The simple truth is that the information superhighway is not bringing the fruits of cyberspace to all. Those who have access to new technologies are much better placed than before. But the point is that the vast majority of scientists in developing countries do not have access to these technologies. The relative disadvantage of developing country scientists becomes obvious. A number of journals now receive and review manuscripts by e-mail.
Some journals are available only in the electronic form.
Editors of such international journals will naturally be reluctant to use referees from developing countries, even if they are exceptionally competent in their fields, simply because it may be extremely difficult to reach them electronically. Nor, for that matter, will many developing country scientists will be able to publish their work in these electronic journals. The United Nations is greatly concerned about the imbalance in access to communication facilities. We therefore commit the organizations of the United Nations system to assist developing countries in redressing the present alarming trends. Therefore, the relative disadvantage they suffer in the matter of access to information will only increase.