WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 Inaugural Session: Celebrating Two Decades and Achieving Future Milestones Together

Summary

The transcript captures the opening ceremony of the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025, marking the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva. The event brings together governments, international organizations, civil society, private sector, academia, and youth to celebrate two decades of digital cooperation and chart the path forward for global digital governance. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted the remarkable progress since 2003, noting that internet connectivity has grown from 16% to 68% of the global population, driven by WSIS’s multi-stakeholder approach involving over 50,000 participants from 160 countries.

Swiss Ambassador Thomas Schneider emphasized that while significant achievements have been made, challenges persist including the digital divide, cybersecurity risks, and AI governance concerns. He advocated for strengthening existing frameworks rather than creating duplicative structures, proposing a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS and the Global Digital Compact. UNCTAD’s Pedro Manuel Moreno presented a stark contrast between two worlds: one where AI and frontier technologies are transforming lives and creating economic opportunities, and another where 3.4 billion people in developing countries lack basic internet access and are excluded from key governance initiatives.

UNESCO’s Tawfik Jelassi called for a “WSIS 2.0 vision” that addresses gender digital divides, misinformation, and ensures technology serves humanity while building peace. UNDP’s Agi Veres stressed the importance of human agency and empowerment in digital transformation, particularly regarding AI development. The ceremony concluded with South Africa’s Minister Solly Malatsi accepting the chairmanship, emphasizing the responsibility to represent global aspirations and ensure digital transformation advances equity, inclusion, and human dignity for all.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **20-Year Milestone and Progress Assessment**: The discussion centers on celebrating two decades since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), reflecting on achievements like growing internet connectivity from 16% to 68% of global population, and the establishment of over 15,000 initiatives in the stocktaking platform.

– **Digital Divide and Inequality Challenges**: Speakers emphasized persistent disparities, with only 37% of people in least developed countries having internet access, women being less likely to be online, and 3.4 billion people living in countries spending more on debt servicing than health or education.

– **Multi-stakeholder Collaboration Framework**: The importance of WSIS’s inclusive approach bringing together governments, private sector, civil society, academia, and youth was highlighted as the “beating heart” of the process, with 160 countries and 50,000 stakeholders participating over the years.

– **Future Vision and Adaptation**: Discussion of WSIS 2.0 vision to address emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity challenges, misinformation, and the need to align with the Global Digital Compact and UN’s Pact of the Future while maintaining human-centered approaches.

– **Leadership Transition and Moving Forward**: The ceremonial handover of chairmanship from Switzerland’s Ambassador Schneider to South Africa’s Minister Malatsi, symbolizing continuity and shared global commitment to digital cooperation.

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion serves as an inaugural ceremony for the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025, aimed at commemorating 20 years of global digital cooperation while setting the agenda for future digital governance and inclusive technology development.

## Overall Tone:

The tone is consistently celebratory yet purposeful throughout the discussion. It begins with pride in past achievements and gratitude for collaboration, maintains an inspirational quality when discussing future possibilities, and concludes with determination and responsibility as new leadership takes charge. The speakers balance optimism about technological progress with realistic acknowledgment of persistent challenges, creating an atmosphere of both celebration and urgent commitment to action.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **Gitanjali Sah** – Role/Title: Not specified, Area of expertise: WSIS process and digital cooperation

– **Sulyna Nur Abdulla** – Role/Title: Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership and Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the ITU, Area of expertise: Strategic planning and telecommunications

– **Doreen Bogdan-Martin** – Role/Title: Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Area of expertise: Telecommunications and digital development

– **Thomas Schneider** – Role/Title: Ambassador and Director of International Affairs for the Federal Office of Communications of Switzerland, Area of expertise: International communications policy and digital governance

– **Pedro Manuel Moreno** – Role/Title: Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD, Area of expertise: Trade, development, and digital economy

– **Tawfik Jelassi** – Role/Title: Assistant Director General for Communication and Information for UNESCO, Area of expertise: Communication, information, and knowledge societies

– **Agi Veres** – Role/Title: Director of the UNDP Representation Office in Geneva, Area of expertise: Development and digital transformation

– **Solly Malatsi** – Role/Title: Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of the Republic of South Africa, Area of expertise: Communications and digital technologies policy

**Additional speakers:**

– **Majid Sultan al-Mezma** – Role/Title: Director-General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority of the UAE, Area of expertise: Telecommunications and digital government regulation

# WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025: Opening Ceremony – Discussion Summary

## Introduction and Context

The WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025 opening ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society, bringing together international leaders, government ministers, UN agency heads, and senior officials from across the digital governance ecosystem. The event served both as a celebration of two decades of progress and a strategic planning session for the future of global digital cooperation.

Moderated by Sulyna Nur Abdulla, the ceremony featured a formal handover of the WSIS chairmanship from Switzerland to South Africa, symbolizing the global nature of digital challenges and the need for inclusive leadership. The discussion maintained a celebratory yet purposeful tone throughout, balancing pride in past achievements with acknowledgment of persistent challenges.

## Key Participants and Their Contributions

### Opening Remarks – Gitanjali Sah

Gitanjali Sah opened the ceremony by highlighting WSIS’s remarkable 20-year journey, noting that the WSIS stocktaking platform now contains over 15,000 initiatives, demonstrating the extensive global engagement with digital development. She emphasized that this gathering represented the culmination of collaborative efforts involving co-facilitators from Albania and Kenya working on the WSIS Plus 20 process in New York.

### ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Bogdan-Martin delivered a comprehensive assessment of WSIS achievements, highlighting the dramatic transformation in global connectivity from 16% of the global population online in 2003 to 68% today. She attributed this progress directly to WSIS’s innovative multi-stakeholder approach, which has engaged over 50,000 participants from 160 countries across governments, private sector, civil society, academia, and youth organizations.

She positioned WSIS as a living, evolving process that remains highly relevant to contemporary challenges, noting that “the WSIS process stands strong and agile in helping guide the implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the Pact of the Future.” For the future, she outlined an agenda focusing on universal meaningful connectivity, community building, digital skills development, cybersecurity enhancement, and strengthened digital cooperation.

