High-Level Track Facilitators Summary and Certificates

Summary

This transcript captures the closing ceremony of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2025, a major international conference focused on global digital cooperation and development. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin opened the session by highlighting the week’s remarkable success, noting over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries and the concurrent AI for Good Global Summit that brought together development and AI communities. She emphasized three key achievements: the WSIS community’s role as ecosystem builders ready to implement agile regulatory frameworks, the platform’s readiness to address AI era challenges with nearly 1,000 prize submissions showcasing innovative solutions, and the community’s commitment to shaping the future beyond 2025.

Chair Minister Solly Malatsi, participating virtually from South Africa, acknowledged the widespread support for continuing the WSIS architecture beyond 2025 while emphasizing the need for evolution toward greater inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. He stressed that true inclusion means meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not merely opening doors, and called for refining the WSIS action lines to better measure progress in the evolving digital landscape. The session featured interventions from various stakeholders, including Malaysia highlighting their digital inclusion projects, representatives advocating for children’s rights in the digital age, and calls for addressing power concentration in the digital sphere.

The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude to organizers and commitment to continuing the WSIS mission of ensuring everyone can thrive in the digital era, setting the stage for the UN General Assembly’s 20-year review in December.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **WSIS Evolution and Future Direction**: The discussion centered on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) completing 20 years and preparing for its next phase beyond 2025, with emphasis on making the process more agile, efficient, and inclusive while avoiding duplication of mandates.

– **Digital Inclusion and Accessibility**: Multiple speakers emphasized the critical need to bridge digital gaps, ensure no one is left behind in technological advancement, and make digital devices more affordable while strengthening cybersecurity and digital resilience globally.

– **AI Integration and Governance**: The conversation highlighted that we are currently in an AI revolution (not approaching one), with discussions on integrating AI responsibly into digital development, establishing trust and transparency frameworks, and addressing the concentration of power in the digital sphere.

– **Multi-stakeholder Collaboration and Capacity Building**: Strong emphasis on maintaining and enhancing the multi-stakeholder approach that defines WSIS, with calls for better teacher training, upskilling of lawmakers, and investment in institutional capacities of underrepresented groups.

– **Children’s Rights and Data Protection**: Specific focus on making children central to digital conversations, protecting children’s data rights, and ensuring their voices are heard as both current actors and future stakeholders in the digital landscape.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion served as a closing ceremony and reflection session for the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, aimed at celebrating achievements over the past 20 years while charting the course for future global digital cooperation. The primary goal was to gather stakeholder input and commitments for the upcoming UN General Assembly review in December and to ensure the WSIS process remains relevant and effective in addressing contemporary digital challenges.

## Overall Tone:

The discussion maintained a consistently positive and celebratory tone throughout, characterized by gratitude, accomplishment, and forward-looking optimism. Speakers expressed appreciation for the week’s achievements, congratulated organizers and participants, and demonstrated enthusiasm for continued collaboration. While some concerns were raised about power concentration and resource constraints, these were presented constructively rather than critically. The tone remained energetic and hopeful from beginning to end, with the final speaker describing feeling “energized, charged, and hopeful,” which encapsulated the overall atmosphere of the discussion.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **Doreen Bogdan Martin** – Secretary General of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)

– **Solly Malatsi** – Chair, Minister, His Excellency (joined virtually from South Africa)

– **Gitanjali Sah** – ITU team member, led the WSIS process

– **Malaysia representative** – Representative from Malaysia

– **Panelist (Ethic minds and Multilateral Group)** – Christine Hausel, representing Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group, focused on children’s rights and data protection

– **World Summit Award representative** – Professor Bruck, representing World Summit Award and social impact entrepreneurs globally

– **AFIP President** – Anthony Wong, President of AFIP (founded by UNESCO in 1960)

– **Panelist 1** – Jennifer, from Taking It Global, focused on education and teacher training

– **Saudi Arabia** – Representative from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (gold partner)

– **Ambassador of Bolivia** – Ambassador representing Bolivia, focused on human rights perspective in technology

– **Abdulkarim Oloyede** – High-level track facilitator

– **Jimson Olufuye** – Representative from Abuja, Nigeria

– **Panelist 2** – Damit, representing IFIF from Sri Lanka

**Additional speakers:**

– None identified beyond the provided speakers names list

# WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025: Closing Ceremony – Summary

## Executive Overview

The closing ceremony of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2025 brought together over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries alongside the concurrent AI for Good Global Summit. The session celebrated two decades of WSIS achievements while addressing future directions for international digital governance beyond 2025. Participants expressed widespread support for continuing the WSIS process while identifying key areas for improvement and evolution.

## Opening Remarks and Summit Achievements

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted three key achievements of WSIS 2025. First, the WSIS community has evolved into ecosystem builders ready to implement agile regulatory frameworks. Second, the platform demonstrates readiness to tackle AI era challenges, supported by nearly 1,000 prize submissions showcasing innovative solutions for government services, cybercrime prevention, and healthcare delivery to underserved communities. Third, the community shows commitment to shaping the digital future beyond 2025, with the Partner to Connect Digital Coalition achieving over $76 billion in pledges, reaching two-thirds of the $100 billion goal by 2026.

Bogdan-Martin emphasized that the global community is not approaching an AI revolution but is already immersed in it, highlighting the urgent need for trust and transparency frameworks in digital governance.

