Launch / Award Event #126 Women in Internet Governance

Summary

This discussion centered on the launch of the Women in Internet Governance (WIG) Initiative, a global program designed to increase women’s active participation in internet governance spaces at local, regional, and global levels. The initiative was introduced by organizers including June Parris from Latin America and the Caribbean, Raymond Mamattah from Ghana, and Gloria Mufajuku, who serves as the programs officer. The WIG Initiative focuses on six key areas: leadership development, mentoring and support, capacity building, regional and global networking, policy engagement, and a dedicated fellowship program.

The program’s core values emphasize collaboration and teamwork, empowerment and innovation, and excellence with global impact. Specific initiatives include the WIG Advanced Fellowship, research and policy development support, awards and recognition programs, mentorship opportunities, and community engagement activities. Expert speaker Maureen Hilliard, a veteran internet governance leader from the Pacific region, shared her journey and emphasized how organizations like ICANN have created inclusive environments where women can excel in leadership roles regardless of their technical background or geographic location.

A significant discussion emerged about coordinating with existing women-focused internet governance initiatives to avoid fragmentation. Mary Adama from Nigeria highlighted the importance of bringing together various national and regional women’s IG groups under one umbrella, suggesting the formation of a Dynamic Coalition on Women in Internet Governance. Raymond Mamattah confirmed that a proposal for such a dynamic coalition has been submitted to the IGF secretariat for consideration. The launch concluded with participants emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to create a more inclusive internet governance ecosystem that reflects global diversity and empowers women to shape digital policy decisions worldwide.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **Launch of Women in Internet Governance Initiative**: The primary focus was introducing and officially launching a global initiative aimed at increasing women’s active participation in internet governance spaces at local, regional, and global levels.

– **Coordination with Existing Women’s IG Organizations**: Significant discussion about how to integrate and coordinate with existing women in internet governance groups across different countries and regions, with suggestions for creating a Dynamic Coalition to bring all initiatives under one umbrella.

– **Barriers and Solutions for Women’s Participation**: Speakers addressed common barriers women face in internet governance (technical intimidation, language concerns, cultural limitations) and emphasized that the multi-stakeholder model provides equal opportunities regardless of technical background or geographic location.

– **Mentorship and Leadership Development**: Strong emphasis on the importance of connecting aspiring female leaders with established mentors, celebrating women’s achievements in the field, and building capacity through structured programs and fellowships.

– **Global Representation and Inclusivity**: Discussion highlighted the need for diverse participation from underrepresented regions, particularly small island developing states and the Global South, to ensure internet governance reflects global realities rather than being dominated by northern perspectives.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion served as the official launch event for the Women in Internet Governance Initiative, aiming to introduce the organization’s mission, connect with existing similar initiatives worldwide, and encourage broader female participation in internet governance decision-making processes.

## Overall Tone:

The tone was consistently positive, collaborative, and encouraging throughout the session. Speakers demonstrated enthusiasm and optimism about women’s potential in internet governance, sharing personal success stories and emphasizing inclusivity. The atmosphere remained supportive and welcoming, with participants expressing genuine excitement about working together across regions and backgrounds to advance women’s leadership in the field.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **June Parris** – Member of the Women in Internet Governance Forum representing Latin America and the Caribbean, member of Barbados Civil Society, Future Center Trust Barbados, ISOC globally and ISOC Barbados, former MAG member

– **Raymond Mamattah** – From Accra, Ghana, member of the leadership team of the Women in Internet Governance Initiative

– **Gloria** (Gloria Mufajuku) – Programs officer for Women in Internet Governance

– **Harisa Shahid** – From Pakistan, involved in the Women in Internet Governance Initiative

– **Rose** – From the Philippines, involved in the Women in Internet Governance Initiative and active in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship

– **Betty** – Involved in the Women in Internet Governance Initiative, experienced in ICANN and internet governance

– **Maureen Hilliard** – Expert in internet governance, former member of Pacific Island Chapter of ISOC (joined 2006), former chair of ALAC (2011-2016), participated in ApoGF since 2012, attended ICANN fellowships, served on Advisory Council of Public Interest Registry, member of inaugural advisory of DNS Abuse Institute, joined .asia board in 2016 and was inaugural chair in 2021, appointed to Internet Society board by ISOC chapter in 2023, former NAMCOM committee member in ICANN

– **Mary Adama** – From Nigeria, coordinator of West Africa Internet Governance Forum, founder of Nigeria Internet Governance Forum, former chair of Africa Internet Governance Forum, former member of IGF MAG

**Additional speakers:**

– **Mary** (Mary Rose) – Mentioned as one of the lead organizers working with Gloria and Harisa on the presentation

# Women in Internet Governance Initiative Launch: Discussion Report

## Executive Summary

The discussion centered on the official launch of the Women in Internet Governance (WIG) Initiative, a global program designed to increase women’s participation in internet governance at local, regional, and global levels. The session brought together internet governance experts and emerging leaders from diverse regions including Latin America and the Caribbean, West Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

The initiative was presented by key organizers including June Parris (representing Barbados Civil Society, Future Center Trust Barbados, ISOC globally and ISOC Barbados, and former MAG member), Raymond Mamattah from Ghana, and Gloria Mufajuku as programs officer. The launch featured insights from veteran internet governance expert Maureen Hilliard and addressed coordination with existing women-focused internet governance initiatives to prevent fragmentation.

A significant discussion point was raised by Mary Adama from Nigeria, coordinator of the West Africa Internet Governance Forum and former chair of the Africa Internet Governance Forum, regarding the need to coordinate various women in IG initiatives to ensure unified advocacy rather than fragmented efforts.

## Initiative Structure and Core Components

### Foundational Framework

Gloria Mufajuku outlined the initiative’s six-pillar framework: leadership development, mentoring and support systems, capacity building programs, regional and global networking opportunities, policy engagement mechanisms, and dedicated fellowship programs.

Harisa Shahid from Pakistan articulated three core values: collaboration and teamwork across diverse communities, empowerment and innovation as driving forces for change, and excellence with global impact as the ultimate objective.