### Swiss Ambassador Thomas Schneider

As the outgoing chair, Ambassador Schneider provided a balanced assessment that celebrated achievements while acknowledging persistent challenges including the digital divide, cybersecurity risks, online misinformation, and ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. He advocated for strengthening existing frameworks rather than creating new structures, proposing “a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS including GDC based on closer cooperation to avoid duplication.”

Schneider emphasized making “best use of existing structures which have proven to work and adapt well so far,” reflecting a preference for evolutionary rather than revolutionary change in the WSIS process.

### UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno

Moreno delivered a powerful intervention describing “two worlds” existing simultaneously: one where artificial intelligence and frontier technologies are transforming lives, and another where 3.4 billion people live in countries spending more on debt servicing than on health or education. He unified these realities by declaring: “These are not separate worlds. They are our world, our only world.”

His statistics highlighted persistent inequalities: only 37% of people in least developed countries have internet access, women remain less likely than men to be online, and 118 countries, mainly in the Global South, are excluded from key AI governance initiatives. This presentation introduced moral urgency to the discussion about digital divides.

### UNESCO Assistant Director-General Tawfik Jelassi

Jelassi advocated for “a reinvigorated, action-oriented WSIS 2.0 vision that is agile enough to navigate rapidly evolving information landscape complexities.” He connected UNESCO’s foundational 1945 mission to contemporary digital challenges, arguing that “digital should help us building peace in the minds of men and women,” specifically addressing misinformation, hate speech, and harmful online content.

He proposed establishing “a robust monitoring framework for WSIS based on universality indicators embodying human rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation,” offering a concrete mechanism for tracking progress.

### UNDP Geneva Director Agi Veres

Veres emphasized maintaining human agency in digital transformation, stressing that “WSIS vision of people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society is more urgently needed than ever.” She highlighted AI’s potential to “reignite human development and generate new opportunities when used correctly with people-centred approach,” while emphasizing the need for careful attention to human-centered implementation.

### South African Minister Solly Malatsi

Minister Malatsi’s acceptance of the WSIS chairmanship provided a powerful conclusion to the ceremony. He emphasized global representation and responsibility, declaring: “We are not here simply representing the interest of the organisations that are funding our participation, but we are representing the aspirations of the whole world. From the remote villages across all of Africa to the financial districts… to the serene streets of Geneva.”

He posed fundamental questions for the week’s proceedings: “How can we ensure that digital transformation continues to advance equity, inclusion, and human dignity in the face of emerging technologies? How do we respond to the deepening global inequalities and interconnected challenges in the digital age?”

## Major Themes and Discussion Points

### Multi-Stakeholder Approach as Core Strength

All speakers demonstrated consensus regarding WSIS’s multi-stakeholder approach as its fundamental strength and primary contribution to global digital governance. This inclusive framework, bringing together diverse sectors and stakeholders, was consistently identified as the “beating heart” of the WSIS process that provides legitimacy, expertise, and implementation capacity beyond traditional intergovernmental processes.

### Persistent Digital Divides and Inequalities

Despite celebrating connectivity achievements, speakers unanimously acknowledged significant digital divides that persist and, in some cases, are deepening. The discussion revealed new forms of digital exclusion emerging around artificial intelligence governance, with developing countries systematically excluded from key AI initiatives despite AI’s projected transformative impact.

The economic dimensions of digital inequality were emphasized, particularly how debt burdens limit developing countries’ ability to invest in digital infrastructure and capacity building, creating structural constraints that extend beyond technical connectivity issues.

### Integration with Global Digital Compact

A significant focus was placed on integrating WSIS with the Global Digital Compact and other UN initiatives. Speakers agreed that WSIS should help guide implementation of these newer frameworks rather than operating in parallel, leveraging WSIS’s proven multi-stakeholder mechanisms while incorporating broader political commitments.

### Human-Centered Development

Speakers consistently emphasized that digital development must prioritize human needs, empowerment, and inclusion. This consensus extended to concerns about artificial intelligence, with speakers arguing that AI development must maintain human agency and serve human flourishing rather than replacing human decision-making.

## Areas of Consensus

The discussion revealed remarkable agreement across several key areas:

– **Multi-stakeholder governance**: Universal support for maintaining and strengthening WSIS’s inclusive approach

– **Human-centered development**: Strong consensus that technology must serve people rather than the reverse

– **Integration imperative**: Agreement that WSIS should integrate with and guide implementation of the Global Digital Compact

– **Persistent challenges**: Honest acknowledgment that significant digital divides remain despite 20 years of progress

– **Monitoring needs**: Support for developing more robust frameworks to track WSIS progress and impact

## Key Outcomes and Commitments

### Leadership Transition

The ceremony successfully completed the formal transition of WSIS chairmanship from Switzerland to South Africa, with the symbolic handover including the ceremonial gavel transfer. This transition brings fresh perspective and leadership from the Global South while maintaining continuity in principles and approach.

### Joint Implementation Framework

Speakers committed to developing a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS and the Global Digital Compact, avoiding duplication while enhancing cooperation. This represents a mature response to the proliferation of digital governance initiatives, emphasizing coordination over competition.

### Enhanced Monitoring

The discussion established commitment to developing more robust monitoring frameworks for WSIS progress, with UNESCO proposing indicators based on human rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation principles.

## Future Challenges and Priorities

### Bridging Digital Divides

While there was strong consensus on addressing digital inequalities, specific mechanisms for effectively bridging persistent divides, particularly the gender digital divide and Global South exclusion from AI governance, require further development.

### Emerging Technology Governance

The rapid pace of AI development creates urgency that may conflict with the deliberative nature of multi-stakeholder processes. Balancing innovation with inclusion while ensuring governance frameworks don’t stifle beneficial development remains a key challenge.

### Resource Mobilization

The gap between political commitment and practical implementation persists, particularly regarding funding mechanisms for digital capacity building in developing countries and ensuring meaningful rather than tokenistic participation from resource-constrained stakeholders.

## Conclusion

The WSIS Plus 20 opening ceremony successfully established a foundation for the week’s discussions by balancing celebration of achievements with realistic assessment of ongoing challenges. The strong consensus among diverse stakeholders on core principles, combined with the symbolic leadership transition to South Africa, demonstrates WSIS’s continued relevance and adaptability.

