Open Forum #33 Open Consultation Process Meeting for WSIS Forum 2025

Summary

This discussion focused on preparations for the WSIS Plus 20 Forum High-Level Event in 2025, which will review 20 years of progress since the World Summit on the Information Society. Participants emphasized the importance of maintaining the multi-stakeholder approach that has been central to WSIS, while also adapting to new technological developments and challenges. Many speakers stressed the need to avoid duplication of efforts, particularly in light of the recently adopted Global Digital Compact (GDC).

There was broad agreement on the continued relevance of the WSIS action lines, though some suggested updates may be needed to address emerging issues. Several participants highlighted the importance of inclusivity, calling for greater involvement of voices from the Global South, rural communities, and youth. The need to address persistent and new forms of the digital divide was a recurring theme.

Speakers from various UN agencies, governments, civil society, and the private sector shared their perspectives on priorities for WSIS beyond 2025. These included focusing on sustainable and ethical technology use, enhancing digital skills, and leveraging ICTs for development. There were calls to better integrate the implementation of the GDC with existing WSIS mechanisms.

The discussion also touched on procedural aspects, such as the open consultation process for shaping the agenda of the 2025 event. Overall, participants expressed a strong commitment to building on WSIS achievements while adapting the process to address current and future digital challenges in an inclusive, rights-based manner.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– The importance of maintaining the multi-stakeholder and inclusive nature of the WSIS process as it moves beyond 2025

– The need to avoid duplication between WSIS and other initiatives like the Global Digital Compact, and instead build on existing frameworks

– Updating the WSIS action lines to address new technologies and challenges while maintaining their technology-neutral approach

– Increasing focus on issues like digital divides, rural connectivity, gender gaps, and youth engagement

– Streamlining implementation efforts and maximizing limited resources

The overall purpose of the discussion was to gather input from various stakeholders on priorities and considerations for the WSIS+20 review process and high-level event in 2025, as well as the future of WSIS beyond 2025.

The tone of the discussion was largely collaborative and forward-looking. Participants expressed enthusiasm for the WSIS process while also highlighting areas for improvement and evolution. There was a sense of urgency about making the most of limited time and resources to address critical digital issues. The tone became more action-oriented towards the end, with specific suggestions for new initiatives and calls to submit formal input.

Speakers

– Gitanjali Sah – Organizer of WSIS Forum

– Thomas Schneider – Ambassador of Switzerland

– Torbjörn Fredriksson – UNCTAD representative

– Cynthia Lesufi – South Africa representative, Council Working Group on WSIS and SDGs

– Anriette Esterhuysen – Association for Progressive Communications

– Meni Anastasiadou – International Chamber of Commerce

– Mina Seonmin Jun – South Korea representative, Council Working Group on WSIS and SDGs

– Felix Nyström – Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

– Craig Stanley-Adamson – Head of Internet Governance, UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

– Wallace S. Cheng – Global Ethics representative

– Halima Ismaeel – Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Board member

Additional speakers:

– Cedric – UNESCO representative

– Yuping – UNDP representative

– Delfina – United Nations University representative

– Moaz – Saudi Arabia representative

– Mike Walton – UNHCR representative

– Rian – Brazilian Association of Internet Service Providers

– Paola Galvez – Youth representative from Peru

– Fawad Bajwa – Digital Dera representative from Pakistan

Expanded Summary of WSIS Plus 20 Forum High-Level Event Discussion

Introduction

This discussion focused on preparations for the WSIS Plus 20 Forum High-Level Event, scheduled for July 7-11, 2025, at Palexpo in Geneva. The event will review 20 years of progress since the World Summit on the Information Society. The dialogue brought together representatives from various UN agencies, governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector to share perspectives on priorities for WSIS beyond 2025 and shape the agenda for the upcoming event.

Key Themes and Agreements

1. Multi-stakeholder Collaboration and Inclusivity

There was broad consensus on the importance of maintaining and enhancing the multi-stakeholder approach that has been central to WSIS. Speakers such as Thomas Schneider, Ambassador of Switzerland, emphasised that multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial for WSIS implementation. This sentiment was echoed by other participants, including Anriette Esterhuysen from the Association for Progressive Communications, who highlighted the importance of intergenerational and inter-institutional collaboration.

The discussion underscored the need to raise inclusiveness to a new level. Wallace S. Cheng from Global Ethics advocated for supporting local innovation, particularly in the Global South. Halima Ismaeel, a member of the Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Board, stressed the importance of engaging youth and focusing on emerging technologies. Other participants called for including the voices of refugees, displaced persons, and small and medium enterprises in the WSIS process. Fawad Bajwa suggested highlighting rural communities’ struggles to connect to the internet at the WSIS Forum.

2. WSIS Action Lines and Their Continued Relevance

Several speakers emphasized the ongoing importance of the WSIS action lines. While there was agreement on their continued relevance, discussions touched on potential updates to address new technologies and challenges. Gitanjali Sah noted that UN agencies are updating WSIS action lines based on their expertise. Some participants, like Renata, argued for the need to update the action lines, while others cautioned against duplicating efforts with other initiatives.

3. Global Digital Compact (GDC) and WSIS

The relationship between the recently adopted Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the WSIS process was a significant topic of discussion. Moaz from Saudi Arabia emphasised the importance of avoiding duplication with GDC implementation. Other speakers suggested using the WSIS framework to implement the GDC, with Torbjörn Fredriksson from UNCTAD advocating for leveraging existing UN mechanisms for this purpose.

4. Digital Rights and Equality

Several speakers emphasised the need to focus on digital justice and human rights in the digital context. Anriette Esterhuysen highlighted the importance of addressing the gender digital gap, a point that resonated with other participants. Paola Galvez, a youth representative from Peru, proposed creating a specific action line on addressing the gender digital gap. Felix Nyström stressed the importance of human rights mainstreaming in new initiatives.

5. Implementation and Resource Allocation

The discussion touched on practical aspects of WSIS implementation, with several speakers emphasising the need to streamline efforts and maximise limited resources. There were calls to focus on financing mechanisms for digital development and to set concrete targets for financing digital infrastructure in the developing world. Mr. Hossain highlighted the role of the Inter-Islamic Development Bank in supporting ICT development.

6. Role of UN Agencies and International Cooperation

Torbjörn Fredriksson emphasised the importance of UN agency collaboration in WSIS implementation and highlighted the role of the Commission on Science Technology for Development (CSTD) in the WSIS follow-up. Mina Seonmin Jun, the South Korea representative, highlighted the role of regional cooperation in advancing WSIS outcomes.

Open Consultation Process and Future Directions

Gitanjali Sah, the organiser of the WSIS Forum, explained the open consultation process for shaping the WSIS Forum agenda. She encouraged participants to submit proposals and suggestions for the WSIS+20 Forum agenda through this process by March 14. Sah also mentioned plans for a hackathon and the need for incubators for young innovators.

Thought-Provoking Comments

Several comments stood out for their potential to shape future discussions:

1. Thomas Schneider’s call to concentrate resources and build on the WSIS process in an inclusive and efficient manner.

2. Nandini from IT4Change’s emphasis on governing the internet as a global public good.

3. Anriette Esterhuysen’s reminder of the unique collaborative potential of WSIS across diverse stakeholders and geographies, and her suggestion to include the Tunis Agenda outcomes, particularly financing mechanisms, in the WSIS Forum structure.

4. Paola Galvez’s specific proposal for an action line on the gender gap.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The discussion highlighted the ongoing relevance of the WSIS process while also emphasising the need for evolution and adaptation. Key takeaways include the importance of maintaining multi-stakeholder collaboration, avoiding duplication with other initiatives like the GDC, enhancing inclusivity, and updating WSIS action lines to address new challenges.

Moving forward, participants suggested several action items:

1. Organising consultative sessions and brainstorming workshops at the WSIS Forum to gather stakeholder input on future directions.

2. Submitting proposals and suggestions for the WSIS+20 Forum agenda through the open consultation process by March 14.

3. Considering the inclusion of a specific focus on the gender digital gap in WSIS action lines or declarations.

4. Exploring ways to better include rural community perspectives in the WSIS process.

5. Integrating discussions on emerging technologies and their impact on digital development.

The discussion set the stage for continued dialogue and negotiation in the WSIS+20 review process, with a clear emphasis on collaboration, efficiency, and inclusivity in shaping the future of global digital cooperation and development. The upcoming WSIS Forum, which will also celebrate ITU’s 160th anniversary, promises to be a pivotal event in advancing these goals.