### Programmatic Elements

Harisa detailed five main programmatic goals:

– The WIG Advanced Fellowship as the flagship program

– Research and policy development support

– Awards and recognition program

– Mentorship programs connecting established and emerging leaders

– Community engagement activities

Rose from the Philippines emphasized accessibility through multiple participation channels, including the website www.womeninig.org, WhatsApp community (accessible via QR code), and various social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter).

## Key Speaker Contributions

### Maureen Hilliard’s Perspective

Betty introduced Maureen Hilliard, noting she started in the Pacific, joined the Pacific Island Chapter of ISOC in 2006, was involved with various organizations, and is “a big woman in internet governance.” Maureen shared her personal journey in internet governance, emphasizing that effort and commitment are the primary requirements for leadership roles rather than specific technical backgrounds.

Maureen highlighted ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model as an effective structure that creates inclusive environments where gender parity has been achieved at every organizational level. She stressed that participation is genuinely accessible and that anyone worldwide can become involved in internet governance.

### Addressing Participation Barriers

Betty encouraged participants not to fear their accents or differences, emphasizing that diverse global representation is needed, particularly from underrepresented regions including small islands and the Global South. She identified three key leadership requirements: multi-stakeholder representation, diverse expertise backgrounds, and collaborative expertise.

Betty also noted the need for diverse expertise in areas such as cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy, particularly given current global conflicts, and emphasized bringing peace through diverse participation.

## Coordination and Collaboration Discussion

### Addressing Fragmentation Concerns

Mary Adama raised critical concerns about coordination with existing women-focused internet governance initiatives, questioning where various women in IG initiatives would meet to avoid speaking with different voices. She suggested establishing a Dynamic Coalition on Women in Internet Governance to serve as an umbrella organization bringing together all existing initiatives.

Mary referenced existing initiatives, including women in IG tracks established at Nigeria’s national level, and encouraged other countries to develop similar national-level initiatives while coordinating globally.

### Response and Coordination Mechanisms

Raymond Mamattah responded that they had submitted a proposal for dynamic coalition formation to the IGF Secretariat, which is currently under consideration. He emphasized the importance of establishing country-level and regional branches as part of their global initiative structure.

Maureen Hilliard contributed that successful coordination requires acknowledging existing organizations, particularly women in technology groups in Pacific islands, while building new momentum for collaboration.

## Regional Perspectives

The discussion highlighted regional variations in women’s participation patterns. Rose observed that women in the Philippines remain active in technology and entrepreneurship but show limited engagement in internet governance specifically.

Charmaine Israel’s comment from the Bangladesh Women IGF (established in 2021) was read from online, illustrating the existing foundation of national and regional initiatives already operating across different geographical areas.

Mary Adama’s example of Nigeria’s established women in IG track demonstrated successful national-level implementation that could serve as a model for other countries.

## Inclusive Participation

An important consensus emerged around inclusive participation that welcomes men as participants and advisors while maintaining focus on women’s leadership development. June noted that Raymond was “the only man” present but emphasized that “men are also invited to join” the initiative.

## Next Steps and Conclusion

The Women in Internet Governance Initiative launch successfully established a comprehensive framework for increasing women’s participation in internet governance. Key outcomes include:

– Launch of a structured six-pillar program with multiple participation channels

– Recognition of the need for coordination with existing initiatives

– Submission of a dynamic coalition proposal to the IGF Secretariat

– Commitment to establishing regional and country-level branches

– Creation of accessible online platforms and communities

The discussion demonstrated strong consensus around core principles of coordination, mentorship, inclusive participation, and global implementation through local adaptation. Moving forward, success will depend on resolving coordination mechanisms with existing initiatives and developing detailed implementation plans that respect regional diversity.

June concluded by noting this was her “first session that finished on time,” and the session ended with thanks to the IGF Secretariat and a photo session with participants.

For more information and to join the initiative, participants can visit www.womeninig.org or connect through the WhatsApp community and social media platforms mentioned during the launch.

June Parris: ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Good morning. Good morning, everyone. My name is June Paris, and welcome to Women in Internet Governance Initiative. I am a member of the Women in Internet Governance Forum. I’m representing Latin America and the Caribbean. I’m also a member of the Barbados Civil Society, Future Center Trust Barbados, ISOC globally, and ISOC Barbados. I’m a former MAG member. Without further ado, I will introduce the first speaker, and that would be Raymond. He would explain a bit about the initiative. Raymond, are you there? Hello, Raymond. You can speak. Raymond. Hi. Good morning, everyone.

Raymond Mamattah: My name is Raymond Mamata from Accra, Ghana. On behalf of the leadership team of the Women in Internet Governance… I welcome all of you to this important launch of the Women in Internet Governance Initiative. Here we are happy to have Maureen, who is one of our well-established ladies when it comes to internet governance, who is our invited guest for the event, and we hope to learn more from her as we engage in this launch today. And this initiative is put forward so that we will encourage more women all over the world to engage more actively in the internet governance ecosystem. And it is our hope that through this initiative we’ll get more women all over, come on board, bring ideas on the various ways that they think is necessary for us to engage and make very much impact in our various countries, in our various regions and the world all over. So from this initiative, it is our hope that we’ll all come together, work together and ensure that the internet remains one world and one internet. Thank you all and enjoy the rest of the launch program and welcome once again.

June Parris: Thank you, Raymond. And we next have Gloria. She is one of our lead organizers. She would say something to you. Gloria, can you introduce yourself, please? Yes.