## Leadership Perspectives on Future Direction

Chair Minister Solly Malatsi, participating virtually from South Africa, acknowledged widespread support for continuing the WSIS architecture beyond 2025 while emphasizing the need for more meaningful inclusivity. He cautioned: “We must be careful about prematurely congratulating ourselves for being inclusive. Inclusion means more than merely opening doors. It means that we must meet our stakeholders where they need to be met, and where we think they need to be met.”

Malatsi outlined priorities for WSIS evolution including making the process more agile and efficient, integrating the Global Digital Compact to reduce redundancy, and refining WSIS action lines to enable clear measurement of progress. He emphasized the need for investment in institutional and human capacities of underrepresented groups rather than superficial engagement.

## Stakeholder Interventions

Malaysia’s representative demonstrated concrete commitment through flagship projects Nadi and Stingray 2, which have reached nearly two million lives, positioning digital inclusion as a fundamental right. Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment as an ITU Council member and announced its intention to seek re-election for 2027-2030.

Christine Hausel from Ethic minds and Multilateral Group emphasized positioning children as current stakeholders rather than future beneficiaries in digital conversations. She highlighted that children possess valuable data and rights to that data, with technical solutions available for protection, ownership, and potential revenue generation.

Jennifer from Taking IT Global shared a concerning observation: “I really saw yesterday, there was a student that said, my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own. And that is a great tragedy if kids are just learning everything on their own.” She emphasized the need for significant investment in teacher training and upskilling, and highlighted the importance of citizen awareness of international commitments, noting that “citizens need to know that there is action and that they need to be part of that reporting process.”

## Addressing Structural Challenges

Professor Bruck from the World Summit Award highlighted resource and governance challenges: “We are facing today an unprecedented situation in terms of, on the one hand, concentration of power in the digital sphere, and on the other hand, an underfunding of the UN and the UN system in terms of regulation, and also in terms of standards and also governance building.”

The Ambassador of Bolivia emphasized the need to address technology governance challenges particularly affecting vulnerable populations, including indigenous peoples and peasants. A representative noted the importance of ensuring that “in the race for innovation, don’t forget us.”

## Regional and National Implementation

Jimson Olufuye from Nigeria expressed enthusiasm for replicating WSIS success at national levels, describing the event as “mind-blowing and fantastic” and calling for similar events through UN Regional Commissions.

The discussion revealed significant interest in extending WSIS impact beyond the global level, with emphasis on national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues as mechanisms for ensuring accountability and combating public cynicism about international commitments.

## Partnership Commitments

Saudi Arabia, as a gold partner, committed to continuing the WSIS journey and extended invitations to participate in the Global Symposium for Regulators in Riyadh. Anthony Wong, President of AFIP, emphasized his organization’s continued readiness to assist, noting their involvement with WSIS since 2012.

The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition’s achievement of over $76 billion in pledges represented a significant milestone in global connectivity efforts, demonstrating substantial financial mobilization for digital development.

## Technology Integration and Emerging Challenges

The discussion addressed integration of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, into existing digital governance frameworks. WSIS Prize submissions demonstrated practical applications of AI in improving government services, fighting cybercrime, and delivering healthcare to underserved communities.

Participants acknowledged the complexity of emerging technological challenges, including quantum computing alongside AI, and the need for governance frameworks that can adapt to rapidly evolving technological landscapes. The gap between technological advancement and institutional preparedness was identified as a critical concern requiring immediate attention.

## Future Directions and Next Steps

The Chair committed to submitting the chair’s summary to the UN General Assembly to anchor the collective vision in broader digital community understanding. Participants agreed to continue leveraging the WSIS process for Global Digital Compact follow-up while exploring ways to refine action lines for better progress measurement.

Key unresolved challenges include addressing concentration of power in the digital sphere while the UN system faces funding constraints, developing specific mechanisms for meaningful participation of vulnerable populations, and implementing technical solutions for protecting children’s data rights while enabling their ownership and potential revenue generation.

## Conclusion

The WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 closing ceremony successfully celebrated achievements while identifying areas for improvement. Participants demonstrated strong consensus on continuing the WSIS process beyond 2025, with emphasis on making it more inclusive, efficient, and responsive to emerging technological challenges.

The ceremony established clear momentum for the UN General Assembly’s 20-year review in December, with widespread support for evolution rather than revolution in the WSIS approach. The focus on action over rhetoric, accountability over promises, and meaningful inclusion over participation metrics provides a foundation for future development of global digital cooperation frameworks.