Gitanjali Sah: and also to all the virtual participants who have joined us today. We do know that many of our colleagues who couldn’t be here are with us virtually. So this is an open forum. If you notice on the website, we’ve listed quite a few speakers, but those are all of those who wish to make interventions. We already listed them as speakers online. So please do feel free to make your intervention once the co-organizers and co-hosts have spoken. So the idea of the meeting is to provide you with an update of our preparatory process for the WSIS Plus 20 Forum High-Level Event. It’s co-hosted with Switzerland, so we are very happy to have Ambassador Schneider with us, and it’s co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD in collaboration with more than 40 UN agencies who are working closely with us, and I can see many of you in the room. So thank you for being here with us. Before I begin to provide updates, I’d like to invite Ambassador Schneider, our co-host, to please welcome us and to give us some more information about what Switzerland is preparing for the event. Over to you, Ambassador.

Thomas Schneider: See how this works, yes. So good morning, everyone. As we all know, it is just a little over 20 years ago at the first summit of the Information Society in December 2003, where not just the representatives of all nations, but also lots of other stakeholders gathered together in Geneva and agreed on a shared vision for inclusive, people-centered, and development-oriented. information and digital society. In addition, we formulated 11 action lines and some other concrete targets that should help us to work toward this vision. And we have created various processes for dialogue, cooperation and partnership among all stakeholders in their respective roles. And this has allowed us to learn from each other. Today, however, we are not at the end of our work in cooperation, but still at the beginning, because new tools like digital platforms, social media, new technologies, including AI and the use of data have emerged and are promises, but also a new pitfall. So this means for us a call for even greater and more inclusive cooperation for improvement and strengthening existing mechanisms. 2024, we are at an important point in time in setting the course for the near future. The meeting on the Alps 10 meeting, which adopted the Stampaolo guidelines and the WSIS plus 20 forum high-level event this May in Geneva, which took stock of the implementation of the WSIS action line. But then we also have, as we all know now, the agreement on the Global Digital Compact, which should outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all. But this is again not the end. It is rather the beginning of a process that should lead us to some bigger decisions, even bigger decisions at the end of next year, because next year we’ll have the WSIS plus 20 overall review by the UN General Assembly at the end of the year. But before that, we’ll have a number of events and processes that run up to this. There’s an important meeting of the CSTD, the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, which has a key role as focal point for the UN system-wide follow-up to the WSIS. And of course, we do have important events. Facilitated by the ITU, UNESCO and other specialized agencies together with other partners which should all contribute to an inclusive WSIS plus 20 REU process where all voices from all regions over the world should be heard. We as Swiss have supported WSIS since 2003 and will continue to support all actors and processes that cooperate constructively to develop and implement WSIS goals. We are looking forward for this year’s WSIS plus 20 forum high level event that is taking place from 7 to 11 July in Geneva again like last year in parallel with the AI for good summit. Both events will be co-hosted by Switzerland and the ITU and its partners. Because there were so many people wanting to participate at these events, this year we had a queue that was going from the conference center to the Place des Nations which is something I have never seen before in Geneva. The whole thing will be moved to Palexpo which is a small place 5 minutes or 10 minutes away by bus or 5 minutes by train near the airport where we have much more space to accommodate all people wanting to participate physically and of course it is also possible to participate online. I think the most important of all these processes and the criteria that all the processes and events that we have leading up to the WSIS plus 20 REU for us is really inclusivity. We do not want just to hear a few voices from a few powerful stakeholders. For us it is important to give room. that as many stakeholders can express their views, their needs, in particular the ones that may not have the resources to follow everything. We really have to be mindful to support those stakeholders that are less resourced, that are struggling to keep up with everything that’s going on. And this again is why we strongly support the San Paolo guidelines, to support stakeholders that are normally not sitting at a table, that are normally not heard. For us it’s like this is the measurement for all the processes that we are seeing, that it’s not just something that we call multi-stakeholder approach, but it’s something that is actually a true, inclusive and meaningful multi-stakeholder approach involving everybody in their respective roles into these processes. Because we believe this is the only way to find and identify solutions that actually create win-win situations for us all and not just for a few. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Ambassador Schneider, and also for highlighting the real multi-stakeholder philosophy of the WSIS process. It’s really in the DNA of the WSIS process and we must continue to strengthen the WSIS Forum as a platform for this kind of engagement. And for those of you who haven’t read the chair’s summary from the high-level event this year, I’d like to encourage you to read it. It’s a really beautifully written document which also talks about the WSIS+. So please do have a look at it and do refer to it in your considerations of WSIS Beyond 2025. I’d now like to invite Cedric from UNESCO to give us a little bit of UNESCO’s perspective to the whole review process and some of the important timelines that we must consider.

Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Yes, now you can hear me. So let me start by thanking the co-hosts, Switzerland, but also ITU, for preparing for the last high-level event, but also for the next one. We will be co-organizing together with UNDP, with ACTAT, and for your remarkable leadership and commitment to this work. I have here a full speech prepared for the ADG, he has speech writers, but I’m asked to be short, and some of the elements actually Thomas covered already. For us, the multi-stakeholder nature of WSIS, I need to emphasize that, is really important, and I’m very happy to see such a full room here, and Torbjörn committed already early up in Geneva, online too, as one of our partners. What I found an interesting fact in the speech is that since 2009, over 120,000 participants from 160 countries participated, which is really impressive, and of course we have now the task of the WSIS review, but also of implementing the GDC, building on the existing WSIS mechanisms. And so that will be helpful for this kind of translation of the GDC into reality too. So UNESCO is fully committed to support this process. We are also working with all stakeholders to prepare for a conference, which was initially announced for mid-February, but is moved now to 4th, 5th June. I wanted to share that with you. I have a few flyers here on AI and digital transformation in the public sector, which is part of the WSIS plus 20. and I am pleased to listen to you mainly now and hand back over the mic to Gitanjali and ITU.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much, Cedric, and thank you for being brief because the whole purpose of this meeting is to listen from stakeholders who are present here. Yuping, I’d like to invite you to say a few words from UNDP.

Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Gitanjali, and recognizing the need to be brief, I’m just going to say that, again, we’re so honored as UNDP to be here. As Ambassador Schneider said, we have new challenges, that’s the Global Digital Compact, but what is really very important and critical to the conversation is the fact that the WSIS outcomes and the action lines are so much more relevant today than ever before, and so we’re looking forward to the WSIS Plus 20 review as a chance to reflect on all these new developments while reaffirming the importance of what has brought us all together here today, of deep commitment to multi-stakeholderism, being open and inclusive, focusing on those who are most in danger of being left behind, and overall, and in essence, the most enduring importance of the WSIS process and the IGF itself. This is all in line with how UNDP sees a rights-based, inclusive approach to digital transformation and working together with everyone to ensure that digital is an empowering force for people on the planet. It’s an honor to be here with our fellow UNGIS and WSIS co-chairs. We’re at Switzerland, and the organizers, we look forward to having you as all part of this process, and we stand ready to fully support it.

Gitanjali Sah: Jiubing, Torbjörn couldn’t join us here physically, but he’s there with us virtually for all our WSIS sessions. Thank you so much, Torbjörn. Can I please invite you to say a few words as UNGTAD, over to you.

