The conference, organised by Medicus Mundi Schweiz, will provide a platform for examining the evolving role of AI and digital technologies in shaping public health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) outcomes.
As AI-driven tools increasingly contribute to personalised healthcare, predictive analytics, and public health monitoring, social media platforms continue to play a critical role in raising awareness and fostering dialogue on sensitive health topics. However, these advancements also bring challenges related to privacy, ethics, equity, and the potential exacerbation of stigma and mental health issues.
This conference will focus on both the opportunities and risks associated with AI and digital tools in health advocacy. Discussions will explore strategies to counter misinformation on social media, ensure fairness and inclusivity in AI algorithms, and develop responsible frameworks for leveraging technology in healthcare.
A key theme will be the projected trajectory of these innovations over the next five years. Participants will assess how AI can be used to improve predictive healthcare—such as preventing maternal mortality—while also addressing emerging threats, including digital surveillance, cyberbullying, and the spread of false health information. The conference will facilitate knowledge exchange on upcoming trends, key opportunities, and critical challenges in this rapidly evolving landscape.
The full conference programme will be available at the end of March.
The event is open to national and international public health professionals, project leaders, researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and health advocacy. Registration for the event is open.
The RIPE 90 meeting will take place on 12-16 May 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal.
It will bring together internet service providers, network operators and other interested parties from around the world to participate in discussions about the policies and procedures used by the RIPE NCC to allocate Internet number resources; Participate in the RIPE Working Group sessions to discuss current technical and policy issues; Share experiences, latest developments and best common practices; Develop their network of peers in the internet community.
Each meeting consists of plenary presentations, working group sessions and Birds of a Feather discussions (BoFs).
The final programme will be published on 15 April 2025.
The Pan-European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) 2024 will take place from 12 to 14 May in Strasbourg, France, hosted by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
EuroDIG aims to foster multistakeholder European dialogue to share expertise and best practices and, where possible, identify common ground. It brings together national perspectives and applies and shapes European values. It is the place to initiate discussions and, therefore, a decision-shaping initiative. The year-round process culminates in an annual event.
The event is currently in the programme planning stage, with the call for issues from the community having closed on 31 December 2024.
The Government of Norway will host the 20th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025.
‘Norway is committed to ensuring an open, safe, and free Internet for all. In an era where some countries seek to restrict online freedoms, it is more vital than ever for nations like Norway to engage in the discussions and negotiations regarding the frameworks that govern the Internet. As host country for IGF 2025, the international community trusts Norway to bring together global stakeholders for crucial conversations about the future role of the Internet,’ Karianne Tung, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, stated.
‘A free and open Internet is fundamental to democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. International cooperation to ensure the Internet remains a safe and inclusive space for everyone, is more crucial than ever. Norway wants to contribute to this effort,’ stated Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
More information about the event will be available soon.
Thailand will host the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence from 24 to 27 June 2025, bringing together global leaders, experts, and policymakers to advance ethical AI governance.
Under the theme ‘Ethical Governance of AI in Motion,’ the forum will assess progress since UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and explore strategies for its continued implementation.
Building on previous forums in Prague and Ljubljana, this year’s event will focus on AI’s impact on human rights, gender equality, and sustainability. Discussions will centre on balancing innovation with responsibility, fostering global collaboration, and shaping ethical governance frameworks. Featuring expert panels and interactive sessions, the forum aims to drive actionable progress and strengthen international cooperation in AI ethics.
In 2025, the annual WSIS Forum is branded as the WSIS+20 High-Level Event, to marks the 20th anniversary of the original World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which was held in two phases: Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005). The forum will take place from 7 to 11 July 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD.
The event will serve as a platform for multistakeholder discussions on the implementation of WSIS Action Lines and on related progress, challenges, and opportunities since the adoption of the Geneva Plan of Action in 2003.
The Agenda and Programme for the WSIS+20 High-Level Event are being developed based on official submissions received during the Open Consultation Process (OCP). OCP is an open and inclusive consultation involving WSIS stakeholders, designed to help prepare the event by shaping its programme, identifying gaps in implementing the WSIS Action Lines and the Geneva Plan of Action, and contributing to the overall WSIS+20 review process. The final agenda and programme will be published shortly after the conclusion of the OCP.
The forum will be held ahead of the UN General Assembly High-Level meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes (the WSIS+20 review), to be held on 16-17 December 2025.
The Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) will hold its seventh substantive session on 7-11 July 2025 in New York, the USA. This will be the final session of the group’s work.
The OEWG was established in 2021 by UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/240. The group is tasked to continue to develop the rules, norms, and principles of responsible behaviour of states; discuss ways for their implementation, and to study the possibility of establishing a regular institutional dialogue with broad participation under the auspices of the UN. Also included in the group’s mandate is a study of existing and potential threats to information security and possible confidence-building measures and capacity development. Its composition is declared as open, allowing all UN member states that express a desire to participate.
For more information about the OEWG, please visit our dedicated page.
The AI for Good Global Summit is the main event of the AI for Good platform organised by ITU in partnership with 40 UN Sister Agencies and co-convened with Switzerland. In 2025, the summit will be held from 8 to 11 July in Geneva, Switzerland and feature 3 events:
- AI for Good Global Summit from 8 to 9 July,
- AI Governance Day on 10 July, and
- International AI Standards Day on 11 July.
The AI for Good platform is a year-round digital platform with weekly sessions where relevant stakeholders learn, build and connect to help identify practical AI solutions to advance the UN SDGs and other global development priorities. The platform aims to encourage cooperative efforts to assure reliable, secure, and inclusive AI technology development and equal access to its advantages.
The 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), will occur from 14 July to 23 July 2025. The high-level segment of ECOSOC, including the three-day ministerial segment of the HLPF, will convene from 21 July to 24 July 2025.
The theme for the 2025 HLPF and ECOSOC is ‘Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind.’ This year’s Forum will focus on an in-depth review of SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17, covering issues related to health, gender equality, economic growth, life below water, and partnerships for the goals.
The HLPF serves as the UN’s central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs. It was established during the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) through the outcome document, ‘The Future We Want.’ As part of its mandate, the Forum conducts annual reviews of SDG progress, including Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) where countries share updates on their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda.
The Forum brings together high-level representatives from governments, UN entities, academia, and civil society, alongside other stakeholders, to review progress, identify challenges, and accelerate action. The event will conclude with adopting a negotiated ministerial declaration, highlighting commitments and priorities for advancing sustainable development globally.
Blockchain Life 2025, happening October 28–29 at Dubai’s Festival Arena, is a large-scale industry forum focused on cryptocurrencies, mining, and Web3. The two-day event will bring together people working across the crypto and blockchain space—investors, developers, entrepreneurs, traders, and service providers—offering a platform for discussion, business development, and technical exchange.
The agenda spans a wide range of topics: blockchain infrastructure, trading approaches, mining technologies, regulation, tokenization, and more. Speakers include founders, executives, and policymakers sharing updates and projections on industry directions. Alongside the talks, the expo floor features hundreds of booths where companies and startups present tools and services aimed at different segments of the digital asset ecosystem.
The event also includes structured and informal networking options, including meetings arranged through an official app, side events during the surrounding Blockchain Life Week (October 24 – November 2), and an afterparty focused on high-level professional exchange.