Doreen Bogdan Martin: Good afternoon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. To our Chair, Minister Solly Malatsi, what an incredible WSIS week this has been. I am so moved by the energy and the determination that I still feel in this room, despite the fact that it’s been five days and some of you are still smiling, so it’s great to feel that energy and feel that determination. I’m also moved by the active participation that we saw throughout this week, which was taking place alongside the AI for Good Global Summit, which was a great way to bring the two communities together, bringing the development community with the global AI community. We actually saw, walking through these halls this week, more than 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries. And of course, we had many more online. From the vision set out in Tunis and Geneva to the action lines that guide the Global Digital Compact, the WSIS has grown into a cornerstone of global digital cooperation, having engaged stakeholders around the globe since its very inception. Today, the WSIS tent is bigger than ever before, and we’re proud to have welcomed representatives, as I said, from nearly 170 countries, including over 100 ministers and regulators. And there’s always room to have more in the future as we look to continue to deepen our multi-stakeholder collaboration, which is at the very heart of our mission. With the 20-year review just around the corner, and I want to again recognize and thank our co-facilitators for being with us this week. With that review just around the corner, I think the time has come to look ahead. Look ahead and ask, what’s next for WSIS? I’d like to share a few highlights from this week that show where WSIS is headed and where we’re going in terms of future digital development. And I think it’s fair to say that the future of digital development is actually very bright. So first, I think this week has shown that we are ecosystem builders. Regulators are ready to put in place agile regulatory frameworks that are enabling and also ready to translate national digital transformation priorities into development opportunities for all. Ministers from around the world have recognized the need to make access to digital devices more affordable, to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience, and to expand digital inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind, no matter how fast technology races ahead. Parliamentarians recognize that they no longer can be passive observers of technology, and upskilling is non-negotiable, as they have called it for lawmakers, to maximize benefits and also to ensure that we minimize possible risks coming about in terms of our digital future. We also had our UN leaders with us this week, and many of them are still here, our UN partners that will join me up on stage as well. And they also reminded us that we are not on the cusp of an AI revolution, we’re actually in it right now, today. The WSIS community uplifts other ecosystems, joining the Partner to Connect Digital Coalition in celebrating more than 76 billion U.S. dollars in pledges this week, now two-thirds of the way to our $100 billion goal and commitments by the end of 2026. Second, I think this week has shown that the WSIS platform is ready to take on the challenges of the AI era, with trust and transparency at its very core. We had nearly 1,000 WSIS Prize submissions, and those submissions showcased impactful solutions, and some of the winners are, of course, using artificial intelligence to help improve government services, to fight cybercrime and fraud, and to deliver preventative healthcare to underserved communities. I’d like to again extend my congratulations to the 2025 WSIS Prize winners, and of course, the WSIS champions. And third, this week I would say that you have shown us, our WSIS community, that the WSIS story is far from over, and the next chapter is really ours to shape together. As I told ministers that came together at our roundtable on Wednesday, the road to the UN General Assembly plus 20 review in December, it really runs through us. And I do want to thank you all for those contributions that are going to help to shape this pivotal moment. And that will also help us to continue to leverage this time-tested WSIS process as a critical vehicle in the follow-up of the global digital compact. I want to thank you again for your commitment to the WSIS Action Alliance, and for dedicating your energy, your resources, in helping to ensure that we improve digital development outcomes for all. Ladies and gentlemen, as we wrap up what I would call an unforgettable week, I think we can be proud of what we have done together as governments, as the private sector, as academia, as the technical community, as civil society, and of course, as the United Nations. And I think together we can continue to keep this WSIS spirit alive beyond 2025. So let us together continue transforming this WSIS vision into impact, so that we can ensure that everyone, everywhere, can thrive in the digital era. I now have the great honour of inviting our Chair, His Excellency Soli Malatsi, to join us virtually. His Excellency had to, unfortunately, head back home, but he is here with us and has been monitoring our engagements. And I see you on the screen, welcome Chair, welcome Minister, and I hand the floor over to you, please.

Solly Malatsi: Thank you very much to the Secretary General of the ITU, Excellencies, colleagues and friends. First of all, let me express my sincere apologies that I’m having to join you virtually, when I would have preferred to still be with you in person for this important occasion. Secondly, let me express my gratitude for allowing me to close this remotely. Without fulfilling our urgent duties at home, our conversations in platforms like WSIS will not achieve the collective goals we are working towards. Despite not being there in person, my team and I have followed the events closely, and I want to express my deepest appreciation for the insights, the energy, and the dedication that every delegate has brought to this milestone gathering. Over the course of the week, this gathering has reaffirmed not only the enduring value of the WSIS process. but also the collective commitment to building a digital future that is more inclusive, more responsive, and most importantly, more human. What this week’s conversations have made clear is that there remains widespread support for the continuation of the YSYS architecture beyond 2025, but we must also be realistic with our responsibility. The process must evolve, and the commitments made this week will inform the next chapter of YSYS’ journey, which must be underpinned by an increased emphasis on inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. YSYS can build on the existing solid foundation, but it must equally be more agile and more efficient. In the resource-constrained environment we find ourselves in, we must be careful to avoid duplication of mandates while maintaining our commitment to a multi-stakeholder approach. This is what makes YSYS what it is. More importantly, our approach to inclusivity must also evolve. We have heard clearly what we need to do to be more precise, more intentional in how we define and practice inclusivity. We must be careful about prematurely congratulating ourselves for being inclusive. Inclusion means more than merely opening doors. It means that we must meet our stakeholders where they need to be met, and where we think they need to be met. Only by doing this can we ensure that YSYS is truly inclusive. It must be fair, it must be equitable, and it must also be accessible. For YSYS to maintain its relevance, we must examine our modalities, reduce barriers to participation, and invest in the institutional and human capacities of those that are not yet on the table. Finally, our engagements this week have also reaffirmed the continued relevance of the YSYS action lines. They have helped us make progress over the last two decades, and remain a guiding light for our work going forward. But the world we operate in has changed, and so must our tools. We must explore ways to refine and qualify the action lines, so that progress can be clearly measured against the complex and evolving digital landscape. As we move forward, we must also integrate the global digital compact into the YSYS process to reduce duplication. In our pursuit of efficiency, we must not discard what works, but we must also not hesitate to be ambitious in our attempts to implement improvements where we can. As we look towards the UN General Assembly’s review of YSYS this December, we carry forward a powerful message. The YSYS process remains an indispensable part of our pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering information society. It is clear that this process must be future ready. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to shape the next 20 years and beyond of global digital cooperation. Let us meet that responsibility with courage, with clarity, empathy, and collective resolve. Let us ensure that YSYS accelerates vision and empowerment. To ensure the views expressed during the past five days are reflected in the YSYS review process, I will be submitting the chair’s summary on the YSYS plus 20 high level of 2025 to the UN General Assembly. Through the summary, we hope to anchor the collective vision articulated this week firmly in the broader digital community’s global understanding of our efforts in the information society. Thanks to all of you for making time for this important gathering this week, and I wish you all safe travels home. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Chair. We’ve missed you being with us here today, but thank you so much. The chair’s summary is now available online for all of you to read. Do download it and read it from the YSYS forum website. We would now like to invite South African representative chair to collect your silver medal as a token of ITU’s appreciation, and for all the good work that you did here as the chair of the YSYS plus 20 high level event. Thank you, Chair. Cynthia has your silver medal, which she will give to you when she meets you in South Africa. Thank you so much. We would now like to invite Ambassador Schneider, our co-host and our co-organizers on the stage, and we would like to open the floor for any comments, interventions to keep them really short, one minute each, so that we can get as many people to join us in this session. Please do raise your flag, and I’m aware that our sponsor, Malaysia, would like to start, so could someone please give Malaysia a mic? Ruth?