Torbjörn Fredriksson: Thank you, Geetanjali. Hello, participants, colleagues and friends. Good morning to you from Geneva. I also wish I would be with you in Riyadh on this important week. Let me start by thanking ITU for all its preparations for the next WSIS Forum 2025 and for rebranding it to the WSIS plus 20 high-level event. I think it’s going to be the 16th time that we hold this together now in Geneva. Many thanks also to Switzerland for co-hosting the event. From the perspective of the UN trade and development, this is a very valuable opportunity for achieving an in-depth, multi-stakeholder and constructive dialogue on every relevant aspect of the 20-year review of the WSIS. The recent adoption of the Pact for the Future and the GDC add food for thought in this context. It is essential that the commitments made by member states in the GDC can feed into the discussion on the WSIS plus 20 review and any decision on what will come after and at the end of 2025. At the same time, as we consider how best to support the implementation of the GDC, we need to fully harness the existing mechanisms that we have already set up as a result of the WSIS. This includes the very good division of labor that is established in the WSIS outcome documents, the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, the UN Group on the Information Society, the ITU stock-taking database and various other initiatives. And in the case of UNCTAD, we can also leverage the E-Trade for All initiative as well as E-Trade for Women in this context. The Commission on Science Technology for Development, which is responsible for the overall follow-up on the WSIS implementation, was also given a new role in the GDC. I would urge all stakeholders this year to focus attention on what should be done to make sure that we achieve effective results from these various mechanisms and forums. Our collective work towards building a, as we said, a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society is far from complete. Digital and e-commerce device, for example, remain very wide and some are actually growing. In the coming years, we need to give added attention to how to make the digital economy and society more inclusive and more sustainable. The WSIS plus 20 high-level event here offers a very good platform to explore the ways we should go to meet this challenge. We look forward to co-organizing it together with ITU, UNESCO, and the UNDP co-hosted with Switzerland. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Torbjörn. I’d now like to move on to my presentation. If you put it in full screen, so we could put it in full screen, presentation. Okay. So, thank you very much and the clicker doesn’t seem to work. Okay. So, colleagues, just a gentle reminder, who in the room are very familiar with the WSIS process, but just to remind you of the important milestones that have brought us here in 1998, in ITU’s plenipotentiary conference in Minneapolis. Tunisia proposed this framework of the WSIS process in 2001. There was a UN General Assembly resolution that requested that WSIS is organized in the two phases, one in Geneva and first one in Geneva, that came up with the Geneva Plan of Action, and the other one in Tunisia in 2005. We started with the cluster of WSIS related events. So, this was the WSIS forum, which was rebranded into the WSIS forum in 2006. We had the UNGA overall review in 2015, where our mandate was decided to be updated till 2025. In 2020, of course, also in 2015, we had the SDGs. So we started aligning the WSIS goals. 2025, we will have the WSIS high-level event. We will have the UNGA review. So the resolution says that there should be a high-level event. And of course, there will be a resolution that will be adopted in 2025, which will then highlight the future of the WSIS process beyond 2025. So the governance structure of WSIS, you often hear this myth in New York that WSIS doesn’t have a governance structure. Of course it does. And it starts in New York. We have the UNGA resolutions. We have the ECOSOC resolutions. This chief executive board, through the organizations group on information society, the CSTD, the annual WSIS forum, the annual IGF, the UN agencies mandated to implement the WSIS action lines, UN regional commissions on the ground, WSIS prizes, WSIS stock-taking database, the partnership, which is so crucial, UN-DESA, UNESCO Statistical Committee, ITU, and so on and so forth, and the WSIS special initiatives. We are guided by our WSIS action lines. And if you look at the WSIS action lines, it’s a beautiful framework that covers the entire gamut of information and communication technologies, right from ICT infrastructure to cybersecurity to e-governance, and the beautiful framework that each UN agency, based on their respective mandates, actually lead the implementation of the action lines. For example, ITU leads ICT infrastructure, cybersecurity, capacity building with UNDP. and e-business is done by UNCTAD, along with UPU and IDC. Of course, UNESCO has several action lines that cover the whole knowledge society’s part. So it’s a beautiful framework of the UN in action. So a lot of work is being done there. There are more than 30,000 projects aligned with the sustainable development business action lines in the WSIS stock taking database. Now, as all the panelists before me said, multi-stakeholderism is the key principle of the WSIS framework, the UN framework called WSIS. If you look at it, we have our UN colleagues, we have the countries, we have young people who are following it. We have representatives from the technical community, the civil society, private sector, all have played a very passionate role in the implementation of the WSIS action lines since its inception. So we want to keep the spirit and the momentum alive. So this is our wheel of implementation. I already touched upon it. The WSIS action lines, WSIS forums, stock taking, UNGIS, great implementation action wheel, which is already working very well, and all stakeholders are working together to implement it. Now, we heard about the GDC and the GDC, we are very happy that it has been endorsed and it’s already in action, but just we have a lot of similarities with the WSIS process, you know, capacity building, protection of human rights, innovation, knowledge sharing, ethical use of technology, AI inclusivity, bridging the digital divide, promotion of international cooperation. So you can clearly see that, of course, there was always an alignment and the UN group has actually worked on a matrix which is available online. to map the WSIS process and the 2030 agenda with the GDC principles and the existing framework that is already available to implement the GDC. The UNGIS group, those of you who have not heard of it, we are a group of UN agencies and the chief executive board ensuring that digital always remains an important mandate in all of our agendas. So what have we achieved since 2003? You know WSIS has targets. If you go to the WSIS outcome documents, we have very basic targets. Connecting the schools. So if you look at the Giga maps, 280,000 plus schools are connected but we really need to do a lot more work. 65% of women are using the internet. 79% of youth are using the internet. We are working with WHO to collect the data for how many hospitals are connected and 5.5 billion people are online. So these are great achievements but we need to address the gaps, you know, and the new gaps also that have been coming up. So WSIS has continuously evolved with, you know, emerging technologies. You know, the action lines have provided a very very sound framework to include and adapt to the emerging trends in technology. So save the date. Ambassador Schneider already informed us we are moving to Pal Expo Geneva 7 to 11 July. Please do book already if you can because you can cancel them later in case your plans change but do book them because last year some of you did have problems when you waited till the last minute. So please do book them. Do register soon. Registration will be open and as WSIS is a UN process we will have accreditation and visa support from Switzerland. So we are working on all of that closely with and it will be all available very soon. So our objectives, you know, this year, we use the WSIS plus 20 high level event to kind of look at what we’ve achieved in 20 years. But next year, we should definitely look at beyond. We really want more consultative sessions, more outcomes, and really concrete actions and suggestions from all stakeholder communities, the private sector, civil society, technical community, governments, UN system, what are we doing beyond 2025? So we really need to start thinking and engaging. So our agenda is built through an open consultative process. This is one of the venues where you have to provide your suggestions, but there is an online form that you should be filling up and submitting your suggestions until the 14th of March. So based on this, we will be building our agenda and program. So the open consultation process, the next one would be in February, 11th of February at the ITU headquarters. After that, in April, we still don’t know the date. And then on 10th of June, we will be having the final brief. Draft agenda, this is how it kind of looks like, very, very draft Monday. So we are still waiting for the inputs through the open consultation process, but this is kind of the skeleton and we will upload this presentation on the website so you can take it from there as well. Consisting of high-level tracks, interactive sessions, WSIS prizes, hackathons, ambassadors and regulators roundtables, the UN in action exhibitions, and of course, the 20-year celebration. We must celebrate what we’ve achieved. Key topics that we hear of, the Youth Day, Halima, our youth envoy. more about it. This is plus 20 review, business and academia roundtables, the gender track, extremely important for all of us here. UN focus on the implementation of the action lines and civil society roundtables. So high level track, as every year we will have head, we are also looking at the participation of heads of states this year. We have received several, you know, we have received several interests I can say, because we will also be celebrating the ITU’s 160th anniversary during the AI for Good and the WSIS high level event. So of course you heard about the database, this is a beautiful database by the people and for the people, we are just the means to, you know, we’re just providing a platform, it’s searchable by all these categories, it’s really a wealth of information about what’s going on in the ground. The WSIS prizes, I can already see so many of you have been champions and winners sitting in this room, please do not forget to submit before the deadline, it’s 10th of February. Very interesting, we want to capture your WSIS story. So please participate in this campaign, it’s a social media campaign, join us on what WSIS has done to impact you or the lives, your lives or your organization’s lives in 20 years. So we did have this story from Marcus, but it doesn’t work, can we try it once please? Colleagues, could we try to see if you could click on play and if people can hear it? Can you hear it? Okay, so I’ll leave this presentation online, we had Marcus’s story and we have Wendy’s story from the Dominican Republic about how WSIS has impacted their lives and their organization’s course, of course. So, colleagues, WSIS is extra budgetary at the ITU. We always look for partnerships, and in terms of the partnerships, we do give visibility at the WSIS Forum. So we are very thankful to those of you who have already confirmed your sponsorships for WSIS. I don’t think I can take your names yet because the agreements are being signed, but thank you so much. You know who I’m talking about. Some of them are still open, so please do get in touch with me in case you would like to be visible at the high-level event. Again, a quick reminder for the calls, the open consultation process. If you want workshops, exhibition spaces, if your high levels are coming, please do inform us. The WSIS stock-taking database, register your new projects there. The WSIS prizes, the deadlines coming up, photo contest, which I didn’t talk about, but we have a really wonderful repository of photos from the ground, of people implementing WSIS on the ground. So if you’d like to use it for your presentations, for your reports, please feel free to use them. The WSIS special prizes, hackathon, we are planning to do a hackathon on gender-disaggregated data on health, and if any of you are interested in it or have other suggestions, please contact us. So I’ll stop here now. Well, there are some slides on the review, which I can probably go through very quickly, but I’ll leave this presentation online. So some of the important timelines identified during our weekly meetings, we have a joint preparatory process of ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNDESA. The milestones, of course, starting in SDG Digital in 2023, it goes on. The next one would be the IGF in Norway, then the CSTD review, the Paris phase, 4th to 5th June. Cedric spoke about Geneva WSIS plus 20 high level event and culminating in New York. All of us are already doing a lot of work, the ITU already has a Secretary General’s roadmap for WSIS plus 20, the UNESCO has a report of the DG and the CSTD will come up with the WSIS plus 20 report very soon. Maybe I can then very smoothly pass on to Cynthia if our chair would like to explain.