The ceremony’s most significant achievement was establishing a clear narrative connecting WSIS’s 20-year legacy to contemporary challenges while setting an ambitious agenda for ensuring digital transformation serves all of humanity. The commitment to integrating with the Global Digital Compact while maintaining WSIS’s distinctive multi-stakeholder approach provides a practical framework for enhanced global digital cooperation.

However, translating this consensus into concrete action on persistent digital inequalities and emerging technology governance will ultimately determine the success of WSIS Plus 20. The ceremony concluded with Minister Malatsi’s challenge to represent “the aspirations of the whole world,” setting high expectations for meaningful progress in addressing the digital divides that continue to limit the benefits of technological advancement for billions of people worldwide.

Gitanjali Sah: Over twenty years ago, a bold idea was born. To harness technology for good. That idea became WSIS. Its mission, a digital future built on inclusion, transparency and equality. Since then, WSIS has brought together governments, innovators, civil society and communities to shape a connected world that works for all. The WSIS Action Lines established a framework to evolve alongside technology. Our stocktaking platform now holds over 15,000 initiatives, capturing the pulse of global progress. From infrastructure to ethics, cyber security to capacity building, and by creating an enabling environment for legal and regulatory frameworks, WSIS proves the 20 years of digital cooperation really works. Its outcomes will be essential in the United Nations General Assembly overall review. As we reflect on two decades of impact, we celebrate a legacy of partnership and look ahead with purpose to create a digital society that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable for generations to come. Welcome to the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025. Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025. Thank you for joining us here in Geneva as we celebrate two decades of this UN process, the World Summit on the Information Society. This milestone reflects our collective commitment to a people-centered, human-oriented, inclusive information and knowledge societies and towards a digitally inclusive future. Over the next five days, we will engage in dynamic discussions, tackle digital challenges and shape the future of global digital governance together. WSIS is about being together, multi-stakeholders coming together to ensure that we get a chance to shape policy. Let’s explore our successes, learn from our experiences and envision a more connected and inclusive digital world. As we embark on this pivotal journey at the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025, it is my distinct honor to invite Ms. Sulyna Nur Abdulla, Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership and Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the ITU, to lead us through the inaugural session. Thank you, Sulyna. Over to you.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: Thank you. Thank you very much, Gitanjali. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to the inaugural session of the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025. It’s truly a pleasure to see so many familiar faces and new ones gathered here today. Celebrating 20 years of the World Summit on the Information Society, or WSIS as we fondly call it, is a milestone for the global WSIS community and the world writ large. This High Level Event brings together an incredible fusion of perspectives and expertise. It shows us how much we have achieved and the potential to continue on this path when we unite for a common purpose towards a shared digital journey. To get us started, it’s my distinct pleasure to invite our co-hosts and co-organizers to join me on stage. First, the co-hosts of the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2025, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union, His Excellency Thomas Schneider, Ambassador and Director of International Affairs for the Federal Office of of Communications of Switzerland, representing the Swiss Confederation, our co-organisers, Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director General for Communication and Information for UNESCO, Ms. Robert Opp, Director of UNDP Representation Office in Geneva, and joining us a little later will be Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD. Please, let’s give them a warm round of applause to welcome them. Thank you. Please, please, please be seated. Thank you. I don’t think that was warm enough. Can we try again? Thank you. Thank you very much. And now, please join me in welcoming the ITU Secretary General, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, to address us. Secretary General, please, the lectern is yours.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin: Thank you. Thank you, Sulyna. Good morning, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It’s wonderful to have you all here with us as we begin this milestone week, especially here in Switzerland, which is the home of the ITU and the home of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, which took place right here in Geneva in 2003. Looking out at this full room, how many of you were here in 2003? Raise your hand. Okay. I’m seeing maybe, what do you think, Henriette? Maybe 20, 25? Okay. Too few, too few. So, back in 2003, the WSIS determined that the World Summit on the Information Society would be with the greatest conviction that the Information Society must be people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented. The outcome in the form of the Geneva Declaration was described by the then Swiss President as a constitution for the Information Society. This marks 20 years since the conclusion of the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, which set a bold vision to shape our shared digital future, that reaffirmed our commitment to turning the digital divide into digital opportunities, that called on the international community to take the necessary steps to ensure that all countries have equitable access to the benefits of the Information Society. This week is a time for all of us to reflect, reflect on how far we have come, and start to chart the path forward for the next two decades. WSIS remains a global benchmark for digital cooperation and for inclusive digital development. Its action lines have established a clear guiding framework for implementing concrete change, and its outcome documents were adopted at the highest political level by heads of state and heads of government. I think, ladies and gentlemen, it is something worth celebrating. 20 years ago, just 1 billion people, 16% of the world’s population, was online. Today, that figure stands at 68%, and that progress stems from the WSIS vision of an open and inclusive Information Society that drives digital I think it can be summed up in two words. Multi-stakeholder participation. That’s the beating heart of the WSIS process in which 160 countries have been part of. We’ve had some 50,000 stakeholders join from governments, from international organizations, from the private sector, civil society, academia, the technical community, and youth. There’s lots of youth here this week as well. And that’s what makes this forum so powerful. In the days ahead, we look forward to working closely with the incoming chair of this year’s WSIS Forum, His Excellency Minister Solly Malatsi of South Africa. And I also want to recognize as well that we have our co-facilitators of the WSIS Plus 20 process with us. We have the ambassador from Albania. Welcome, ambassador. And we will also have the ambassador from Kenya, both working in New York on that WSIS Plus 20 process. So we’re very happy to have you with us. I also want to recognize our co-organizers and to thank them, our fellow UN family members, UNDP, UNESCO, UNCTAD, and the 50-plus UN entities that have contributed. I also want to recognize our sponsors that have made this WSIS Plus 20 high-level event possible. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, as digital technologies grow more complex and emerging challenges come into view, we need broad, inclusive, multi-stakeholder participation now more than ever before. It’s worth remembering And today, the WSIS process stands strong and agile in helping guide the implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the Pact of the Future that was adopted by UN member states last year. Ladies and gentlemen, we know that digital can accelerate progress on every development front, from poverty eradication, to quality education, to stronger institutions, to improved health care. And we know that this next phase, this next part of the WSIS journey has to focus on universal meaningful connectivity for all. Community building and digital skills to ensure that no one is left behind, cybersecurity to protect users and build trust in digital technologies, and of course, strengthened digital cooperation as envisaged by the WSIS from the very, very start. Throughout the last 20 years, we have taken groundbreaking actions. We’ve laid the groundwork for an inclusive digital transformation across all sectors and all regions. But to meet the needs of our ever-evolving technological landscape, the next two decades have to be about scaling, scaling our activities to keep pace, being, as the Broadband Commission mentioned yesterday, being bold and also being intentional. As the UN Secretary General put it when he visited the ITU last year, technical expertise and commitment. The commitment to collaboration are the very qualities that our world needs as we navigate this new digital age. And our experience with the WSIS is a guarantee that we have the conditions to be able to move forward positively. So as we mark this milestone moment together, let us do more than just reflect on our past. Let’s get inspired. Let’s get inspired by the digital opportunities around us all. Let’s get energized, energized by the spirit of cooperation that we feel in this very room. And let’s move forward, positively building a digital future that we can all be proud of, that benefits everyone, everywhere. I thank you very much.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: Thank you, Secretary General, for your inspiring remarks, and I mean that, and sharing your WSIS vision and experience with us. Before I invite the next speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on how full this room is. Thank you very much to everyone who have made their way here this morning amidst the heavy traffic of Geneva. I realize that it’s standing room only, and I thank those of you who are standing for your patience and understanding. Now I have the pleasure to invite Ambassador Thomas Schneider to deliver his welcome remarks. Ambassador, I turn the lectern over to you now. Thank you.