Gloria: I am Gloria Mufajuku. I’m the programs officer for Women in Internet Governance. And today I’m going to do a presentation on the overview of women in internet governance. And I’m going to do this with Harissa and Mary Rose. So I have shared my screen. For everyone to see. So about women in Internet governance. When we talk about women in Internet governance, it’s a global initiative that was created to increase the active participation of women in Internet governance spaces. So we ensure, we want to ensure that women are not just present, but also involved in shaping the decisions, the policies, the structures that govern the Internet space. So on that third point, we want to do this at all levels, locally, regionally, and globally. Why Internet governance? So we created to respond to the real gap in the Internet governance space. So first, we want to help close the gap in participation of women who are, we are still underrepresented in the space. And then secondly, we want to foster increased representation and involvement of women in decision making related to Internet governance. So we aim to support women in taking more active roles in decision making, whether at its national, regional, or global level. And then three, we want to encourage women in decision making in Internet governance space. So we want to encourage and support women to step forward, speak up, and lead in shaping how the Internet is governed. Our focus areas. So the heart of women in Internet governance, our focus is key to six keys. The areas are leadership. development, mentoring and support, capacity building, regional and global networking, policy engagement and dedicated fellowship program. Each of these areas will be designed to help women gain the skills, the confidence and the connections they need to take part in Internet governance in a meaningful way. Thank you all for your attention. I will hand over to Harisa to continue with the presentation. Harisa.

Harisa Shahid: Thank you so much. Hello. Am I audible? Yes. Okay. Okay. So, hello, everyone. This is Harisa Shahid from Pakistan. And thank you so much, Gloria, for introducing our great initiative of women in Internet governance. So moving forward, as we create, as we work to create a more inclusive and representative Internet governance ecosystem, our initiatives are built around tangible actions. So the first of all, we have our WIG Advanced Fellowship, which is, which offers women structured learning, mentorship and hands-on experience to the policy spaces where decisions are being made. Alongside that, we are actively supporting research and policy development, empowering women to lead and shape the discourse through evidence-based contributions. Thirdly, we have awards and recognition. So in this part, we empower women and we honor those who have made remarkable contributions to the field, inspiring others to follow. And number four, we have mentorship program, which is very close to our hearts because it bridges the gap between emerging voices and experienced leaders, fostering growth from shared experiences. And lastly, a very important perspective of our program is the community engagement. because the real change begins with dialogue, with collaboration, and building trust across the regions and backgrounds. So that five are goals of this wonderful initiative which we plan to work on in the future and with all of the great women ahead which will join our journey. So moving forward together, we have three major values. The first is collaboration and teamwork because change doesn’t happen alone. We believe in building together across communities, across cultures, and across borders. Secondly, we have empowerment and innovation because when women are empowered, innovation becomes more inclusive and more creative and more human. Women are a core part of our society and we aim to empower them by engaging them in the digital platforms and with the ongoing technology. So finally, we have excellence and global impact because we are not here just to include, just to be included. We are here to lead, we are here to help, we are here to speak, and we are here to shape the future of the internet in the ways that reflect everyone. And we are really excited about the road ahead and living to inviting more women to join our initiative and become a part of this space to empower more women and to shape a very stronger society ahead. So thank you so much, everyone. Now I’ll hand over to Ms. Rose. So over to you.

Rose: Thank you, Harissa. Hello, everyone. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening to each and every one of you. We are really excited to launch the Women in Internet Governance across the globe. So we are calling all our women who are enthusiasts and advocates of internet governance. Governance to join us and get involved in this advocacy of bringing together more representation of women in the Internet Governance ecosystem. So you can join and get involved by joining our mailing list, and so you can get the exclusive updates from us, like our latest news, announcements, and our event invitations, and early access to our workshops, webinars, and special events. You can also get in touch with us directly through our WhatsApp community and dedicated WhatsApp groups for real-time updates and discussions, where you can just raise your questions, share whatever updates that’s going on in your country or in your region, and get instant notifications of any urgent matters and connect with our fellow members effortlessly. So we have here the QR code for our WhatsApp, or we can share later on in the chat box so you can connect with us. And we also have our social media platforms where you can follow and get in touch with us. We have on LinkedIn Women in Internet Governance. We also have on Facebook, which is Women in Internet Governance, Women in Internet Governance on X, and our website, of course, www.womeninig.org. So everyone, we are really excited to have you on board and join us in this advocacy. Turning over to you again, Gloria, thank you very much for your attention. Thank you.

June Parris: Over to you, June. Thank you, everyone. Thank you very much, my colleagues. You’ve done a very good job in introducing Women in Internet Governance. I have here next Betty. I’m not sure if Betty’s online. Betty, are you there? Can you introduce yourself if you’re there?

Betty: Hi, everyone. Normally, it’s supposed to be Nathalie Tarkova. We can hear you, Betty. OK, all right. Firstly, I had to introduce Marine Haile. It’s correct? So it’s enough for me to introduce Marine Haile. She’s a big woman in internet governance. She started in the Pacific. She joined the Pacific Island Chapter of ISOC in 2006. Marine was born from 2009 to 2017. She was a chef from 2011 to 2016. She joined the ApoGF in 2012 and continues as an active participant of the MSG. She attended two ICANN fellowships. And she was appointed to the ILAC and be a big leader and make real progress with ILAC Asian. And she was the chair for four years. And this year, before she retired from ILAC, after Marine attended her first IGF in Hyderabad, after finishing her first internet governance course with the Diplo Foundation in 2008, and was an ISOC ambassador at the Sharm el-Sheikh IGF in 2009. From 2011, she is a Caribbean representative to small island developing state issue to the IGF. And she co-founded Rural Dynamics for the Seeds. We know she’s also served on the Advisory Council of Public Interest Registry. And she was a member of the inaugural advisory. of the DNS Abuse Institute. In 2016, she joined the .asia board and she was an inaugural chair in 2021. She was appointed to the Internet Society board by the ISOC chapter in 2023. And something really I share with Maureen, she was one member of the NAMCOM committee in ICANN. So she’s really wonderful person and she’s so active. And some people we want to follow as one of our leader in internet governance. Thank you.

June Parris: Thank you, Betty. I will now hand over to the expert speaker. Very expert, I agree with you. And it’s Maureen Hilliard. I’ve known her for a while. So yes, I know she’s an expert.