Cynthia Lesufi: Thank you and good morning to everyone. Yes, colleagues, you will recall that in the 2024 council, the council members adopted a resolution and in that resolution we included an invitation to contribute their views on the work of the ITU in the WSIS plus 20, relating to the review of the WSIS action lines and in that resolution we also approved a timeline and in terms of that timeline, the ITU was supposed to issue an online form which was indeed launched in August 2024 for all stakeholders to then respond to the call and the deadline for that is the 31st of January 2025 and following that we then had the first physical meeting which took place in October 2024 of the council working group WSIS and SDG and the next item will then be happening in February 2025 with the council working group on WSIS and SDG holding its second physical meeting and then we will then move to the 7 to 11 July 2025 where we will be having a side event during the WSIS plus 20. a high-level event in 2025. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Cynthia and South Africa for being such a close partner of the process. Also, just to remind all of you, the UN has been working on updating the action lines in terms of content. So each UN agency, based on their expertise, has already updated the action lines based on the evolution of the context, the 20 years of achievements. I would really like to encourage you to visit the page on WSIS Forum, WSIS Plus 20, and have a look at this wonderful work that our colleagues have done. We are now opening the floor, of course, and passing on to our vice chair, South Korea, from Council Working Group on WSIS and SDGs. Mina, the floor is yours.

Mina Seonmin Jun: Thank you, Kitanjali. I was going to share a bit of the updates in our region with you. So as you know, Asia-Pacific regions are large and diverse, both geographically and culturally. So it includes advanced economies and less developed countries, and as well as nations with unique geographical challenges, as you know. The small island developing countries and the land of developed countries. So this diversity creates a unique digital landscape for offering both significant opportunities and challenges. So we all work together. So we all put our work together. So over the past 20 years, this region has made a significant progress in advancing the WSIS outcomes, thanks to the collective efforts of member states, and ITU, and other WSIS co-positors, and then many other stakeholders. So this collaboration has led to remarkable achievement in ICT infrastructure development, digital inclusion, and adoption of emerging technologies. So I will continue to explain more at our next session, but I just want to briefly share with you. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much, Meena. Also have Brett. She, APC, has been leading the work on the ground, so much of research, so much of implementation on digital for development, ICTs for development.

Anriette Esterhuysen: Over to you, Anne-Marie. Thank you very much, Gitanjali. Association for Progressive Communications is an international network of member organizations from around the world. We work in around 70 different countries, and we have been part of the WSIS process from the outset. We are a co-facilitator, which I think is quite a unique little bit of history that we sometimes forget, that the non-state actor and a non-UN agency as a co-facilitator, together with the ITU. I just think for civil society, particularly those from the global south, this is a very good opportunity. Can you hear me? To refocus, can you hear me now, on what is so unique about the WSIS vision, is that it integrates a human rights-based approach to development, to social and economic justice. It is about a people-centered information society, not a digitally-centered information society. Already, APC, along with IT for Change, has initiated a new forum called the Global Digital Justice Forum, which is bringing together primarily, but not exclusively, civil society from the global south. to use this opportunity to launch a revived digital justice agenda. I think WSIS is also for us, as a multi-stakeholder community, an opportunity to find the kind of community and collaboration, the North-South, business, tech, civil society, UN, government solidarity, which I think is important. It’s not just about multi-stakeholder collaboration, it’s also about international collaboration and international solidarity. Just to say that I think, I mean, one proposal I would make, I think it’s incredible that you’ve already, that UNGASS has already done this analysis, that combines the GDC objectives with the WSIS action lines. And one suggested, we’ll submit it, but I want to make it now already. I think, to think of using the WSIS forum, to have your high-level component, which is so useful to bring governments to the WSIS forum, but to have an event design approach, where you actually work, rather than have lots of workshops, to bring the community together, to validate the work that the action line facilitators have done, in updating the action lines, to assess how that relates to the GDC objectives, and have maybe an open space or a thematic track proposal, where instead of people just all presenting their own workshops, they actually assess, analyze, what have we achieved, where are the gaps, and then look at those action line updates that the UN agencies have prepared, and comment critically and creatively on those, so that we leave the WSIS forum, not just with a set of discrete workshops, but active output, that can inform both GDC implementation and the WSIS Plus 20 review.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Anurag. Indeed, we were thinking of doing that, some knowledge cafes, brainstorming sessions with the Action Line facilitators and this community to look at all this work that has been done. So thank you, but please do submit it through the form as well. Is Cheryl here? I do not see her here, but Cheryl from USCIB, because she had no. Could you please check if she’s online, Cheryl? In the meanwhile, we’ll move on. I can already see many here. Many represents ICC, International Chamber of Commerce. This has been the private sector arm of the WSIS process right since its inception. So many, what are your plans and what is the vision of ICC for WSIS beyond? Over to you.

Meni Anastasiadou: Thank you, Gitanjali. And yes, as we just said, I’m from the International Chamber of Commerce. I’m a digital policy manager representing ICC and we are the international business organization. We represent over 45 million businesses across 170 countries and this has been a very long process that we have been part of since the outset and we value extremely from a private sector perspective. We will be at the WSIS Forum next year. Of course, it’s a crucial year as we are preparing ourselves ahead of the WSIS Plus 20 review and we’re really looking forward to make sure that we bring them at sector, make sure that all the people are and we really ensure a strong, let’s say, preparation ahead of the review. So there are a few considerations that we really consider, let’s say, crucial and ahead of the WSIS Plus 20 review. On the importance of the information technologies and the Internet and how those really hold enormous potential for social and economic growth. And of course that this potential, this very potential can only be unlocked when there is multi-stakeholder collaboration across governments, civil society, business, the technical and the academic community. And those all have held true through WSIS, through the WSIS Forum that really tracks the progress made over the past year since the WSIS first took place in 2003 and then in 2005. And we really do see the WSIS Forum as a valuable component in the process of really tracking the progress made and making sure that we are headed to the right direction. So again, as business, we are really taking our role seriously in advancing the WSIS Action Lines and we will make sure to be present at the WSIS Forum to work with the governments on the ground, to work with all the stakeholders on the ground, to inform and partner together, to inform the process and partner together for really ensuring outcomes that serve everyone’s interests. So just to reiterate our support for the WSIS Forum next year, we will be there and we’re looking forward to the discussions that will be taking place. Thank you, Vitanjali.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much, Mani. We look forward to the private sector brainstormings and the consultative sessions. So Cheryl is from the United States Council for International Business. She was supposed to be here, but she’s not here. But they have already informed us that with you, they will be doing some consultative sessions, bringing the business perspective to the WSIS Beyond 2025. So thank you so much for being here with us. I also see Renata from Brazil. Renata is also our vice chair representing the region. So Renata, some perspectives from your region, please.