Thomas Schneider: Thank you. Secretary General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Friends, it is a great honor for me. on behalf of the Swiss Confederation to welcome you all to Geneva for the Swiss plus 20 forum high-level event 2025. Switzerland is very proud to be co-host of this forum in partnership with the ITU. This year’s edition is particularly special not only because we are marking two decades since the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis but also because for the first time the forum and the AI for Good summit is being held at Pol Expo. It’s actually the first time since the WSIS Summit in December 2003 that I’ve been here in this building so it’s quite nice to see also how the building developed. It’s been Switzerland’s privilege to serve as a chair of last year’s WSIS plus 20 high-level event. This event offered not just a moment of reflection but a chance to renew our shared commitment to building inclusive equitable and rights-based digital societies. As a chair we sought to facilitate a dialogue that was open, inclusive and grounded in multi-stakeholder collaboration. We were inspired by the diversity of voices from governments, civil society, private sector, academia and youth that came together to discuss our digital future. Together we reflected on the achievements that we’ve made but we also had recognized that challenges still persist. The digital divide remains a reality. Cybersecurity risks, online misinformation, ethical concerns surrounding AI and other issues demand urgent attention. For us still the WSIS principles and action lines continue to serve as a pertinent framework for discussion on Internet and digital policy and governance issues. WSIS values and principles The principles have been referenced in many policy documents over the years, they have been further developed in the framework of instruments. Multi-stakeholder mechanisms emanating from the WSIS, like the Internet Governance Forum and the WSIS Forum, have in our view stood the test of time and adapted their focus to reflect the fast evolving digital space and the opportunities and challenges associated with so-called both old and new digital technologies. These mechanisms should be the basis for future implementation of the WSIS vision, but they also should be further strengthened and leveraged through the Global Digital Compact and in support of its implementation. As we prepare for the WSIS overall review by the UN General Assembly later this year, time has come to think boldly and widely about a strengthened and further developed inclusive framework for Internet and Digital Governance and Cooperation, which will be fit for purpose and serve us as well as the current framework has done for the last 22 years. In this regard, and given the current research situation of the multilateral system, we think that it is essential that for the implementation of WSIS as well as of the GDC, we do make best use of the existing structures which have proven to work and adapt well so far. In order to avoid duplication, we invite you to think about a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS, including GDC, based on an even closer cooperation amongst all partners and stakeholders. This week is essential in shaping what we call a vision of a WSIS+. We encourage all of you to actively engage, share your insights and contribute to the discussions. In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank all those who contributed to the success of this WSIS process. Of course, our co-host, the I2, but all the other co-organizers of the WSIS Forum, all Action Alliance facilitators, but most importantly, of course, you, the participants who are bringing life and meaning to this dialogue. And of course, I’m looking forward to the new chairmanship from our friends from South Africa. Thank you very much.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: Thank you very much, Ambassador Schneider. And through you, we extend our sincere appreciation to Switzerland for its continued support and commitment to the WSIS process and for chairing the WSIS Plus 20 High Level Event 2024. We now turn to our co-organizers for their remarks, and I’m very pleased to invite Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD, to say a few words. And I’m glad you made it, Pedro. I hear traffic was bad at your end. Over to you. Thank you.

Pedro Manuel Moreno: Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, 20 years ago we gathered with a vision. Today we stand at the edge of two worlds. In one world, artificial intelligence and frontier technologies are transforming human life. That market is projected to grow six-fold to 16.4 trillion US dollars by 2023. Here, a farmer in Kenya accesses global markets via smartphone, and AI diagnoses diseases in remote villages. In this world, services trade grows 9% annually, the digital economy contributes 3.1% to global GDP, and hundreds of millions find new jobs and meaning in emerging markets. In the other world, 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than they spend on health or education. Only 37% of people in least developed countries have internet access and women are still less likely than men to be online. In that world, tech companies alone command market values nearly six times Africa’s GDP. And 118 countries, mainly in the Global South, are excluded from key AI governance initiatives. These are not separate worlds. They are our world, our only world. As we mark 20 years of the World Summit on the Information Society, we must ask, will the digital revolution unite us or divide us further? Will it bridge old gaps or create new ones? We stand at an inflection point. 40% of global jobs may soon be reshaped by AI. The digital economy’s environmental footprint is growing rapidly. Decisions about the future of digital governance are being made, but not by all of us, and not for all of us. So, Your Excellencies, WSIS plus 20 coincides with transformative processes across the UN system and the broader digital landscape. The global digital compact renews the push for inclusive digital cooperation. The UN 2.0 process drives institutional innovation. We are just five years from the 2030 deadline. UNCTAD is proud to be part of this journey as co-organizer of this conference, as Secretariat of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, and starting this week as Chair of the UN Group on the Information Society for 2025-2026. and many others. I am pleased to welcome you to the 20th annual UNCTAD 16 conference this October, we will also place these topics at its core. Ladies and gentlemen, 20 years ago, we dared to envision an information society for all. Today, we must dare to build it, an inclusive, empowering and equitable digital future where technology becomes a bridge, not a barrier. We must build it, not a barrier, but a bridge, not a barrier, but a bridge to the world, digitally united, sustainably connected with no one left behind. Thank you.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: APPLAUSE Thank you, Mr. Moreno, for your remarks and for UNCTAD’s active engagement in this process. I completely agree with you that the choice is ours and the time is now. We must build it, not a barrier, but a bridge, not a barrier, but a bridge to the world. Thank you. I now invite Mr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director General for Communication and Information at UNESCO, to the lectern. Tawfik, please, thank you.