Malaysia representative: Thank you very much. Good afternoon, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Malaysia, I wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the ITU’s silver medalists, and I would like to invite Ambassador Schneider to give a speech. For the 160th anniversary, this milestone is more than a celebration. It is a reminder of the ITU’s enduring relevance in shaping the global digital agenda. Malaysia is proud to stand with the ITU, not just as a member of the Council, but as a committed partners in action. Through this, we have had the opportunity to share our journey, to learn from others, and to scale what works. This year’s recognition of two of our flagship projects, Nadi and Stingray 2, speak to our core belief that digital inclusion is a fundamental right, not a luxury. Our Nadi National Network of Digital Community Centres has touched nearly two million lives, bringing digital literacy, services, and support to those who need it the most. These are not isolated projects that reflect Malaysia’s broader commitment to a digital society that leaves no one behind. We remain active in the IT ecosystem, contributing to study groups, hosting capacity-building programmes, and delivering our Partner to Connect pledge. As we seek the re-election to the ITU Council for 2027-2030, we do so humbly and with a sense of shared purpose. Let me end by reaffirming our commitment to the Malaysia mission. We will continue to collaborate across borders, build meaningful partnerships, and invest in solutions that are inclusive by design. Congratulations again to the ITU. We look forward to building the next chapter together. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Malaysia, and thank you for also being our first time ever Platinum Partner. We do hope we’ll welcome you back next year. Thank you so much, sir. Do we have any other names? Yes, ma’am. Yes, with the glasses. Could you please also introduce yourself? There’s a hand up there.

Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group ): Thank you. My name is Christine Hausel. On behalf of Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group, we would like to truly thank the organizers of WSIS and ITU for the truly inclusive approach to this forum. So much to talk about. Our focus here has been on children. We would like to encourage us all to make children front and center in our thinking and conversations. Yes, the future is theirs, and they are also actors now. We might even say stakeholders. And we have a duty of care to them and to the new environment in which they are living in, formed by, and contributing to. And as we process the fact that AI and AI-powered robots are happening and will have new prominence in our children’s lives, and really just beginning to absorb and look at the implications, we note all the other technologies we’re talking about. We have focused on quantum computing. We would like to assert that children’s data is valuable. They have a right to their data. There are technical solutions in our work at Vaulted Ventures to at once, for them and their parents and caregivers, protect, connect to, own, and make decisions as to the use of the data, and even to make revenue from it. The moment is now to reestablish hope in our ability to control our own data. The technology allows it, and we affirm the focus on partnership to bring needed technologies into practice, along with the accompanying awareness-raising education and standards setting. And just a quote to end from 7-year-old Ravir, who spoke on the Frontier stage at AI for Good, accompanied by his parents, Gurjot and Manmeet. He said, in the race for innovation, don’t forget us. Looking forward to the ongoing conversations and mutual commitments. Thank you for this moment.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you. Professor Bruck from the World Summit Award

World Summit Award representative: Thank you very much, Ms. Sah, ladies and gentlemen, excellencies. In 2003, when business started, the global technology landscape was completely different than today. We are facing today an unprecedented situation in terms of, on the one hand, concentration of power in the digital sphere, and on the other hand, an underfunding of the UN and the UN system in terms of regulation, and also in terms of standards and also governance building. From the point of view of the World Summit Award and its constituency of social impact entrepreneurs globally, I think we need to address this, and I want to make sure that this is also taken to the Review Summit in New York in December, because otherwise we are just ignoring the big elephants in the room, and we are not becoming effective in terms of what we have as goals and aims. So I’m very much concerned about those aspects of the concentration of power and also of the UN system lacking the resources to continue the process as inclusive and as multi-stakeholder as it has been. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Professor Bruck. We have AFIP. Mr. Anthony. Thank you.

