as people cannot participate fully in society.”

Technology Is Now A Critical Dimension Of Human Rights & Democratic Participation

Heydi Foster An Cosán also spoke at the event and she is quoted as saying:

“I want to thank Advice NI for the invitation to speak at the “Working Together for Digital Empowerment” event about this really important issue we are all facing. As a human rights advocate, I see first-hand the incredible pace and scale of technological change we are all experiencing. Anyone serious about supporting people and communities to ensure we leave no one behind, must understand that technology is now a critical dimension of human rights and democratic participation. An Cosán has being raising awareness around unequal digital access for many years, as well as the differences people have in the capability to use digital technologies which are so essential for full participation in society. I also want to commend Advice NI for organising this event especially as tackling the Digital Divide requires all society – government, non-profit, the volunteering and corporate sectors and citizens – to come together to ensure digital access is available for all as a human right.”

We applaud the work done by Advice NI on the subject of digital inclusion. All parties must come together to ensure the whole of Northern Ireland is sufficiently well digitally connected to bring equality and future prosperity.