Maureen Hilliard: Thank you so much. Very kind invitation to speak with you all today and I’m really glad to see that the crowd is growing. My journey through the internet governance ecosystem has been sort of like heavily influenced and impacted by the many very fortunate introductions of inspiring people along the way. And it was mentioned that I first joined the internet society chapter in my region, the Pacific. But I was introduced to it and persuaded to join the committee, to join this organization by no other than Vince Cerf. I couldn’t believe it. And when he actually sort of said, like, oh yeah, what you’re doing in the Pacific is exactly what the internet society does. They’re bringing the power of the internet to any unconnected areas. And I said, oh yeah, okay, I’ll join. And I mean, I had no idea at that particular point in time what internet governance. But then, this major information gap was actually sort of addressed during my time with the Diplo Foundation and the amazing team with Yovan Kouvelagi and his guys. And during those years, I sort of like, one of the things that’s sort of like, once you’re with Diplo, it’s, once you’re with Diplo, you’re always with Diplo. And I was walking down the corridor the other day and I met up with Ginger Park. Now Ginger was the one person that I, who actually did a lot of work with me. And she was the one who actually sort of like, pointed me in the right direction with regards to how I could better support the work that sort of like, was needed in the Pacific. And she also further encouraged my determination to actually be a part of that development. And it’s sort of like, it became a passion with me after that. But in my own role as a leader, initially with the PIKAI SOC Board and later with the ALEC, it’s been encouraging to see more women becoming, you know, sort of like emerging and bringing their voices to the discussion tables. Not only in relation to issues impacting women and other marginal, marginalised groups, but also in taking up leadership roles. And I believe that having women in leadership not only changes the dynamics of their working group situations, but it also helps to break down traditional barriers, such as the gender gaps in skills and access, and their usual under-representation in decision-making spaces. But an important introduction I made was via the Internet Society and ICANN, and where I found that women who may have experienced barriers often created by cultural or institutional situations in their own home environments were to find that ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model was actually a leveller. Participation is inclusive and there is gender parity at every level and the thing is that personal effort and commitment are the required attributes. Otherwise how else could I with no real technical experience or knowledge and from an underdeveloped region get to lead the ALEC and the at-large community within ICANN and I believe that ICANN has helped to highlight that women make successful leaders. But across the board women’s heightened participation at this level signals a broader commitment to gender equality and we as women can support this development by continuing to connect aspiring female leaders with established mentors to provide invaluable guidance and support particularly when it comes to navigating the complexities of international policy spaces in which we’re all involved and that like as we are in here at the IDF. So we need to support training initiatives that can help women build the digital to diplomatic and leadership skills necessary for them to compete for and excel in top roles. At the same time we need to highlight and sell celebrate achievements of our women leaders in digital governance to help to normalize their presence and leadership roles and to inspire others to follow. By championing women’s leadership in international policy governance, we can move closer to a world where all people, regardless of their gender, can shape, benefit from and thrive in the information society of tomorrow, building a better digital future for us all. Thank you.

June Parris: Thank you. As you can see she is an expert and as I said she’s given some valuable input into what women do and what the entire IGF community is involved with. We are on time so therefore we have our online moderator and we also have the audience and we want to ask any audience members with any questions or any input into this discussion. I’m gonna put someone on the spot and that’s Mary. Mary, I know she wants to talk. Hey June! Is that me? No, Mary Adama, she’s gonna give her input. Thank you June. Okay, when Mary’s finished we can invite other people to speak. Mary Adama, not Mary Rose. Mary Adama.

Mary Adama: She’s having microphone problems. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are joining us. I know so many of us are online. Just a quick one. I’m excited to be here. Through my former life I got to know about the IG. And as I tell people that the Internet governance, whether you are in ICANN or you are in Internet Governance Forum or you are in other fora that speak or speak about Internet governance is addictive. When you get to know it, you get to know it. And it’s only when you are passionate about it and get engaged, then you see that you meet women, great women like Maureen and like June, and like the young ladies that we saw online that are upcoming. But I want to ask, because there are several initiatives that have got to do with women in IG, where is the meeting point? So that it will not be fragmented, we have to be on one spot, one page, and speak the same language. Because I know of other women in IG. I am part of the women in IG in my country, and every, in Nigeria, I’m from Nigeria, by the way. Did I say my name? Mary Uduma. Okay. So I’m part of the women in IG in my country. When we run our national IG, we normally give, we run the women in IG in Nigeria. We run youth, and we run the, now we are going to start the parliamentarian track, so, and I want to encourage those of us that are here that you could also start women in IG in your own country initiative. My Nigeria Internet Governance Forum has a track for women, and we meet and discuss issues that have got to do with women, how we engage in the internet governance space, and how we can lead, because I coordinate the West Africa Internet Governance Forum. I started the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum and I’ve been a chair of the Africa Internet Governance Forum and also I’ve been in the mark of the IGF. So there’s no limitation for us. We can always make a difference. We can mentor. What I’m doing now is to mentor the younger ones to come up and take over as I’m a grandmother.

June Parris: Thank you, Mary. Another expert, another valuable person within the IG community. Before the audience, can I go back to Rose? The other Rose. Is it Rose? Did I say Mary or Rose? OK, Rose, do you have something to say? Are you there?

Rose: Hey, June. Yeah. Do you want something to add to it? Yeah. Here in the Philippines, women are active in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, but there are only a few women active in Internet governance. So it’s a part of our advocacy and WIG to bring more women and this is a good collaboration because we are bringing women experts in IG from across the globe and it’s my interest to bring them and share their expertise and insights to Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines, so that we can encourage more women from my country, which is a relatively small country compared to yours, and multiply myself so that there will be more Rose and women, not just in IGF, but also in ICANN and also in Internet Society. Thanks a lot, June, for this opportunity to speak and share.

June Parris: Thank you, Rose. I’ve known you for a while as well, and I know that you’re doing great work and you’re part of the world. You’re really busy. So is anyone else on the panel? Does anyone else want to add to what was said before, before I turn over to the audience and online, and any online questions? We have our online, what’s the name? Sorry, I’ve forgotten their name. Is anyone online? Does anyone want to speak at this time? Raymond here. Yeah, Raymond, yeah. Thank you, Raymond.