AFIP President: Thank you. I’m Anthony Wong. I’m the AFIP President, founded by UNESCO in 1960. I’m very privileged to be here. My first involvement with WSIS was 2012 with my AFIP colleagues, and I’ve seen so much change since 2012 with the AI momentum and what we’re discussing today. So I’m very pleased to be here and congratulate ITU, UNESCO, and all eight UN partners for a very successful conference and summit this year in Geneva, and we’re always ready to assist. So thank you. Bye-bye. Thank you for your partnership, AFIP, taking IT Google. Jennifer.

Panelist 1: Thank you and congratulations to the entire organizing team. Two brief points. I really saw yesterday, there was a student that said, my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own. And that is a great tragedy if kids are just learning everything on their own. So I think we need to invest significantly in teacher training and upskilling. That’s one key point, and it relates to the e-learning commitment in the Declaration of Principles. And the other thing I mentioned earlier, but just with the audience that we have, I would like to have Taking It Global be part of WSIS plus 20 national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogue in Canada and to inspire more national multi-stakeholder action dialogues because there’s a lot of cynicism when commitments are made without action. And what I love about the summit is the emphasis on action. So citizens need to know that there is action and that they need to be part of that reporting process. So I would like to see what more I can do to help in Canada and inspire the same around the world. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Jennifer. I see our gold partner, Saudi Arabia, would like to take the floor. Saudi Arabia, the floor is yours.

Saudi Arabia: Thank you, Gitanjali. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Secretary General of the ITU and all the co-organizing UN agencies in this high-level event. It has been an honor to engage with distinguished colleagues who share a commitment to the WSIS vision and advancing sustainable development through digital cooperation. As we mark 20 years since the World Summit on Information Society, we reaffirm the continued relevance of its outcomes. Looking ahead, it is essential that this process remains dynamic and responsive to today’s opportunities and challenges, especially those brought by emerging technologies such as AI. We look forward to continuing this important journey and warmly invite you to the Global Symposium for Regulators in Riyadh next month, where many of these themes will continue to be explored. Thank you all for your dedication and contribution to building an inclusive and innovative digital future. Thank you all very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Saudi, for your commitment towards the WSIS process. Do we have any more hands up? If you could stand up, because, yes, please, ma’am.

Ambassador of Bolivia: Thank you so much and very brief. I’m the Ambassador of Bolivia. Also, I would like to thank our DRSG for the organization of this conference and the team that is very important for us, this topic, and I think for my country, for everyone. I think it’s important to continue working for promotion, closing the gaps of technology, better accessibility, and working also to put a human rights perspective when it comes to technology and to AI. This is an important conversation that must be going on to promote better participation and access also of the vulnerable populations, indigenous peoples, peasants, and I think also this is important also to remind the gender perspective when it comes to these advances in technology. Bolivia, I’m interested in continuing to work with ITU in support of all the partnerships to promote a better access and closing the gaps in technology. Thank you, DRSG.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Ambassador. Colleagues, the light is really bright here, so if anyone is raising their hand, please stand up so we can give you the mic. Okay, so yes, is it up to …? Yes, please.

Abdulkarim Oloyede: Okay, thank you very much. I want to first of all congratulate you, Team Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, your team, on this excellent WESIS 2025. And I would like to say on behalf of the high-level track facilitators, we had a lovely high-level track. And one thing that was so important to us is that this process has to continue, because seeing from what the ministers and the high-level track events told us, that we have to continue this process. And it is also important for us to understand that there is still a lot of work that has to be done, and we have to ensure that we find a way in bridging the gap and ensuring that we connect those that are yet to be connected, and also to make sure that we continue to strive in order to make the world a better one. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you. Are there any more hands up? Yes, sir.

Jimson Olufuye: Thank you very much. My name is Jimson Olufuye from Abuja, Nigeria. I would like to congratulate ITU, the Swiss government, and all the participating organizers. It has been a mind-blowing event. Congratulations. My question is this, is a question. This has been a fantastic event. Can we replicate it in all our capitals? I look forward to us celebrating it in our capitals. Is that possible? Thank you very much.

Doreen Bogdan Martin: She wants me to answer. I’ll say we’d be happy to help do that within our limited resources, but I do think it is great to take this on the road to advance it in your capitals regionally and continue to do this also globally. We welcome you back next year. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, S.G. That was the perfect answer. We are also working with the UN Regional Commissions. We are organizing these regional WSIS events on a regular basis, so please join us there. I see one hand on the back. Are you packing your bag? Since we’ve finished on time, we have the opportunity to have a group photograph with the S.G. as well. Sir, you’ll be the last speaker. Please go ahead.

Panelist 2: Thank you for the opportunity. I am Damit. I represent IFIF here, and I’m from Sri Lanka. This is my first experience at WSIS, so I thought I’d share my experience because it’s a fantastic week in Geneva. I would like to say I had the chance to share ideas, the contact with global peers, and explore real solutions for digital solutions and AI for good. WSIS isn’t just a summit. It’s a launchpad for collaboration and impact. I’m very happy to say I’m leaving Geneva energized, inspired, and charged and hopeful for the future of ICT, particularly around the AI revolution. Thank you, WSIS. It’s a fantastic experience, first experience for me. Thank you so much. Well done.

Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much. I think that’s a great last intervention, energized, charged, and hopeful. Thank you for that. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to wrap up in a moment. I want to, of course, thank our UN partners from UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNESCO. Thank you for your continued support to my fellow elected officials, Thomas, Cezo, Cosmos. Thank you so much. I want to thank in particular the ITU team. As you all know, this process has been led by Gitanjali. If you could stand up. Can we please give Gitanjali a round of applause? And if the whole WSIS team, and that includes you too, Selena, and Bilal, if you can all stand up. And maybe come to the front. ITU WSIS team, come to the front real quick. We had amazing staff, volunteers, interns. They’ve done a tremendous job in preparing for this amazing week, and we thank them all. Sorry, we’re standing in the way. You guys should stand with us. We don’t want to… Come, join us. So, this is what it takes to put on a WSIS. I want to thank everybody up here on the stage, and those that are not on the stage with us, but also helped to make this possible. So, another round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you.

Agreement points

WSIS Success and Need for Continuation

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Gitanjali Sah
– Abdulkarim Oloyede

Arguments

WSIS Success and Global Participation

Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025

WSIS Success and Global Participation

WSIS Success and Global Participation

WSIS Success and Global Participation

Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025

Summary

All speakers unanimously praised WSIS 2025 as highly successful and emphasized the need for the process to continue beyond 2025, with ministers and high-level participants confirming support for continuation

Topics

Development | Legal and regulatory

Digital Inclusion as Fundamental Priority

Speakers

– Solly Malatsi
– Malaysia representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia
– Abdulkarim Oloyede

Arguments

Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

Digital Inclusion and Accessibility

Summary

Strong consensus that digital inclusion must be a fundamental right and priority, with emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations, indigenous peoples, and those not yet connected

Topics

Development | Human rights

Partnership and Collaboration Commitment

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Malaysia representative
– AFIP President
– Saudi Arabia
– Gitanjali Sah

Arguments

Partnership and Collaboration Commitments

Partnership and Collaboration Commitments

Partnership and Collaboration Commitments

Partnership and Collaboration Commitments

Partnership and Collaboration Commitments

Summary

Universal commitment to multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaboration, with concrete pledges and long-term institutional commitments demonstrated

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era

Speakers

– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
– Panelist 1

Arguments

Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era

Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era

Summary

Both speakers emphasized that children must be central to digital conversations as current stakeholders, not just future beneficiaries, with particular concern about AI education and data protection

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers acknowledge that AI revolution is happening now and requires addressing emerging technology implications, though from different perspectives – one focusing on WSIS platform readiness, the other on children’s protection

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )

Arguments

AI Integration and Emerging Technologies

AI Integration and Emerging Technologies

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Both speakers emphasized the need to extend WSIS impact to national level – one through reporting dialogues, the other through replicating events in capitals

Speakers

– Panelist 1
– Jimson Olufuye

Arguments

National Implementation and Reporting

National Implementation and Reporting

Topics

Development | Legal and regulatory

Both speakers highlighted governance challenges – one focusing on power concentration and UN underfunding, the other on need for human rights perspective in technology governance

Speakers

– World Summit Award representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia

Arguments

Governance and Resource Challenges

Governance and Resource Challenges

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights

Unexpected consensus

Resource Constraints Acknowledgment

Speakers

– World Summit Award representative
– Gitanjali Sah

Arguments

Governance and Resource Challenges

Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025

Explanation

Unexpected consensus between civil society representative and ITU leadership on acknowledging resource limitations – both recognizing UN system underfunding and limited resources for expanding WSIS impact

Topics

Economic | Legal and regulatory

Children as Current Stakeholders

Speakers

– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
– Panelist 1

Arguments

Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era

Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era

Explanation

Unexpected strong consensus on treating children as current stakeholders rather than just future beneficiaries, with both speakers providing concrete examples of children’s agency in digital spaces

Topics

Human rights | Sociocultural

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus on WSIS success and continuation, digital inclusion as fundamental priority, partnership commitments, and children’s digital rights. Agreement spans across different stakeholder groups including UN leadership, government representatives, civil society, and regional organizations.

Consensus level

High level of consensus with remarkable alignment across diverse stakeholders. The implications are positive for WSIS continuation beyond 2025, with clear mandate for evolution while maintaining core multi-stakeholder approach. The consensus provides strong foundation for the UN General Assembly plus 20 review process.

Different viewpoints

Approach to Digital Inclusion Implementation

Speakers

– Solly Malatsi
– Malaysia representative

Arguments

True inclusivity requires meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not just opening doors, and demands investment in institutional and human capacities of those not yet at the table.

Malaysia demonstrates commitment to digital inclusion as a fundamental right through flagship projects that have reached millions of people with digital literacy and services.

Summary

Malatsi emphasizes the need for deeper structural changes and investment in capacities of underrepresented groups, warning against premature congratulations for being inclusive. Malaysia focuses on demonstrating success through concrete projects and measurable outcomes reaching millions.

Topics

Development | Human rights

Resource Allocation and Governance Priorities

Speakers

– World Summit Award representative
– Doreen Bogdan Martin

Arguments

There is unprecedented concentration of power in the digital sphere combined with underfunding of the UN system, creating challenges for effective regulation, standards, and governance building.

The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition demonstrates significant progress toward global connectivity goals through substantial financial commitments.

Summary

The World Summit Award representative highlights systemic underfunding and power concentration as major obstacles, while Bogdan Martin emphasizes successful fundraising and partnership achievements, presenting contrasting views on resource availability and effectiveness.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Economic

Unexpected differences

Teacher Resistance to AI in Education

Speakers

– Panelist 1

Arguments

Students learning AI tools independently due to teacher resistance represents a tragedy that requires significant investment in teacher training and upskilling to prevent children from learning everything on their own.