Tawfik Jelassi: APPLAUSE Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, distinguished members of the ILO, distinguished ambassadors, dignitaries, guests, esteemed participants, friends and colleagues. I’m very pleased to join you this morning for celebrating the 20-year mark of the World Summit on the Information Society. I’m very pleased to be here to celebrate the 20-year mark of the World Summit on the Information Society and to be making this milestone possible. My appreciation also extends to our fellow co-organizers, of course the ITU, UNDP, and UNCTAD, but also to South Africa, which is taking over the chairmanship of the WSIS. 20 years ago, the World Summit on the Information Society took place in the city of Tunis, Tunisia. How many of you were there in Tunis in 2005? Raise your hand please. Few more than in Geneva in 2003. Thomas. And as Doreen Bogdan-Martin reminded us, the vision at the time of WSIS 2005 was building a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society grounded in the multi-stakeholder approach. So obviously, our gathering this week here is a unique opportunity to step back and take stock of what has been done, what we have collectively achieved since 2005. Have we built this people-oriented, inclusive and development-oriented information society? As we celebrate the progress made since then, we must also reflect on our future vision, one that will be shared by both enduring and emerging challenges and opportunities. The transformative digital developments of recent years call for an equally ambitious, innovative and coordinated response. This is why UNESCO has consistently advocated for a reinvigorated, action-oriented WSIS 2.0 vision, one that is agile enough to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving information landscape while accelerating progress. and Mr. Thomas Schneider. We are working on a number of goals toward achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030. One vision that includes, of course, addressing the gender digital divide, combating misinformation and other harmful online content, and ensuring the inclusion of women and young people in the digital world. A key feature of this renewed vision is the further strengthening of WSIS as an inclusive multi-stakeholder model. To remain effective, our cooperation within the WSIS framework and with external stakeholders must be deepened. We are working with the UNDP, the UN digital development society, which is currently chaired by UNESCO, alongside the other vice chairs and the lead implementers of the WSIS outcomes, ITU, UNDP, and OCTAD, and all members of the UNGUS group to help ensure that WSIS is an inclusive multi-stakeholder model. WSIS is an inclusive multi-stakeholder document that avoids duplication and amplifies impact on the ground. To further strengthen its effectiveness and track progress, WSIS must also establish a robust monitoring framework. WSIS is an inclusive multi-stakeholder framework which is based on the WSIS framework’s universality indicators, which embody four key principles, human rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation. Moreover, the WSIS framework through its action lines can be further strengthened by with and integrating the follow-up to the Global Digital Compact and other relevant global initiatives. To truly shape a positive digital future, we must ensure the human element remains at the center of these efforts. UNESCO has long championed the concept of knowledge societies, a vision which is central to the 2030 Agenda. To this end, it will be critical that we focus on transforming information into knowledge that individuals and communities truly own, empowering them to improve their lives and create sustainable developments. And here I would like just to plug in the vision and the mission of UNESCO from 80 years ago, when UNESCO was created back in 1945 and its constitutional charter said, your mission is to build peace in the minds of men and women. Today, digital should help us building peace in the minds of men and women, and that’s why I made a reference to combating mis- and disinformation, hate speech, and other harmful online content. In closing, as you mark two decades of WSIS at the end of this year, I would like to reaffirm UNESCO commitment to building a digital future where technology truly serves humanity, grounded in rights, ethics, and inclusion. Indeed, as Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, once said, the power of the web is in its universality. Let’s strive to create a digital world that lives up to these aspirations and empowers every individual to thrive. And if you can positively answer The following two questions, then we can say that we achieved this mission. The two questions are, are we making our stakeholders and individuals more successful through what we have been offering them? Are we transforming lives? Thank you.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: Thank you, Dr. Jelassi, for your valuable contribution and for UNESCO’s long-standing support for WSIS. So many things that you mentioned just now, but what stuck with me is, today, digital should help us build peace in the minds of men and women. Now I’m happy to invite Ms. Robert Opp, Director of the UNDP Representation Office in Geneva, to deliver her remarks. Agi, please, thank you.