Raymond Mamattah: Yes. Okay, so to react to Momi, we all call her Momi, Madam Udumu, her concern, how do we merge? So, Women in Internet Government, this initiative is a global initiative, and our intention is to have branches all over the world, in country and in regions. That is one of the ways that we all, the women groups come together and have one engagement. So, as Mary Rose mentioned, we’ll be having one in her country, and we are going to encourage people to have a series of that in their various countries, and also at the regional level, so that we can engage at that space. So, from here, we are expecting that we’ll be having a series of Women in Internet Governance groups all over the countries, which are part of this great initiative that we are launching today. Thank you.

June Parris: So, is there anything anyone else want to add to that discussion? We still have lots of time. Okay, I will now ask… Sorry, Mary. Oh, Mary. Okay, we got Mary. Sorry, I’m coming back to the microphone.

Mary Adama: I still want to know, because there are other initiatives that are women-focused in IG. Are you just launching this one for today? Is it starting off today? Did you do any research or search for other initiatives that are already ongoing so that we have, maybe we have a DC on women in IG, right? That’s what I may want to propose, that we have a DC on women in IG so that all the initiatives will come together. I know that there are some we have in our community in Africa, there’s women in IG in Africa, we have in our national IG as well. I’m happy to be part of it, but let’s also look at all the initiatives that are already ongoing and join hands to make it a bigger thing. Thank you.

June Parris: Thank you, Mary. Maureen wants to say something.

Maureen Hilliard: Just to add on to what Mary has said, and for example, in the Pacific, we have actually had several island nations that have women in technology. And this is sort of like including internet governance, but more because we’re trying to get more women engaged in the technical side of the industry as well. But I like your idea of basically coordinating all these efforts. And I think that even though we’re launching today the Global Women in Internet Governance, which I think is an amazing sort of movement for us, we really need to also take acknowledgement of these other organisations that are currently… operating and and and bring them into bring them into our sort of I think I like the dynamic coalition that’s you know that’s that’s something that’s quite all-embracing and and it brings all the different sectors in so yeah

June Parris: let’s move on that. I agree I agree. Can, is Betty still there? Betty can you add to that because I believe you’re trying to become a DC. Can you say something at this point in time? Yes just many many points. The first point is we have to make a position between men because we are part of the humanity and we have to shape our future together and the right point is to keep a way to build the leadership, the women leadership in the internet governance. With some role models we have many ways to build this and to to be to be confident that it’s possible because some women before us do that and I have three key points to share with you about the leadership we need for women in internet governance. First one is the multi-stakeholder representation. Some women say they are afraid to say okay you know internet is too technical, too difficult and is is to have too much to learn. Something I learned in a few years in ICANN or internet governance that you have to take your time step by step to learn and anyone in the world can become a member of the internet governance action. We have many organization for for women, or for technical, or for academic, or for research to be committed in Internet governance. But we need global representation, more people for small island, from the south, from some region underrepresented. This is really important that Internet governance reflect the reality of the world. And we need the different experience to not have an Internet who is conceptualized by the north for some people. We have to take a future more desirable. Secondly, we have to build a diverse expertise for the background. Cyber security is urgent because we have many attacks, we have many problems about civil diplomacy. You know what’s happening actually, we have some war, we have to be, to become ambassador of peace on Internet. Each of us, we don’t have to take, okay, I’m for this part of the world, of this country. No, we are a part of the peace and we can build the peace together. I’m thinking about what’s happening in Iran, Israel, Palestine, or Sudan. I think everywhere we can bring the peace with our diverse expertise. And it’s starting now. We don’t have to wait an organization. We can have a lot of way to be on board, okay? It’s just fit for us, each of us, to find the right organization. And like Maureen, we can after change if we feel our support to the organization, we learn, we share, and we be someone active and a real expert. And third part of the point I want to share, the leader, the good leader, have to have… collaborative expert. You cannot be a good leader, a good woman leader in internal governance, if you don’t collaborate with other people. I know it’s difficult, you know, the language to work is English. And when some people are native English, it’s easier for them. But that couldn’t stop us. Because we can learn, and many people say their English was really bad at the beginning. Don’t be afraid of your accent or your difference. You can be the part of the change. But the collaboration is good to change and to be a good leader. So together, we can try to start a good leadership, good vibes, positive to shape the future of internet for all women in internal

Betty: governance. Thank you.

June Parris: Thank you. Are there any questions or any inputs from the audience? We still have eight minutes left. Does anyone want to say anything? Any young person who wants to take over from us older people? We have a man. Raymond, do you want to say something?

Raymond Mamattah: Yes.

June Parris: You’re the only man. Just a few minutes. Yeah. Are you going to speak?

Raymond Mamattah: Okay, sorry. With regards to the dynamic coalition formation, we had a meeting with the IG secretariat on this. And we have followed up and submitted a proposal and a document for the formation of the dynamic coalitions. So it is under consideration now. And we are hoping in in the next few days or few weeks, it will be approved and we can share the good news with the team to all come on board so that we can make it work. So women in internet governance, we are thinking global and making all the efforts to bring all the women together to ensure that they actively engage. Thank you.

June Parris: Thank you, Raymond. As you can see, we’re speaking about women in internet governance, but we do have a man on board. So we’re not going to be prejudiced or anything like that. So men are also invited to join. We do take advice from men. So Betty, any online questions?

Betty: Yeah, I saw some online question. I saw about, let me see, about some comment. Charmaine Israel from the Bangladesh Women, IGF, she said we started the forum in 2021. And the question, as we work to strengthen women’s participation in internet governance, how can we address at national, regional and global levels? If I can just say some words about this comment and question. Joan, is it possible?

June Parris: Yes, we have six minutes. So you can speak for a minute. One minute.