Speaker 3: Hi, good morning for all. Actually from, can you hear me? Yes? Sorry, because my channel just changed here, sorry. From our perspective, we are also aligned about the need to update the action lines for this moment now, so we have new and emerging technologies that we need to be considered, and also the sustainable and green technologies, all of these I think that we have to consider to make a good WSIS plus 20. And about the collaboration, I also believe that the multistakeholder environment is important, and the collaboration between government and private sector and civil society, they are all very important to continue to have a unique, open, free internet. That’s our goal that we believe. So I think that it is. Thank you very much. Thank you, Renata. We have a remote participant who wants to say something. Nandini, our remote participant. Nandini, if you could please bring her in. Hi, are you able to hear me? I can hear you. Yeah, I am Nandini from IT4Change. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this session. So we just wanted to say that in the context of the GDC adoption and when we are going into the WSIS plus 20 review in this context, there are a set of issues which we feel the review process needs to look at. To begin with, I think it’s important to again put on the table that the foundational principle is of governing the internet as a global public good and not as a utility. And this issue should be brought up again. And the second issue is that when we look at the question of the digital divide, we see that the digital divide is continuing to yarn wide. And today, there are not just divides in connectivity. But there are also new divides in data capabilities, and the opportunity to design concrete targets for financing for development mechanisms to build digital infrastructure in the majority world must be put back on the table. When we look at the action line on the ethics in the information society, we need to reinvigorate this to look at how we can protect and promote human rights in the digital context, effectively in the context of market concentration and corporate accountability for human rights violations in digital value chains. Finally, we need a data and AI constitutionalism at the global level urgently, and the issue of digital gene sequences and digital biopiracy, and how this is changing the implementation of the biodiversity convention today is a good exemplar for this. And how do you govern cross-border data flows from a development justice basis, and you reconcile the political quest for digital sovereignty as infrastructural autonomy with data and AI standards development processes, these issues become important. Considering that many of the issues are now channeled through enhanced cooperation processes for which the Global Digital Compact has paved the way, I think it’s absolutely essential given this is digital multi-stakeholderism principle to look at how we can expand the role of the UN Internet Governance Forum, and how can IGF fulfill the mandate given in paragraph 72 of the business document in this new context. This might become a critical issue for us to discuss towards the business review. Thank you so much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you. I would now like to invite Mr. Hossain from the Inter-Islamic Development Bank. Over to you, sir. Okay, so,

Speaker 4: thank you, first of all, for inviting. the Islamic development to this open concentration process and as one of the MDBs we are so concerned about the ICT and digital sector and the bank has drafted its ICT sector policies which have four main pillars including infrastructure and regulations and mainstreaming ICT in all development sector and this is the pillars of the of the policy is fully aligned with the forces action plan and if you see the listed action lines in the first presentation and our main focus areas is fully aligned with this action lines of forces we see that the partnership is a key success because as an MDB we found that there is huge requirements in terms of finance and private sector involvement is a must and because of that especially at the south-south institutions we are having 57 member countries most of the member countries in the south so we see that capacity building and development regulations for promoting private investment is a key and because of that we have many programs in the capacity development and in development the capacity and the regulations of the least developed countries to promote the private investment in the sector and also we have some modality for the partnership and sharing of expertise from the countries in the north or even in the south to some of the least developed countries in this sector So, with that, we see that private investment and development of regulations in addition to building some of infrastructure is the key for development of this. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, sir. And we look forward to seeing you at the forum. Sweden has the floor, Felix, over to you. Thank you. It’s working. Hi, everyone.

Felix Nyström: My name is Felix from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based in – you can’t hear me. Like this. It’s better. Good. Thank you. Based at our mission in Geneva. From our side, obviously, we fully support the multi-stakeholder model embodied through the WSIS process and the IGF and are excited about the important WSIS events and milestone of 2025. A lot of momentum in this process now since the adoption of the GDC, which Sweden was proud to co-facilitate together with our friends from Zambia. As you may know, the modalities of the new Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, the follow-up of what was called OSET, is now being discussed and debated in New York. From our perspective, it’s important to avoid duplication, as we’ve heard from others here in the room. There is already a lot of important work being done by various UN agencies, and as I said, we want to avoid duplication in that regard. Additionally, another priority for us is is the, what’s the word, ensuring, I mean, human rights mainstreaming across these new initiatives being taken. We’re excited about the new AI dialogue that was proposed in the GDC and AI panel, and importantly also the new AI advisory board envisioned to be organized by the OHCHR. So that’s it for me. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Felix. I think UK has the floor. Craig. Thank you, Kisanjali. Good morning, everyone.

Craig Stanley-Adamson: My name is Craig Stanley-Adamson. I am the Head of Internet Governance at the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. My comments are largely around the process, particularly in the run-up to the high-level events next year, but I would like to touch upon a couple of the points that have been made today. First of all, just to say that I fully agree with my Swedish colleague and many others around the room about avoiding the duplication of the GDC, but of course we accept that WSIS will play a strong role in implementing this process, as well as delivering its other processes such as the SDGs. I want to touch upon some of the comments that are made on the action lines. Whilst these are obviously crucial, and of course these were made 20 years ago, we should be a little bit cautious about how we approach them. For example, they were designed as deliberately agile and tech-neutral at the time, which means that they can stay current to this present day and beyond. So instead, we need to look at how we frame the outcome of WSIS document around the impacts of these technologies in a particularly future-focused and action-oriented way, which can also ensure that these action lines remain current going forwards beyond 2025. So touching upon the process that we were talking about earlier, and thank you Gitanjali for your presentation. and the UK hugely welcomes the fact that the UN family is fully joined up during this process, which is a great start. We obviously fully support the multi-stakeholder process and participation behind this, and I think for us the crucial element to this alongside all of these events that are going to take place over 2025 is the role of the co-facilitators. Of course they’re not permed, they don’t know who they will be just yet, but whoever they are will play a key role in this process. So one thing that I think could be really important for the high-level event in July next year is for them to be present at this event alongside all the other events that are taking place, including the IGF. They need to make sure that they get a true audience with the multi-stakeholder community, and I think one thing that’d be really crucial as well, and this would be interesting to get views from UN agencies, is whether they can work together with the co-facilitators to ensure that there is some form of issues paper to be presented at either the UN IGF or the high-level event in July, so that’s not just countries but all stakeholders have an opportunity to comment ahead of the process that will take place later in the year. So yeah, thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: That’s a wonderful idea, Craig, and I’ve put up the timeline slide and I missed that part, Craig, so thanks for bringing it up. The appointment of the co-facilitators is like, it should have been done yesterday perhaps, so it’s really urgent and that would be really a nice direction that the WSIS process would take, so we’re all waiting for that actually, yeah. I’d now like to invite Global Ethics, Mr. Wallace, and Global Ethics, it’s a baby of the WSIS, right? Tell us more about it.

Wallace S. Cheng: Thank you, thank you very much, Chidangali. As you said, for some of you who are not familiar with Global Ethics, Global Ethics is a foundation based in Geneva with global presence. We started as one of the outcomes of WSIS with the objective to promote access to knowledge and ethics of ICT. So I just want to make one point to compliment what we have heard, is that inclusiveness was highlighted in the beginning of the process, and 20 years later, I think the inclusiveness need to be raised to a new level. Not go beyond from workshops and dialogues, but move to encourage, support local innovation. For example, we thought about how we can, someone already mentioned how we can identify the gaps of those local innovation in Global South, how to build a matchmaking platforms between Global South and North, between business and civil society, between innovators, local innovators, and with philanthropy, with government, with multilateral banks. I think my, just to conclude, I think there’s opportunity for us, all work together to raise the inclusiveness to a new level. Thank you.

Speaker 5: Oh, Wallace, if you could just pass the mic to Samia, World Bank, she’s just behind you. Samia? Okay, Samia. Oh, it’s for me. Yes. It’s, yeah, but I’m not World Bank. Yes. Well, is Samia in the room? Apologies, too many. Okay, so. In any case, in one, just one minute, just to say that I’m from UNEWGO, not from World Bank, but yes, we fully support, we have been cooperating strongly in all these processes. We will keep doing the same. We are living a crucial moment. We need indeed, and a lot of colleagues already mentioned in the room, we need to create some organization and create some clarity about all these instruments. can be used to achieve what we want. I think this is one of the strongest messages that I’ve been hearing since the beginning of this event. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Delfina, from United Nations University. Apologies for that. We also have Halima, our Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Board member. So Halima, what’s the youth perspective you want to bring in and how can we make our Youth Day at the WSIS Forum more active and action-oriented?