Agi Veres: Thank you very much, Your Excellencies, Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen. It’s my absolute pleasure to represent UNDP at this event, as we have been a long-standing partner. We are proud to be a co-convener of the annual WSIS Forum and working very closely with our colleagues from ITU, UNESCO and UNCTAD. The WSIS process and the community that has developed around it have played really a crucial role in global digital cooperation. Over the last 20 years, WSIS has served as one of the most inclusive and enduring platforms for digital discussions, bringing together governments, the private sector, civil society, the academia and, of course, the UN system. Two weeks after the 20th Internet Governance Forum in Oslo, our gathering here today reinforces our shared commitment to the multi-stakeholder approach, ensuring voices from across the sectors, regions, including developing countries and communities, inform digital policy and practice. As we work on the ground in 170 countries as UNDP, we have been privileged to witness how the principles underlining WSIS and its action lines have remained relevant, and in fact are even more important today. One of the WSIS’s most concrete contributions has been scaling digital capacity building efforts as one of the action lines, and we are on the ground directly supporting this capacity building for digital transformation, working through whole-of-government approaches on digital public infrastructure, co-creating new digital public goods to improve service delivery, and working on data governance to ensure that the rights of the most vulnerable are protected. Now, looking ahead to the WSIS Plus 20 review, it will be important to reaffirm the importance of the WSIS framework and also reflect the critical changes in the digital landscape, including last year’s adoption of the Global Digital Compact. The WSIS vision is also of a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society. It’s more urgently needed now more than ever. This was also the message of our flagship publication, the UNDP’s Human Development Report, which focuses this year on AI, emphasizing how human agency and empowerment must be at the heart of our approach to digital technologies. This is why building on the digital transformation is more important than ever, because leveraging AI to meet people’s expectations for a better life is a choice that the world can make. AI cannot alone solve the problems, but it holds the potential to reignite human development, and this is what we are advocating for in our Human Development Report, and generate new opportunities and help up make us for the lost time. Using the right way and building on the digital transformation that so much underlines the WSIS efforts, it will offer an opportunity to expand human capabilities. Looking ahead to the WSIS Plus 20 review and the process of our conference, we believe that the process is not only crucial for the way forward on digital transformation, but it’s also paving the way for a people-centered approach. I believe that our discussion this week will be crucial in fostering the shared commitment and approach, and we very much look forward to working closely with all our partners and stakeholders and with continued commitment from UNDP. Thank you very much.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: Thank you, Agi, for your remarks and for UNDP’s active support in this process. Thank you to all our co-organisers for their continued collaboration and for sharing these thoughtful reflections as we move forward in the WSIS Plus 20 process. At this juncture, I would like to just go off script for a minute just to request the ITU photographers to help me take this very heartwarming picture of such a full hall, please, from this angle. Once again, I’d like to thank all our friends who are patiently standing at the side, and we’ll be with you shortly. Thank you for your understanding. In handing over of the chair of the WSIS Plus 20 high-level event, so this is going to be a little bit technical for the VIPs on stage. First, I’d like to request the co-hosts and the co-organisers to the centre of the stage, while I invite His Excellency Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of the Republic of South Africa, to join you for the symbolic handover of the chair of the WSIS Plus 20 high-level event. Moreno, Dr. Jelassi. May I invite you, Minister Malatsi, perhaps on the red cross in front? You see, it’s rather technical. We have all these crosses up here. That’s right. Thank you. Well done. Thank you, Tawfik. Excellent. And we have a gavel that’s going to be handed over from Ambassador Schneider, who was the chair of the high-level event last year, to Minister Malatsi, Chair of 2025, witnessed by all our VIPs. Gentlemen, you may exchange the gavel, please. And can we help them with a round of applause? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. And there you have it. The difficult job is now with you, Minister Malatsi. Please, may I invite you back to your seats on stage while I invite Mr. Malatsi to say a few words? Thank you. I’m slightly taller than you, so I need to adjust the mic.

Solly Malatsi: Good morning, Excellencies, distinguished guests in the room, and everyone who is joining us virtually. It is indeed an immense honor for me and my country to take over the chairmanship of WSIS Plus 20 high-level event. This week, we gather to mark a significant milestone, the second 10-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society. Over the past two decades, WSIS has played a foundational role in shaping the global information society and remains more relevant than ever in today’s digital age. From Geneva in 2003 to Tunis in 2005, when some of us look much younger than we do. … technical and academic communities. While each of us and the people we represent come from unique and different circumstances, WSIS has allowed us to unite behind a shared global vision. One to promote an inclusive information society that delivers meaningful benefit to all citizens of the world. And as we engage over the next five days, our task is not only to reflect on the progress of the last 20 years. We must also chart a path forward. We must ask ourselves and answer honestly, where have we succeeded and where must we do better? Most importantly, how must we adapt our frameworks in the face of emerging technologies that are transforming the very fabric of our societies? And most importantly, how do we respond to the deepening global inequalities and interconnected challenges? And how do we ensure that digital transformation continues to advance equity, inclusion, and most importantly, human dignity? The WSIS plus 20 process gives us a unique opportunity to recalibrate and reimagine our approach to building an inclusive and trusted information society. But this opportunity also comes with great responsibility. We are not here simply representing the interest of the organizations that are funding our participation, but we are representing the aspirations of the whole world. From the remote villages across all of Africa to the financial districts and Mr. Thomas Schneider. I would like to welcome you to the first of the virtual meetings of New York and London from the favelas of the Rio de Janeiro to the tech corridors of Bengaluru and to the serene streets of Geneva. Your insights and the experiences will shape the outcomes of this event, which I have the honor of presenting in the form of the chair’s summary. The summary will reflect our collective priorities and our shared commitment to a digital future that is free, inclusive, and rights-based. I thus encourage you to actively participate in this week’s discussions. Let us make this moment count. We owe this not only to ourselves and the people we hold dearly, but to future generations. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and thank all of you for your work up to this moment. And the work that is coming up. I look forward to a productive, collaborative, and inspiring week ahead. Thank you very much. APPLAUSE Do I get to keep the hammer? And now we must do the symbolic takeover of the chairmanship. Thank you.

Sulyna Nur Abdulla: APPLAUSE I am reminded that I am shorter than His Excellency. Thank you, Excellency, and congratulations on your appointment to the chair of the WSIS Plus 20 High-Level Event 2025. Now, before we close the ceremony this morning, we have a special address about to be given. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the United Arab Emirates has the distinction of being the long-standing partner of the WSIS Forum, having been a major partner and sponsor since its inception in 2009. On the 20th anniversary of the WSIS process, we are delighted to invite His Excellency Majid Sultan al-Mezma, Director-General of the United Arab Emirates. of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority of the UAE to deliver a special address to commemorate this occasion. Your Excellency, welcome to the stage.