Betty: Okay. All right. Very quickly. Something to understand, the Women’s Leadership Team was created by men and women in different regions of the world, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe. And each person bring knowledge and experience can help shape the direction for a good standards of internet. You know, if we want that change, more people in policy from the south for decision making or for the industry. I know sometimes in some region, the internet industry, the south is underrepresented or not really have a good organization. It’s not easy. Sorry for the noise but I missed my flight and I’m between the airport and the train station. I’m so sorry. So it’s not easy. But something really important is that we can bring our expertise and embrace and take a part of other members. We are a collective of people. You are not alone. So dear Sharmin from Bangladesh, join us and we can change something for the Internet in governance.

June Parris: Thank you. Any more interjections? What about Maureen?

Maureen Hilliard: No.

June Parris: Mary, are you finished? Mary? Are you done? Are you sure? We still have a few minutes. We have four minutes. So anyone else can say something. Any young people? What about Mary? Are you finished? I’m sorry, Mary Rose, not Mary. Mary Rose, that’s it. Rose, are you finished?

Rose: Yes, June. I’m good. Thank you, June. The guys there in Norway and Mary, I hope you’re enjoying the weather there.

June Parris: We were not enjoying the weather because it was raining but it’s sunny today. Oh, you got weather today. That’s nice. So we have no more interjections. So we are on time.

Betty: Excuse me, June. We have some questions or comments online. Okay, can you… It’s not easy for me to speak. Okay, let me… Very quickly, we have a man from… I don’t see the country. He just made a comment and said all the organizations have to be together under one umbrella. Just about that, maybe we can ask Maureen, do you think all organizations for Internet governance can be standing under one umbrella?

Raymond Mamattah: Hi, Raymond here again. We need to move on with… the declaration of the launch. So let’s move on with the other agenda where Maureen will do the declaration. That time doesn’t catch up on us.

Maureen Hilliard: So we’ll hand over to Maureen. This is just the actual declaration, just sort of, you know, I mean, certainly an honour for me to… You’re going to break, you’re going to break the bottle of wine on the boat. It’s right, I’ll smash it against the boat, right. But it really does give me, it’s an absolute honour to be able to launch this global, it’s the global chapter of the IGF Women in Internet Governance. But as Mary has actually mentioned too, we need to also celebrate a lot of the organisations that are already started, that we actually need to, you know, bring together. And as, you know, Raymond’s actually sort of mentioned before that if we can get a dynamic coalition that actually encourages all the women to sort of like join together in one group, that would be fantastic. Thank you.

June Parris: Thank you. And we’re on time. This is my first session that’s finished on time. So I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be a part of it. Thank you, the team and the audience for your participation today. We also like to thank the Secretariat and the IGF for giving us this opportunity. We are all working forward to the future and we will look forward to collaborating with everyone, even men and the rest of the world. So I’m going to wrap up now and we’re on time. Can we have a photo with everyone? Yeah, we can have a photo with everyone because it’s not, yeah, if everyone will come up, we’ll have a photo. But I think we can go off air at this time.

Maureen Hilliard: Definitely.

Raymond Mamattah: All participants, please put on your camera.

Agreement points

Need for coordination and integration of existing women in IG initiatives

Speakers

– Mary Adama
– Maureen Hilliard
– Raymond Mamattah
– Betty

Arguments

Concern about fragmentation with multiple women in IG initiatives requiring coordination to speak with one voice

Need to acknowledge and coordinate with existing organizations like women in technology groups in Pacific islands

Importance of having country-level and regional branches as part of the global initiative to avoid fragmentation

Recognition of existing Bangladesh Women IGF started in 2021 and need to address participation at national, regional and global levels

Summary

All speakers agree that existing women in internet governance initiatives should be coordinated rather than fragmented, with support for creating unified structures like dynamic coalitions while maintaining regional and national branches

Topics

Gender rights online | Development | Legal and regulatory

Importance of mentorship and learning from established women leaders

Speakers

– Maureen Hilliard
– Mary Adama
– Harisa Shahid
– June Parris

Arguments

Journey through internet governance influenced by inspiring introductions and mentors like Vince Cerf and Diplo Foundation team

Internet governance is addictive and passionate engagement leads to meeting great women leaders and opportunities for mentorship

Five main goals including WIG Advanced Fellowship, research and policy development, awards and recognition, mentorship programs, and community engagement

Importance of recognizing and learning from established women experts in internet governance

Summary

Speakers consistently emphasize the critical role of mentorship, learning from experienced women leaders, and creating structured programs to support emerging voices in internet governance

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Global initiative with local and regional implementation

Speakers

– Gloria
– Raymond Mamattah
– Rose
– Mary Adama

Arguments

Global initiative created to increase active participation of women in Internet governance spaces at local, regional, and global levels

Initiative aims to encourage more women worldwide to engage actively in the internet governance ecosystem and bring ideas for impact

Women active in technology and entrepreneurship in Philippines but few in Internet governance, requiring advocacy to bring more women

Nigeria has established women in IG track at national level and encourages other countries to start similar initiatives

Summary

All speakers support a global approach that includes strong local and regional implementation, with countries developing their own women in IG tracks while being part of a broader international movement

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Similar viewpoints

These speakers share a programmatic approach to women’s engagement, focusing on structured programs, concrete action items, and practical participation mechanisms rather than just representation

Speakers

– Gloria
– Harisa Shahid
– Rose

Arguments

Focus on ensuring women are not just present but involved in shaping decisions, policies, and structures that govern the Internet

Five main goals including WIG Advanced Fellowship, research and policy development, awards and recognition, mentorship programs, and community engagement

Multiple ways to join including mailing lists, WhatsApp communities, social media platforms, and dedicated website

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Both speakers emphasize that traditional barriers (technical background, language, geographic location) should not prevent women from participating and leading in internet governance, with commitment and collaboration being more important than conventional qualifications

Speakers

– Maureen Hilliard
– Betty

Arguments

Personal experience shows that effort and commitment are required attributes, not technical background, for leadership roles

Emphasis that good leadership requires collaboration and that language barriers should not prevent participation

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Both speakers advocate for formal coordination mechanisms and emphasize the importance of diverse, collaborative leadership structures in internet governance

