Zero draft of resolution on WSIS+20 review modalities made available

Green, Art

The Permanent Representatives of Kenya and Lithuania – as co-facilitators for intergovernmental consultations to finalise the modalities for the WSIS+20 review – have produced a draft resolution defining these modalities and made it available to UN member states, along with a roadmap for the modalities process.

The draft resolution follows the model of the WSIS+10 modalities resolution, and outlines the following elements:

  • The overall review will be concluded by a two-day high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly (GA), proposed to be held on 16–17 December 2025. This meeting will be preceded by an intergovernmental preparatory process that also takes into account input from all relevant WSIS stakeholders.
  • The President of the GA, in consultation with member states, will invite representatives from all relevant WSIS stakeholders to speak during the high-level meeting.
  • The overall review by he GA will take stock of the progress made in the implementation of WSIS outcomes and address potentual ICT gaps and areas for continues focused, as well as addressing challenges, including bridging the digital divide, and harnessing ICTs for development;
  • The President of the GA is requested to appoint, in May 2025, two co-facilitators to lead an intergovernmental negotiation process, which will include preparatory meetings, resulting in an intergovernmentally agreed outcome document, for adoption at the high-level meeting. This process will be based, among other relevant inputs, on submissions from member states and observer states and observers, and the final report of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
  • During the preparatory process for the high-level meeting, the President of the GA will organise informal interactive consultations with all relevant WSIS stakeholders, to collect their input for the intergovernmental negotiation process.

The zero draft will be presented on 14 February 2025. This will be followed by consecutive readings on 26 February, 6 March, and 13 March, with the goal of having the draft resolution submitted to the GA and considered in the plenary during the weeks of 17 and 24 March.