Agreement points

WSIS Multi-stakeholder Approach as Core Strength

Speakers

– Gitanjali Sah
– Doreen Bogdan-Martin
– Thomas Schneider
– Agi Veres
– Sulyna Nur Abdulla

Arguments

WSIS has brought together governments, innovators, civil society and communities to shape a connected world that works for all over 20 years

Multi-stakeholder participation with 160 countries and 50,000 stakeholders from various sectors is the beating heart of WSIS

WSIS principles and action lines continue to serve as a pertinent framework for Internet and digital policy discussions

WSIS has served as one of the most inclusive and enduring platforms for digital discussions over 20 years

WSIS is fundamentally about multi-stakeholders coming together to ensure we get a chance to shape policy

Summary

All speakers consistently emphasized that WSIS’s multi-stakeholder approach, bringing together diverse sectors and stakeholders, is its fundamental strength and what makes it effective for digital governance and policy development.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Human-Centered Digital Development Priority

Speakers

– Tawfik Jelassi
– Agi Veres
– Solly Malatsi
– Sulyna Nur Abdulla

Arguments

We must ensure the human element remains at the center and focus on transforming information into knowledge that empowers individuals and communities

WSIS vision of people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society is more urgently needed than ever

We must adapt our frameworks in the face of emerging technologies and respond to deepening global inequalities while ensuring digital transformation advances equity and inclusion

The WSIS Plus 20 milestone reflects our collective commitment to people-centered, human-oriented, inclusive information and knowledge societies

Summary

Speakers agreed that digital development must prioritize human needs, empowerment, and inclusion, ensuring that technology serves people rather than the other way around.

Topics

Development | Human rights

Integration with Global Digital Compact

Speakers

– Gitanjali Sah
– Doreen Bogdan-Martin
– Thomas Schneider
– Tawfik Jelassi

Arguments

WSIS outcomes will be essential in the UN General Assembly overall review and help guide implementation of the Global Digital Compact

WSIS stands strong in helping guide implementation of the Global Digital Compact and Pact of the Future adopted by UN member states

We should think about a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS including GDC based on closer cooperation to avoid duplication

The WSIS framework can be strengthened by integrating follow-up to the Global Digital Compact and other relevant global initiatives

Summary

Speakers consistently agreed that WSIS should be integrated with and help guide the implementation of the Global Digital Compact to avoid duplication and maximize effectiveness.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Persistent Digital Divide Challenges

Speakers

– Thomas Schneider
– Pedro Manuel Moreno
– Tawfik Jelassi

Arguments

The digital divide remains a reality alongside cybersecurity risks, online misinformation, and ethical concerns surrounding AI

Only 37% of people in least developed countries have internet access and women are still less likely than men to be online

We must address the gender digital divide and ensure inclusion of women and young people in the digital world

Summary

Speakers acknowledged that despite 20 years of progress, significant digital divides persist, particularly affecting developing countries, women, and young people.

Topics

Development | Human rights

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the need to strengthen and evolve digital governance frameworks for the future, focusing on scaling activities and adapting to emerging challenges while building on existing successful structures.

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan-Martin
– Thomas Schneider

Arguments

The next phase must focus on universal meaningful connectivity, community building, digital skills, cybersecurity, and strengthened digital cooperation

We need a strengthened and further developed inclusive framework for Internet and Digital Governance that will be fit for purpose for the next 22 years

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development | Cybersecurity

Both speakers highlighted the need for more inclusive governance of emerging technologies, particularly AI, and the importance of adapting frameworks to address rapid technological changes while ensuring broader participation.

Speakers

– Pedro Manuel Moreno
– Tawfik Jelassi

Arguments

118 countries, mainly in the Global South, are excluded from key AI governance initiatives

UNESCO advocates for a reinvigorated, action-oriented WSIS 2.0 vision that is agile enough to navigate rapidly evolving information landscape complexities

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Both speakers emphasized that digital technologies, including AI, should be used to promote positive human outcomes and social cohesion, requiring careful attention to human-centered implementation.

Speakers

– Tawfik Jelassi
– Agi Veres

Arguments

Digital should help us build peace in the minds of men and women by combating misinformation, hate speech, and harmful online content

AI holds potential to reignite human development and generate new opportunities when used correctly with people-centered approach

Topics

Development | Human rights | Sociocultural

Unexpected consensus

Economic Inequality Impact on Digital Development

Speakers

– Pedro Manuel Moreno
– Solly Malatsi

Arguments

3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on health or education

We represent the aspirations of the whole world from remote villages to financial districts, and our insights will shape a digital future that is free, inclusive, and rights-based

Explanation

The unexpected consensus emerged around acknowledging that economic constraints and debt burdens in developing countries are fundamental barriers to digital development, requiring the WSIS process to address broader economic inequalities alongside digital divides.

Topics

Development | Economic

AI Governance Exclusion as Critical Challenge

Speakers

– Pedro Manuel Moreno
– Thomas Schneider

Arguments

118 countries, mainly in the Global South, are excluded from key AI governance initiatives

The digital divide remains a reality alongside cybersecurity risks, online misinformation, and ethical concerns surrounding AI

Explanation

There was unexpected consensus that AI governance is creating new forms of exclusion and inequality, with speakers from different organizations agreeing that current AI governance processes are insufficiently inclusive of developing countries.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrated remarkably high consensus on core WSIS principles including multi-stakeholder participation, human-centered development, integration with Global Digital Compact, and acknowledgment of persistent digital divides. There was also unexpected agreement on economic barriers to digital development and AI governance exclusion.

Consensus level

Very high consensus level with no significant disagreements identified. This strong alignment suggests that WSIS has successfully built a shared understanding among diverse stakeholders about digital governance principles and challenges. The consensus provides a solid foundation for the WSIS Plus 20 process and indicates that the framework has matured into a widely accepted approach to global digital cooperation. However, the challenge will be translating this consensus into concrete actions that address the persistent inequalities and emerging challenges that all speakers acknowledged.