Speakers

– Mary Adama
– Betty

Arguments

Suggestion for Dynamic Coalition on women in IG to bring all existing initiatives together under one umbrella

Three key leadership points: multi-stakeholder representation, diverse expertise backgrounds, and collaborative expertise

Topics

Gender rights online | Legal and regulatory

Unexpected consensus

Inclusion of men in women-focused internet governance initiative

Speakers

– June Parris
– Raymond Mamattah

Arguments

Men are welcome to participate in the Women in Internet Governance Initiative without prejudice

Initiative aims to encourage more women worldwide to engage actively in the internet governance ecosystem and bring ideas for impact

Explanation

Despite being a women-focused initiative, there is unexpected consensus that men should be included and welcomed as participants and advisors, demonstrating an inclusive rather than exclusionary approach to addressing gender representation

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

ICANN as a model for inclusive participation

Speakers

– Maureen Hilliard

Arguments

ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model serves as a leveller where participation is inclusive with gender parity at every level

Explanation

Unexpected consensus emerges around ICANN as a positive example of inclusive governance, which is significant given that ICANN is often criticized in internet governance discussions, yet here it’s presented as a model for gender inclusion

Topics

Gender rights online | Legal and regulatory

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus exists around the need for coordinated global action on women in internet governance, the importance of mentorship and learning from established leaders, the value of structured programs and practical participation mechanisms, and the necessity of local/regional implementation alongside global coordination

Consensus level

High level of consensus with no significant disagreements identified. The speakers demonstrate remarkable alignment on strategic approaches, implementation methods, and core values. This strong consensus suggests the initiative has solid foundation for success and indicates that the women in internet governance community has developed shared understanding of challenges and solutions. The agreement spans both philosophical approaches (inclusion, collaboration) and practical implementation (dynamic coalitions, regional branches, mentorship programs), suggesting the initiative can move forward with unified vision and coordinated action.

Different viewpoints

Approach to coordinating existing women in IG initiatives

Speakers

– Mary Adama
– Raymond Mamattah

Arguments

Suggestion for Dynamic Coalition on women in IG to bring all existing initiatives together under one umbrella

Importance of having country-level and regional branches as part of the global initiative to avoid fragmentation

Summary

Mary Adama advocates for using a Dynamic Coalition mechanism to coordinate all existing women in IG initiatives under one umbrella, while Raymond Mamattah proposes creating country and regional branches of their new global initiative. Mary emphasizes bringing together existing separate initiatives, while Raymond focuses on expanding their newly launched initiative.

Topics

Gender rights online | Development | Legal and regulatory

Unexpected differences

Timing and process priorities during the launch event

Speakers

– Raymond Mamattah
– June Parris

Arguments

Proposal submitted for dynamic coalition formation with IG secretariat currently under consideration

Gratitude to IGF Secretariat for providing platform and opportunity for the initiative launch

Explanation

An unexpected procedural disagreement emerged when Raymond interrupted the discussion to move forward with the formal declaration, while June was facilitating ongoing audience engagement. This suggests different priorities about whether to focus on formal launch procedures or continued community discussion.

Topics

Gender rights online | Legal and regulatory

Overall assessment

Summary

The main disagreement centers on coordination mechanisms for existing women in IG initiatives, with speakers proposing different structural approaches (Dynamic Coalition vs. global initiative branches). There are also subtle differences in emphasis regarding representation priorities and event management.

Disagreement level

Low to moderate disagreement level. The speakers share fundamental goals of increasing women’s participation in internet governance but differ on implementation strategies. These disagreements are constructive and focus on tactical approaches rather than fundamental principles, suggesting they can be resolved through continued collaboration and potentially hybrid approaches that incorporate multiple perspectives.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

These speakers share a programmatic approach to women’s engagement, focusing on structured programs, concrete action items, and practical participation mechanisms rather than just representation

Speakers

– Gloria
– Harisa Shahid
– Rose

Arguments

Focus on ensuring women are not just present but involved in shaping decisions, policies, and structures that govern the Internet

Five main goals including WIG Advanced Fellowship, research and policy development, awards and recognition, mentorship programs, and community engagement

Multiple ways to join including mailing lists, WhatsApp communities, social media platforms, and dedicated website

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Both speakers emphasize that traditional barriers (technical background, language, geographic location) should not prevent women from participating and leading in internet governance, with commitment and collaboration being more important than conventional qualifications

Speakers

– Maureen Hilliard
– Betty

Arguments

Personal experience shows that effort and commitment are required attributes, not technical background, for leadership roles

Emphasis that good leadership requires collaboration and that language barriers should not prevent participation

Topics

Gender rights online | Development

Both speakers advocate for formal coordination mechanisms and emphasize the importance of diverse, collaborative leadership structures in internet governance

Speakers

– Mary Adama
– Betty

Arguments

Suggestion for Dynamic Coalition on women in IG to bring all existing initiatives together under one umbrella

Three key leadership points: multi-stakeholder representation, diverse expertise backgrounds, and collaborative expertise

Topics

Gender rights online | Legal and regulatory

Key takeaways

The Women in Internet Governance Initiative was successfully launched as a global initiative to increase active participation of women in internet governance spaces at local, regional, and global levels

The initiative focuses on six key areas: leadership development, mentoring and support, capacity building, regional and global networking, policy engagement, and dedicated fellowship programs

Personal experiences shared by leaders like Maureen Hilliard demonstrate that internet governance leadership is accessible to women regardless of technical background, with effort and commitment being the key requirements

ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model was highlighted as an effective leveler that provides inclusive participation with gender parity at every level

Multiple existing women in IG initiatives already operate at national and regional levels, indicating both momentum and need for coordination

The initiative aims to be inclusive, welcoming both women and men as participants and advisors

Resolutions and action items

A proposal for dynamic coalition formation has been submitted to the IG secretariat and is currently under consideration

Participants can join the initiative through multiple channels including mailing lists, WhatsApp communities, social media platforms, and the dedicated website www.womeninig.org

The initiative will establish country-level and regional branches as part of the global structure