Halima Ismaeel: Thank you for your invitation in this room. And I would appreciate the Youth Day that will be during the IGF during the WSIS next year. I have two concerns to be raised. Firstly, the first thing is the digital devices rely on scarce resources, contributing to a digital e-waste crisis with inadequate recycling efforts. So I think WSIS must recognize the role of reusable global goods in achieving these goals. I think WSIS and the WSIS process should focus on this thing. The second thing I want to mention is the WSIS process is always focusing on AI and IoT. There are new emerging technologies to be focused on, like the digital twin technology and biofiber technology. For example, when I’m working on submarine cables, if any cables need maintenance, there is a technology to auto-repair the damage of the cable. So I think we should focus on this thing. The third technology I want to mention is subspeed spectrum management. I think this is a modern topic that we should focus on. So, I think engaging youth in Davos is a good thing, and thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much, Halima. You brought so many important points into the conversation, so please submit your inputs through the open consultation process, because that’s how the agenda is built. It has a bottom-up approach, and oh, hello, Maud, I just noticed that you were here. Thank you. Thank you for joining us, and as the host, Maud, and always one of the strategic partners of the WSIS forum, Saudi Arabia, would you like to please say a few words?

Speaker 6: Thank you so much, Chitangeli, and good morning, everyone. It’s good to be here with you, and I see many familiar faces here in Riyadh. I welcome all of you again, and I hope all of you enjoy your good time. Of course, the GDC and the WSIS, it’s a very critical subject at the moment, and as we heard already, the GDC was adopted with a very ambitious target and objective, and we wasn’t expecting such a successful outcome from the United Nations. I’m sorry, I’m not feeling comfortable to talk from that point. So the challenge, in my point of view, is the implementation part of the Global Digital Compact. So if we leave that section of the GDC, it’s not clear who exactly will implement and follow up that process. So we have… the WSIS process, namely the IGF, the WSIS Forum, we have the CSTD, we have the TechInfo in New York, and of course we have the many United Nations agencies. All of them will contribute to implementation of the GDC. But here we have the risks. We have the risk of duplication, we have the risk of wasting the financial and the human resources from all sides, from the United Nations side and from the whole stakeholder, the private sector, the civil society. So it will be quite difficult for all of us to streamline and to follow up the implementation of the GDC. So now we have the WSIS Plus 20 review. I think it’s crucial for us, all of us, all the stakeholder, to make sure the main objective of the GDC, it should be implemented somehow with the WSIS review process. This is good for all of us to make our life much easier, to have a single window to follow up, to participate, to contribute. And of course, the many agencies and the TechInfo could be a part of this. So as you say, Gitanjali, many expertise, there will be assignment for the co-facilitator. And from my point of view, it’s good to focus. One of the good aspects to be focused on is how to streamline or how to maximize the collective efforts between the different GDC. I’m sorry, Gitanjali, dear colleague, I wasn’t prepared to take the floor, but this is a valuable chance to take any deliverable. Thank you so much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Moaz. And Saudi Arabia has had a very crucial role in the WSIS process, the success of the 20 years of implementation, so thank you very much for that. Ambassador Schneider, you want to?

Thomas Schneider: Yes, thank you. And I think it is very obvious looking at this or listening to the discussion. that the expectations are very high, also diverse, that we have a limited amount of time and a limited amount of resources to actually accomplish what we are hoping or trying to achieve. So I think it is, and just to follow up on what our Saudi colleague has said, we need to concentrate and focus resources, we need to try and bring the different threats together. Of course you can’t, there’s no one-size-fits-all, but I think it is crucial that we build on the existing structure, on the expertise of the UN specialized agencies in their fields, with their partners in all the countries and the network that has been grown, facilitated by a number of partners over the past 20 years, that the political vision of the GDC, if we create a new structure to try and implement this, it will take us another 10 years just to create the structure, so we have to, we have no choice, than building on the WSIS process in an inclusive way, and inclusive and efficient, sometimes not easy to combine, but I think we have to find a way. We have 20 years of experience with the WSIS framework, we know more or less what works, what is more difficult, and really have to concentrate on using this framework. In terms of substance, we will not have too much time to discuss about how do we, which action lines we need to transform or renew, but we may have to have some discussions on this, so that the framework is up to date, but I agree with many that it’s actually fairly technologically neutral, so we may not have to reinvent the wheel, but there are some new issues also identified in the GDC, but this is already being mainstreamed into the work of the ITU, of UNESCO, UNDP, of other institutions. We just need to bring this together in an open and transparent way. It’s not going to be easy, but I think together we can do it, we have to do it. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Ambassador Schneider, and for the passion. And you can, this is the reason why the WSIS process is so effective because of the passion of all the stakeholders working for more than 20 years. And we were reminded in the previous session, you know, we started from community radios, the open source movement, narrow casting, like basic technologies, you know, and we moved to AI, meta. So it’s really the world has evolved. And because of this passion and hard work of the community here. Sir, you had asked for the floor. Please introduce yourself.

Audience: Qusayr Shati from Kuwait. First, I would like to commend my dear colleague, Thomas Snyder. He’s 20 years my colleague, but I forgot his name. And we’re getting older, Thomas. We’re getting older. And of course, let me second the comments that has been said from our dear brothers from Saudi Arabia on focusing and concentrating the efforts. And of course, it was the comments also supported by my dear colleague, Thomas. In that regard, I just need a clarification. You have mentioned that there will be open consultations in 11th of February. And that consultation will be during the working group meeting on the WSIS and the SDG, the IT working group meeting. Usually the working group meeting is only for member states and sector members. Is the open consultation on 11th of February that will take place in Geneva will be multi-stakeholder or it will be only, just a clarification.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, sir. So basically we use the opportunity of all of you being in Geneva and we will have like one hour outside the council working group to expand it to the community to be present. So it will be not part of the council working group on WSIS and SDG. Yes, you can just come, you can just come for the meeting. I had seen a hand here and then I’ll move to Anirudh. Did you raise your hand, sir, or was it, okay, Giacomo. Thank you.

Audience: Giacomo Mazzone, I’m co-chair of the Policy Network for Meaningful Access at the IGF. I want to elaborate on what has been said by previous speakers, and it’s about the future of the process WSIS plus 20. Within the WSIS process, you are doing the same reflection that we are doing within the IGF. In the IGF, we are discussing not only about the renewal of the mandate, but about the change of the mandate. And I think that the change of the mandate could be an opportunity to reinforce the strength of the relationship between the WSIS and the IGF. There is a similar process going on within UNGIS on that. Good morning, everyone. Mike Colton from UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency. Just say we welcome this process, really looking forward to supporting as much as we can. With UNHCR’s digital strategy, its digital protection, its digital inclusion, and really information integrity is becoming more and more important. So with 120 million displaced and many stateless as well, we’d love to work with you to see how we can build those voices into the conversation, both at the event and leading up to the event. So happy to help and happy to build that in to get a truly multi-stakeholder approach here. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Mike. We really hope to see more of this work at the WSIS Forum. We have been connecting the refugee centers to the WSIS Forum in the past, and that’s been really successful. So that would be great if we could continue that and strengthen it. Thank you so much. Okay, Anirudh. And then we’ll take one last speaker, please.

Anriette Esterhuysen: Thanks very much for letting me speak again, Gitanjali. I just was inspired by Halima, and Mohad, and Thomas, that it is about not duplicating and not having poor use of resources, but it’s also about connecting people. It’s people and the institutions that they are in that implement, and I think what we have of the WSIS, I just look at this room, I see Tijani, I see Desiree, I see Fouad, you all know who you are, Raquel, there are many of you, Avis, who have been with this process since 2003, 2005, and are you not hearing me? Sorry. We’re hearing you twice. Yes, we are hearing you twice. Is there another mic around? You know what, this is amazing. Sorry, apologies. And I think that the power of WSIS is that you have this continuity, you have older people, and they are in this room because they are working, they are implementing on the ground. And then I’m here, we work a lot in spectrum and dynamic management about spectrum and with community networks. When I hear Halima talk about the power of undersea spectrum, I think that’s incredible. Small island developing states, what is there? There’s a potential. And I think we do need to bring new voices in, we do need to innovate, but I think our real power is this intergenerational, inter-institutional, and I suppose also inter-tech, the fact that the WSIS represents people that are still working in basic digital equality and access, but also engaging with new and emerging challenges. But then I just wanted to make one other reflection, which is more procedural. The WSIS has two outcome documents. It has the Geneva documents, the plan of action, which has the action lines. It also has the Tunis agenda, which includes financing mechanisms. And I’m just, of course, on internet governance. And I’m just wondering if we can’t this year in the WSIS Forum include those action lines in quotation marks, they’re not called that, those outcome areas and gender, how we design and structure the event. Because I think there is a concern about financing mechanisms, it’s in the pact for the future. It’s mentioned in the Global Digital Compact as well.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Anirudh. All these comments are very well taken, but please submit them through the open consultation process. There’s a form. This is absolutely transparent because once we receive your request, it is put into the agenda of the event. And we also reflect all these inputs online. So we really want it to be like this transparent bottom-up approach. So submit all these inputs into the open consultation process. So, Anirudh, thank you. So, any last speaker? Okay, yes, sir. Thank you.