Explanation

This represents an unexpected internal disagreement within the education system itself, where teachers are actively opposing AI tools that students want to learn. This creates a unique situation where the barrier to digital inclusion comes from within educational institutions rather than from external factors like funding or infrastructure.

Topics

Sociocultural | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

The transcript reveals relatively low levels of direct disagreement among speakers, with most conflicts being subtle differences in emphasis and approach rather than fundamental opposition. The main areas of disagreement center on implementation strategies for digital inclusion, resource allocation priorities, and the pace of institutional change.

Disagreement level

Low to moderate disagreement level with significant implications for implementation effectiveness. The disagreements suggest different philosophies about whether to build on current successes or address systemic structural issues first, which could impact the coherence and effectiveness of future WSIS initiatives and digital cooperation efforts.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers acknowledge that AI revolution is happening now and requires addressing emerging technology implications, though from different perspectives – one focusing on WSIS platform readiness, the other on children’s protection

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )

Arguments

AI Integration and Emerging Technologies

AI Integration and Emerging Technologies

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Both speakers emphasized the need to extend WSIS impact to national level – one through reporting dialogues, the other through replicating events in capitals

Speakers

– Panelist 1
– Jimson Olufuye

Arguments

National Implementation and Reporting

National Implementation and Reporting

Topics

Development | Legal and regulatory

Both speakers highlighted governance challenges – one focusing on power concentration and UN underfunding, the other on need for human rights perspective in technology governance

Speakers

– World Summit Award representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia

Arguments

Governance and Resource Challenges

Governance and Resource Challenges

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights

Key takeaways

WSIS 2025 achieved unprecedented success with over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries and over 100 ministers, demonstrating its role as a cornerstone of global digital cooperation

There is widespread support for continuing the WSIS process beyond 2025, but it must evolve to be more agile, efficient, and avoid duplication while maintaining its multi-stakeholder approach

The AI revolution is already happening now, not in the future, and WSIS is positioned to address AI era challenges with trust and transparency at its core

True digital inclusion requires meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not just opening doors, and demands investment in institutional and human capacities of underrepresented groups

Children must be considered as current stakeholders and actors in digital development, not just future beneficiaries, with particular attention to their data rights and protection

The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition has achieved significant progress with over $76 billion in pledges, reaching two-thirds of the $100 billion goal by 2026

National implementation and multi-stakeholder reporting dialogues are crucial to combat cynicism about commitments without action

Resolutions and action items

Chair will submit the chair’s summary on WSIS plus 20 high level 2025 to the UN General Assembly to anchor the collective vision in the broader digital community’s understanding

Continue leveraging the WSIS process as a critical vehicle for follow-up of the Global Digital Compact

Integrate the Global Digital Compact into the WSIS process to reduce duplication

Explore ways to refine and qualify the WSIS action lines so progress can be clearly measured against the evolving digital landscape

Invest significantly in teacher training and upskilling to address the gap where students are learning AI tools independently

Establish national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues, starting with Canada as an example to inspire similar processes worldwide

Continue organizing regional WSIS events through UN Regional Commissions to replicate success in national capitals

Unresolved issues

How to address the unprecedented concentration of power in the digital sphere while the UN system faces underfunding challenges

Specific mechanisms for ensuring vulnerable populations including indigenous peoples and peasants have meaningful participation in digital development

Concrete strategies for bridging the digital divide and connecting those yet to be connected

How to balance the need for WSIS evolution with maintaining its inclusive multi-stakeholder character in resource-constrained environments

Technical implementation details for protecting children’s data rights and enabling their ownership and revenue generation from personal data

Specific modalities and barriers that need to be addressed to make WSIS truly inclusive, fair, equitable, and accessible

Suggested compromises

WSIS must build on existing solid foundation while being more agile and efficient, balancing continuity with innovation

Avoid duplication of mandates while maintaining commitment to multi-stakeholder approach

In pursuit of efficiency, do not discard what works but be ambitious in implementing improvements where possible

Meet stakeholders where they need to be met rather than where organizers think they should be met, requiring more intentional and precise approaches to inclusivity

We must be careful about prematurely congratulating ourselves for being inclusive. Inclusion means more than merely opening doors. It means that we must meet our stakeholders where they need to be met, and where we think they need to be met. Only by doing this can we ensure that YSYS is truly inclusive. It must be fair, it must be equitable, and it must also be accessible.

Speaker

Solly Malatsi (Chair/Minister)

Reason

This comment challenges the conventional understanding of inclusivity in international forums. Rather than accepting surface-level participation as sufficient, Malatsi redefines inclusion as an active, intentional process that requires meeting stakeholders on their terms. This represents a sophisticated critique of performative inclusivity.

Impact

This comment elevated the entire discussion from celebratory to critically reflective. It shifted the tone from congratulatory to introspective, forcing participants to examine whether their efforts truly serve underrepresented communities or merely create an appearance of inclusion.

I really saw yesterday, there was a student that said, my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own. And that is a great tragedy if kids are just learning everything on their own. So I think we need to invest significantly in teacher training and upskilling.

Speaker

Jennifer (Taking IT Global)

Reason

This anecdote powerfully illustrates a critical gap between technological advancement and educational preparedness. It transforms abstract policy discussions into a concrete human story, highlighting how institutional resistance to AI creates educational inequities and forces students to navigate complex technologies without guidance.