Countries are encouraged to start their own women in IG initiatives at the national level, following examples like Nigeria and Bangladesh

A photo session was planned to commemorate the launch event

Unresolved issues

How to effectively coordinate and integrate multiple existing women in IG initiatives to avoid fragmentation and ensure unified voice

Specific timeline for approval of the dynamic coalition proposal by the IG secretariat

Detailed implementation plan for establishing country-level and regional branches

How to address underrepresentation from Global South and small island developing states

Specific mechanisms for addressing language barriers that may prevent participation from non-native English speakers

Suggested compromises

Formation of a Dynamic Coalition on women in IG to serve as an umbrella organization bringing together all existing women in IG initiatives

Recognition and integration of existing organizations rather than replacing them, acknowledging groups like Pacific women in technology and various national women in IG initiatives

Inclusive approach that welcomes men as participants and advisors while maintaining focus on women’s leadership development

Multi-level approach with global coordination while allowing for regional and national autonomy in implementation

But I want to ask, because there are several initiatives that have got to do with women in IG, where is the meeting point? So that it will not be fragmented, we have to be on one spot, one page, and speak the same language. Because I know of other women in IG.

Speaker

Mary Adama

Reason

This comment was insightful because it identified a critical strategic challenge – the fragmentation of women’s initiatives in internet governance. Rather than simply celebrating the new launch, Mary raised the important question of coordination and avoiding duplication of efforts, demonstrating strategic thinking about movement building.

Impact

This comment fundamentally shifted the discussion from a celebratory launch mode to a more strategic conversation about coordination. It prompted multiple responses from other speakers, including Raymond explaining their global branch strategy, Maureen suggesting acknowledgment of existing organizations, and Betty discussing the need for a Dynamic Coalition. The comment essentially reframed the initiative from standalone to collaborative.

I believe that ICANN has helped to highlight that women make successful leaders. But across the board women’s heightened participation at this level signals a broader commitment to gender equality and we as women can support this development by continuing to connect aspiring female leaders with established mentors…

Speaker

Maureen Hilliard

Reason

This comment was thought-provoking because it moved beyond simply advocating for women’s participation to providing concrete evidence of success and actionable strategies. Maureen used her own experience as proof of concept while outlining specific mechanisms for change – mentorship, training, and celebration of achievements.

Impact

This comment elevated the discussion from aspirational to practical, providing both inspiration and a roadmap. It demonstrated that the barriers can be overcome and offered concrete steps, which likely influenced the later discussions about building leadership and collaborative expertise that other speakers referenced.

We need global representation, more people for small island, from the south, from some region underrepresented. This is really important that Internet governance reflect the reality of the world. And we need the different experience to not have an Internet who is conceptualized by the north for some people.

Speaker

Betty

Reason

This comment was particularly insightful because it connected gender representation to broader issues of global equity and decolonization of internet governance. Betty identified that true inclusion requires addressing not just gender gaps but also geographic and developmental disparities, adding crucial intersectional analysis to the discussion.

Impact

This comment broadened the scope of the conversation beyond gender to encompass global justice and representation. It added depth to the discussion by highlighting how multiple forms of exclusion intersect, and influenced the later conversation about bringing peace and diverse expertise to internet governance challenges.

Something I learned in a few years in ICANN or internet governance that you have to take your time step by step to learn and anyone in the world can become a member of the internet governance action… Don’t be afraid of your accent or your difference. You can be the part of the change.

Speaker

Betty

Reason

This comment was thought-provoking because it directly addressed psychological barriers that prevent women from participating – fear of technical complexity and linguistic insecurity. By normalizing the learning process and celebrating linguistic diversity, Betty tackled often unspoken but significant obstacles to participation.

Impact

This comment shifted the tone from institutional to personal, addressing individual fears and self-doubt. It provided encouragement that likely resonated with many participants and complemented the structural solutions being discussed, offering both practical advice and emotional support for potential participants.

Overall assessment

These key comments transformed what began as a straightforward initiative launch into a sophisticated strategic discussion about movement building, coordination, and inclusive leadership. Mary Adama’s fragmentation concern sparked a crucial conversation about avoiding silos and building coalitions rather than competing initiatives. Maureen’s evidence-based advocacy provided both inspiration and concrete pathways forward, while Betty’s intersectional analysis and personal encouragement added depth and accessibility to the discussion. Together, these comments elevated the conversation from celebration to strategy, from aspiration to action, and from gender-focused to intersectionally aware, ultimately creating a more nuanced and comprehensive framework for the Women in Internet Governance initiative.

How can existing women in internet governance initiatives be coordinated and merged to avoid fragmentation?

Speaker

Mary Adama

Explanation

Mary raised concerns about multiple separate women in IG initiatives existing globally and emphasized the need for a unified approach to avoid fragmentation and ensure all groups speak the same language

Should a Dynamic Coalition on Women in Internet Governance be established to bring all initiatives together?

Speaker

Mary Adama and Maureen Hilliard

Explanation

Both speakers suggested creating a Dynamic Coalition as a mechanism to coordinate all existing women in IG organizations under one umbrella structure

What research was conducted on existing women in IG initiatives before launching this new global initiative?

Speaker

Mary Adama

Explanation

Mary questioned whether the organizers had researched other ongoing women-focused IG initiatives to ensure coordination rather than duplication of efforts

How can women’s participation in internet governance be strengthened at national, regional and global levels?

Speaker

Charmaine Israel (online participant from Bangladesh Women IGF)

Explanation

This question addresses the practical implementation of women’s engagement across different governance levels and was raised by someone already working in this space since 2021

How can all internet governance organizations be brought together under one umbrella?

Speaker

Unnamed male participant (online)

Explanation

This broader organizational question extends beyond just women’s initiatives to consider overall coordination in the internet governance ecosystem

What is the status and timeline for the Dynamic Coalition proposal submitted to the IGF Secretariat?

Speaker

Raymond Mamattah

Explanation

Raymond mentioned a proposal was submitted but under consideration, leaving uncertainty about approval timeline and next steps