Audience: I think driving home the new faces approach, then we started participating in the WSIS only a few years ago. My name is Rian. We are from the Brazilian Association of Internet Service Providers. So small operators. And we really would like to participate in the consultations and make sure we’re also bringing the small and medium enterprises approach and view to the WSIS as well, because we play, at least in Brazil, we play a very important part, not only on ICT, but on infrastructure as well.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much. This has been an important track at the WSIS Forum, small and medium enterprises. So you’re most welcome. We also do a hackathon every year, like I mentioned. So we have many innovations coming up and we are looking for incubators as well for all those. So if any of you are interested in incubators. incubating these really young, interesting talents that come out of the hackathons. We’ll be very, very happy to connect all of you. I maybe will close with the young lady I met during breakfast and she’s doing such amazing work, mentoring young women and girls over to you in Peru and in Paris.

Audience: Thanks so much. Good morning to everyone. My name is Paola Galvez. I’m Peruvian. I’m still young. And under the UN definition, I’ve been participating in the Youth Observatory of ISOC. I was Youth Ambassador in 2019. And I want to bring the perspective of South America as a Peruvian living now in Paris, but contributing from the Latino perspective. There is a lot to do still in terms of our future digital era. I truly believe that the future of the AI is in our hands. I think the Council of Europe AI Convention, it’s a huge milestone and sets the first step of having global standards on AI regulation. But there is a lot to do. And when I met Jiteng Ali during breakfast, she gave me a light in terms of, Paola, we need to think beyond 2025, right? And with that being said, the gender digital gap, it’s a topic that was brought by Ms. Doreen, by our host, our minister that did an amazing presentation on the Open Ceremony. So the numbers are there. I will not repeat them. But what can we do for that? My small piece is, yes, mentoring girls, because I do think we need to change the mindset so that they can go out of school thinking, yes, I can be part of the STEM sector. But if it’s possible, I would like to raise my voice and ask all the ambassadors that are here and policymakers so that we can have an action line on gender gap. I think it’s necessary, I have not seen it in WSIS, if it’s not in the declaration maybe having as an annex or I don’t really know the exact word the policy can make but let’s think about gender gap as a very important topic because only three out of ten professionals working in AI are women. The data that is being used to train the AI systems are not representative so please and we don’t need to be ambassadors or representative to make a change in that right so if in our respective roles we can do something like mentoring kids or sending proposals to consultations. I just finished the UNESCO AIRAM consultation process in Peru so there’s something we can do, let’s do it because those small steps make a change.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much for this space. Thank you very much, we’ve actually run out of time

Audience: but very short, very short. Good morning, this is Fawad Bajwa, I’m from Pakistan. I had an organization which is called Digital Dera which connects rural communities to the internet and helps them capitalize on the power that the internet has brought. I’ve been with this community for over 20 years now, as old as the WSIS process. So over the years one thing we’ve you know there’s so many developments, so many representatives like you know all my friends over here including Thomas but one community which still feels left out is our rural communities and our rural community in my part of the world is 65% of the population. So a few years back when we went down to connecting these villages to the internet, we found that there was so much talent and so many perspectives that have never been heard. The review process also encourages us to look at, you know, what things have been either left out, been neglected, or haven’t been adequately included. And those are our rural communities. I would request the host country, as well as, you know, the international stakeholders, to have specific, you know, a village or an activity over there, which highlights the rural struggle to connect to the internet. Despite our 4G, 5G, 6G efforts, rural communities still, to date, remain disconnected. And they require an extraordinary attention, because they’re the other billions that we’re trying to work for and connect. So their representative is a must. The second thing I would like to offer is, I’ve been part of the National Incubation Centers in Pakistan, and the United Nations Population Fund and ITU, mentoring for startups. So I’m connected to that network, and I can volunteer and offer you that possibility for mentoring the kids, the youth, to actually build initiatives for the next 5-10 years, that would have a huge impact on the future of WSIS. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much. We’d like to end our session here, but in the same room at 11.30, we have an ITU session led by South Africa and our vice chairs. So please do be there in the same room at 11.30. Thank you so much. Bye-bye. Sorry to interrupt you, did you see I sent you a message? Yeah, I’m just reading it now. I haven’t seen it in so long. I mean, why the IGF and things are not mentioned? Why is IGF not here for this? What do you mean with that? Oh, the meaning of that is that the IGF, we’ve also been saying that the IGF needs to connect with business plus trade. But the IGF plays a very passive role in this. It plays a very passive role. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. . . . . . . .

Agreement Points

Importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in WSIS implementation

Thomas Schneider

Renata

Anriette Esterhuysen

Multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial for WSIS implementation

Need to update WSIS action lines to address new technologies and challenges

Importance of intergenerational and inter-institutional collaboration

Speakers emphasized the critical role of inclusive, multi-stakeholder collaboration in implementing WSIS goals and addressing new challenges.

Need to avoid duplication and streamline efforts in implementing Global Digital Compact

Craig Stanley-Adamson

Speaker 6

Torbjörn Fredriksson

Importance of avoiding duplication with Global Digital Compact implementation

WSIS framework should be used to implement Global Digital Compact

Need to leverage existing UN mechanisms for GDC implementation

Speakers agreed on the importance of using existing WSIS frameworks and mechanisms to implement the Global Digital Compact, avoiding duplication of efforts.

Importance of inclusivity in the WSIS process

Wallace S. Cheng

Halima Ismaeel

Unknown speaker

Unknown speaker

Need to raise inclusiveness to new level by supporting local innovation

Importance of engaging youth and focusing on emerging technologies

Need to include voices of refugees and displaced persons

Need to include small and medium enterprises perspective

Multiple speakers emphasized the need for greater inclusivity in the WSIS process, including youth, refugees, SMEs, and local innovators.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers argue for leveraging the existing WSIS framework and expertise rather than creating new structures for implementing digital initiatives.

Thomas Schneider

Speaker 6

Importance of building on existing WSIS structure and expertise

WSIS framework should be used to implement Global Digital Compact

These speakers emphasize the importance of addressing human rights and equality issues, particularly gender equality, in the digital context.

Anriette Esterhuysen

Unknown speaker

Need to focus on digital justice and human rights in digital context

Importance of addressing gender digital gap

Unexpected Consensus

Focus on rural communities in WSIS process

Unknown speaker

Wallace S. Cheng

Importance of including rural communities in WSIS process

Need to raise inclusiveness to new level by supporting local innovation

While most discussions focused on global or urban perspectives, there was an unexpected emphasis on including rural communities and supporting local innovation, highlighting a shift towards more inclusive development strategies.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement include the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, leveraging existing WSIS frameworks for new initiatives like the Global Digital Compact, and enhancing inclusivity in the WSIS process.

Consensus level

There is a moderate to high level of consensus among speakers on these key issues. This consensus suggests a shared vision for the future of WSIS, emphasizing collaboration, efficiency, and inclusivity. However, there are still diverse perspectives on specific implementation strategies and priority areas, indicating the need for continued dialogue and negotiation in the WSIS+20 review process.

Different Viewpoints

Approach to updating WSIS action lines

Renata

Craig Stanley-Adamson

Need to update WSIS action lines to address new technologies and challenges

Importance of avoiding duplication with Global Digital Compact implementation

While Renata emphasizes the need to update WSIS action lines to reflect current technological advancements, Craig Stanley-Adamson cautions against duplicating efforts with the Global Digital Compact implementation.