Impact

This comment introduced a generational perspective that hadn’t been prominently featured earlier. It shifted focus from high-level policy frameworks to ground-level implementation challenges, particularly in education, and emphasized the urgency of addressing the human capacity gap.

We are facing today an unprecedented situation in terms of, on the one hand, concentration of power in the digital sphere, and on the other hand, an underfunding of the UN and the UN system in terms of regulation, and also in terms of standards and also governance building… we are just ignoring the big elephants in the room, and we are not becoming effective in terms of what we have as goals and aims.

Speaker

Professor Bruck (World Summit Award)

Reason

This comment directly confronts the structural power imbalances that undermine digital governance efforts. It challenges the optimistic tone of the summit by highlighting the fundamental contradiction between ambitious goals and inadequate resources, while also addressing the concentration of digital power in private entities.

Impact

This intervention introduced a note of realism that contrasted sharply with the generally celebratory atmosphere. It forced acknowledgment of systemic challenges that could undermine the entire WSIS process, shifting the conversation toward structural constraints rather than just aspirational goals.

As we process the fact that AI and AI-powered robots are happening and will have new prominence in our children’s lives… we note all the other technologies we’re talking about. We have focused on quantum computing. We would like to assert that children’s data is valuable. They have a right to their data… The moment is now to reestablish hope in our ability to control our own data.

Speaker

Christine Hausel (Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group)

Reason

This comment introduces children as active stakeholders rather than passive beneficiaries, while connecting emerging technologies like quantum computing to immediate data rights concerns. It reframes children’s relationship with technology from protection-focused to rights-based, emphasizing agency and ownership.

Impact

This intervention broadened the technological scope beyond AI to include quantum computing and introduced a rights-based framework for children’s digital participation. It shifted the discussion from adult-centric policy-making to recognizing children as stakeholders with legitimate claims to digital rights and data ownership.

There’s a lot of cynicism when commitments are made without action. And what I love about the summit is the emphasis on action. So citizens need to know that there is action and that they need to be part of that reporting process.

Speaker

Jennifer (Taking IT Global)

Reason

This comment addresses a fundamental challenge in international cooperation – the gap between commitments and implementation. It highlights how public cynicism undermines digital governance efforts and emphasizes the need for transparent, participatory accountability mechanisms.

Impact

This comment reinforced the action-oriented theme while introducing the critical issue of public trust and accountability. It connected high-level policy commitments to citizen engagement, emphasizing that legitimacy requires both transparency and meaningful participation in monitoring progress.

Overall assessment

These key comments transformed what could have been a routine closing ceremony into a substantive reflection on the fundamental challenges facing digital governance. Malatsi’s critique of performative inclusivity set a tone of critical self-examination that permeated subsequent interventions. The comments collectively shifted the discussion from celebrating achievements to acknowledging structural limitations, power imbalances, and implementation gaps. They introduced multiple overlooked perspectives – children as rights-holders, teachers as critical intermediaries, and citizens as accountability partners – while challenging participants to move beyond aspirational rhetoric toward concrete, inclusive action. The interventions created a more honest and comprehensive dialogue about the complexities of global digital cooperation, ultimately strengthening the discussion by acknowledging both achievements and persistent challenges.

How can we replicate WSIS events in national capitals?

Speaker

Jimson Olufuye

Explanation

This question addresses the scalability and localization of WSIS impact, seeking ways to extend the global summit’s benefits to national and regional levels

How can we better integrate teacher training and upskilling to prevent students from learning AI tools independently without guidance?

Speaker

Jennifer (Taking IT Global)

Explanation

This addresses a critical gap in education where students are self-learning AI tools while teachers oppose them, highlighting the need for systematic educator preparation

How can we establish more national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues to ensure accountability and citizen participation in WSIS commitments?

Speaker

Jennifer (Taking IT Global)

Explanation

This focuses on addressing cynicism about commitments without action by creating structured national reporting mechanisms that involve citizens

How can we address the concentration of power in the digital sphere and underfunding of the UN system for digital governance?

Speaker

Professor Bruck (World Summit Award)

Explanation

This identifies a fundamental structural challenge affecting the effectiveness of global digital governance and the UN’s capacity to regulate and set standards

How can we refine and qualify the WSIS action lines to clearly measure progress against the complex and evolving digital landscape?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This addresses the need to update measurement frameworks to match current digital realities and ensure accountability in achieving WSIS goals

How can we integrate the Global Digital Compact into the WSIS process to reduce duplication while maintaining effectiveness?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This seeks to streamline global digital governance processes to avoid redundancy while preserving the strengths of existing frameworks

How can we make WSIS more truly inclusive by meeting stakeholders where they need to be met rather than just opening doors?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This challenges current inclusivity practices and calls for more intentional and effective approaches to stakeholder engagement

How can we protect children’s data rights and enable them to own, control, and potentially monetize their data in the AI era?

Speaker

Christine Hausel (Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group)

Explanation

This addresses emerging concerns about children’s digital rights and data sovereignty as AI and quantum computing technologies advance

How can we ensure children are front and center in digital policy conversations as both future beneficiaries and current stakeholders?

Speaker

Christine Hausel (Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group)

Explanation

This emphasizes the need to recognize children’s agency in digital spaces and their right to participate in decisions affecting their digital future