Unexpected Differences

Focus on specific technologies

Halima Ismaeel

Anriette Esterhuysen

Importance of engaging youth and focusing on emerging technologies

Importance of intergenerational and inter-institutional collaboration

While both speakers emphasize inclusivity, Halima Ismaeel unexpectedly focuses on specific emerging technologies, while Anriette Esterhuysen emphasizes broader intergenerational collaboration.

Overall Assessment

summary

The main areas of disagreement revolve around the approach to updating WSIS action lines, the integration of the Global Digital Compact, and the focus on specific technologies versus broader collaboration.

difference_level

The level of disagreement is moderate, with most speakers agreeing on the overall goals but differing in their approaches. This suggests a need for further discussion and coordination to align strategies for WSIS implementation and review.

Partial Agreements

All speakers agree on leveraging existing WSIS structures for future implementation, but differ in their emphasis on how to integrate the Global Digital Compact with existing mechanisms.

Thomas Schneider

Speaker 6

Torbjörn Fredriksson

Importance of building on existing WSIS structure and expertise

WSIS framework should be used to implement Global Digital Compact

Need to leverage existing UN mechanisms for GDC implementation

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers argue for leveraging the existing WSIS framework and expertise rather than creating new structures for implementing digital initiatives.

Thomas Schneider

Speaker 6

Importance of building on existing WSIS structure and expertise

WSIS framework should be used to implement Global Digital Compact

These speakers emphasize the importance of addressing human rights and equality issues, particularly gender equality, in the digital context.

Anriette Esterhuysen

Unknown speaker

Need to focus on digital justice and human rights in digital context

Importance of addressing gender digital gap

Key Takeaways

The WSIS+20 review process is seen as crucial for shaping the future direction of digital cooperation and development

There is strong support for maintaining the multi-stakeholder approach of WSIS

Participants emphasized the need to avoid duplication between WSIS and the Global Digital Compact implementation

Inclusivity remains a key priority, with calls to better engage youth, rural communities, and underrepresented groups

There is a need to update WSIS action lines to address new technologies and challenges while building on existing frameworks

UN agency collaboration and leveraging existing mechanisms are seen as critical for effective implementation

Resolutions and Action Items

Organize consultative sessions and brainstorming workshops at the WSIS Forum to gather stakeholder input on future directions

Submit proposals and suggestions for the WSIS+20 Forum agenda through the open consultation process by March 14

Appoint co-facilitators for the WSIS+20 review process as soon as possible

Consider including a specific focus on the gender digital gap in WSIS action lines or declarations

Explore ways to better include rural community perspectives in the WSIS process

Unresolved Issues

Specific mechanisms for implementing the Global Digital Compact through existing WSIS frameworks

How to effectively update WSIS action lines without a complete overhaul

Balancing inclusivity with efficiency in the multi-stakeholder process

Addressing financing mechanisms for digital development in the Global South

Role of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in relation to the WSIS process moving forward

Suggested Compromises

Use existing WSIS structures and expertise to implement the Global Digital Compact rather than creating new mechanisms

Focus on updating the framing and impact assessment of WSIS action lines rather than completely rewriting them

Balance high-level government participation with increased engagement of grassroots and underrepresented stakeholders

Leverage both UN agency resources and private sector investments to address digital development financing gaps

We need to concentrate and focus resources, we need to try and bring the different threats together. … we have to, we have no choice, than building on the WSIS process in an inclusive way, and inclusive and efficient, sometimes not easy to combine, but I think we have to find a way.

speaker

Thomas Schneider

reason

This comment synthesized many of the previous points about avoiding duplication and leveraging existing structures, while acknowledging the challenges of balancing inclusivity and efficiency.

impact

It helped refocus the discussion on practical next steps and the need to build on existing WSIS processes rather than creating new structures.

To begin with, I think it’s important to again put on the table that the foundational principle is of governing the internet as a global public good and not as a utility. And this issue should be brought up again.

speaker

Nandini from IT4Change

reason

This comment reframed the discussion around fundamental principles, challenging participants to consider the core purpose of internet governance.

impact

It broadened the scope of the conversation beyond practical implementation to include philosophical considerations about the nature of the internet.

I think WSIS is also for us, as a multi-stakeholder community, an opportunity to find the kind of community and collaboration, the North-South, business, tech, civil society, UN, government solidarity, which I think is important.

speaker

Anriette Esterhuysen

reason

This comment highlighted the unique collaborative potential of WSIS across diverse stakeholders and geographies.

impact

It reinforced the importance of inclusivity and multi-stakeholder approaches, setting the tone for subsequent comments about representation and participation.

The WSIS has two outcome documents. It has the Geneva documents, the plan of action, which has the action lines. It also has the Tunis agenda, which includes financing mechanisms. And I’m just wondering if we can’t this year in the WSIS Forum include those action lines in quotation marks, they’re not called that, those outcome areas and gender, how we design and structure the event.

speaker

Anriette Esterhuysen

reason

This comment brought attention to often-overlooked aspects of the WSIS process and suggested concrete ways to incorporate them into future events.

impact

It prompted consideration of how to more holistically represent WSIS outcomes in future forums and potentially influenced the structure of upcoming events.

But if it’s possible, I would like to raise my voice and ask all the ambassadors that are here and policymakers so that we can have an action line on gender gap.

speaker

Paola Galvez

reason

This comment made a specific, actionable proposal to address a critical issue (gender gap) within the WSIS framework.

impact

It focused attention on the gender digital divide and potentially catalyzed support for concrete action on this issue in future WSIS processes.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by repeatedly emphasizing the need for inclusivity and multi-stakeholder approaches while also pushing for concrete actions and structural changes. They helped evolve the conversation from general updates and reflections to more specific proposals for the future of WSIS, particularly in areas like gender equality, rural connectivity, and leveraging existing frameworks. The comments also highlighted tensions between efficiency and inclusivity, and between practical implementation and broader philosophical principles, encouraging a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to WSIS’s future.

How can we ensure effective implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) while avoiding duplication of efforts and wasting resources?

speaker

Moaz (Saudi Arabia)

explanation

This is crucial for streamlining efforts and maximizing the collective impact of various initiatives related to digital development.

How can we update the WSIS action lines to address new and emerging technologies while maintaining their tech-neutral nature?

speaker

Craig Stanley-Adamson (UK)

explanation

This is important to ensure the WSIS framework remains relevant and adaptable to future technological developments.

How can we incorporate the Global Digital Compact objectives into the WSIS review process?

speaker

Moaz (Saudi Arabia)

explanation

This integration is essential for creating a cohesive approach to global digital development.

How can we expand the role of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to fulfill the mandate given in paragraph 72 of the Tunis Agenda?

speaker

Nandini (IT4Change)

explanation

This is important for strengthening the IGF’s role in the evolving digital governance landscape.

How can we address new digital divides in data capabilities and design concrete targets for financing digital infrastructure in the majority world?

speaker

Nandini (IT4Change)

explanation

This is crucial for ensuring equitable digital development globally.

How can we create a data and AI constitutionalism at the global level?

speaker

Nandini (IT4Change)

explanation

This is important for establishing global norms and standards for data and AI governance.

How can we govern cross-border data flows from a development justice perspective?

speaker

Nandini (IT4Change)

explanation

This is crucial for balancing data flows with development needs and digital sovereignty.

How can we raise inclusiveness to a new level by encouraging and supporting local innovation in the Global South?

speaker

Wallace S. Cheng (Global Ethics)

explanation

This is important for fostering innovation and development in underrepresented regions.

How can we address the digital e-waste crisis and promote the role of reusable global goods in achieving WSIS goals?

speaker

Halima Ismaeel (Youth Advisory Board)

explanation

This is crucial for ensuring sustainable digital development.

How can we incorporate emerging technologies like digital twin technology, biofiber technology, and subspeed spectrum management into the WSIS process?

speaker

Halima Ismaeel (Youth Advisory Board)

explanation

This is important for keeping the WSIS process up-to-date with technological advancements.

How can we include the voices of displaced and stateless people in the WSIS process?

speaker

Mike Walton (UNHCR)

explanation

This is crucial for ensuring truly inclusive digital development that considers vulnerable populations.

Can we create a specific action line on addressing the gender digital gap?

speaker

Paola Galvez

explanation

This is important for focusing efforts on closing the persistent gender gap in digital access and skills.

How can we better include rural communities in the WSIS process and highlight their struggle to connect to the internet?

speaker

Fawad Bajwa

explanation

This is crucial for addressing the digital divide between urban and rural areas.