Different viewpoints

Emphasis on existing frameworks versus need for transformation

Speakers

– Thomas Schneider
– Tawfik Jelassi

Arguments

We should make best use of existing structures which have proven to work and adapt well so far

UNESCO advocates for a reinvigorated, action-oriented WSIS 2.0 vision that is agile enough to navigate rapidly evolving information landscape complexities

Summary

Schneider emphasizes leveraging existing proven structures while Jelassi calls for a more transformative WSIS 2.0 vision, representing different approaches to evolution versus transformation

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Unexpected differences

No significant unexpected disagreements identified

Speakers

Arguments

Explanation

This was a ceremonial opening session where speakers were largely aligned on core principles and vision. The minor differences in approach were expected given different organizational perspectives

Topics

Overall assessment

Summary

Very limited disagreement among speakers, with only minor differences in emphasis between evolutionary versus transformative approaches to WSIS development

Disagreement level

Low – This ceremonial opening session showed strong consensus on WSIS principles, achievements, and future direction. The minimal disagreements reflect different organizational perspectives rather than fundamental conflicts, suggesting a unified foundation for the week’s discussions ahead

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the need to strengthen and evolve digital governance frameworks for the future, focusing on scaling activities and adapting to emerging challenges while building on existing successful structures.

Speakers

– Doreen Bogdan-Martin
– Thomas Schneider

Arguments

The next phase must focus on universal meaningful connectivity, community building, digital skills, cybersecurity, and strengthened digital cooperation

We need a strengthened and further developed inclusive framework for Internet and Digital Governance that will be fit for purpose for the next 22 years

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development | Cybersecurity

Both speakers highlighted the need for more inclusive governance of emerging technologies, particularly AI, and the importance of adapting frameworks to address rapid technological changes while ensuring broader participation.

Speakers

– Pedro Manuel Moreno
– Tawfik Jelassi

Arguments

118 countries, mainly in the Global South, are excluded from key AI governance initiatives

UNESCO advocates for a reinvigorated, action-oriented WSIS 2.0 vision that is agile enough to navigate rapidly evolving information landscape complexities

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Both speakers emphasized that digital technologies, including AI, should be used to promote positive human outcomes and social cohesion, requiring careful attention to human-centered implementation.

Speakers

– Tawfik Jelassi
– Agi Veres

Arguments

Digital should help us build peace in the minds of men and women by combating misinformation, hate speech, and harmful online content

AI holds potential to reignite human development and generate new opportunities when used correctly with people-centered approach

Topics

Development | Human rights | Sociocultural

Key takeaways

WSIS has successfully established a multi-stakeholder framework over 20 years, bringing together 160 countries and 50,000 stakeholders from various sectors to shape global digital governance

Significant progress has been made in global connectivity, increasing from 16% (1 billion people) online in 2003 to 68% today

The WSIS framework remains relevant and adaptable, with its principles and action lines continuing to guide Internet and digital policy discussions

Digital inequalities persist significantly, with only 37% of people in least developed countries having internet access and 118 countries excluded from key AI governance initiatives

The future vision requires focus on universal meaningful connectivity, digital skills, cybersecurity, and strengthened digital cooperation to address emerging technologies like AI

WSIS must evolve to integrate with the Global Digital Compact and other UN initiatives while maintaining its human-centered, inclusive approach

South Africa has officially taken over the chairmanship of WSIS Plus 20 High-Level Event 2025 from Switzerland

Resolutions and action items

Development of a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS including the Global Digital Compact to avoid duplication and enhance cooperation

Establishment of a robust monitoring framework for WSIS based on universality indicators embodying human rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation

Active engagement of all stakeholders in the week’s discussions to shape the chair’s summary reflecting collective priorities

Preparation for the WSIS overall review by the UN General Assembly later in 2025

Strengthening of existing multi-stakeholder mechanisms like the Internet Governance Forum and WSIS Forum

Focus on scaling activities to keep pace with technological evolution over the next two decades

Unresolved issues

How to effectively bridge the persistent digital divide, particularly the gender digital divide and exclusion of Global South countries from AI governance

Specific mechanisms for addressing cybersecurity risks, online misinformation, and ethical concerns surrounding AI

Concrete strategies for ensuring that 40% of global jobs potentially reshaped by AI don’t exacerbate inequalities

How to balance rapid technological advancement with inclusive development that leaves no one behind

Specific funding and resource allocation mechanisms for digital capacity building in developing countries

How to effectively combat misinformation, hate speech, and harmful online content while preserving digital rights

Suggested compromises

Leveraging existing proven structures and mechanisms rather than creating new ones to avoid duplication while adapting to current needs

Integrating WSIS framework with Global Digital Compact implementation through closer cooperation among all partners

Balancing technological innovation with human-centered development by ensuring AI and emerging technologies serve humanity rather than replace human agency

Combining reflection on past achievements with forward-looking adaptation to emerging challenges in the digital landscape

Today, the WSIS process stands strong and agile in helping guide the implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the Pact of the Future that was adopted by UN member states last year.

Speaker

Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Reason

This comment is insightful because it positions WSIS not as a static 20-year-old framework, but as a living, evolving process that remains relevant to contemporary global digital governance challenges. It connects the historical WSIS process to current UN initiatives, showing continuity and adaptation.

Impact

This framing influenced subsequent speakers to emphasize the ongoing relevance of WSIS principles and their application to emerging challenges. It set the tone for viewing the anniversary not just as a celebration of past achievements, but as a foundation for future action.

Today we stand at the edge of two worlds. In one world, artificial intelligence and frontier technologies are transforming human life… In the other world, 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than they spend on health or education… These are not separate worlds. They are our world, our only world.

Speaker

Pedro Manuel Moreno

Reason

This is perhaps the most thought-provoking comment in the entire discussion. It presents a stark dichotomy between technological advancement and persistent inequality, then powerfully unifies them as interconnected realities. The rhetorical structure forces listeners to confront the paradox of digital progress alongside deepening divides.

Impact

This comment fundamentally shifted the discussion from celebratory reflection to urgent action. It introduced a sense of moral urgency and responsibility that influenced subsequent speakers to address inequality and inclusion more directly. The ‘two worlds’ metaphor became a conceptual framework that other speakers referenced.

Today, digital should help us building peace in the minds of men and women, and that’s why I made a reference to combating mis- and disinformation, hate speech, and other harmful online content.

Speaker

Tawfik Jelassi

Reason

This comment is insightful because it connects UNESCO’s foundational 1945 mission to contemporary digital challenges, showing how fundamental human values must guide technological development. It reframes digital governance as fundamentally about human dignity and peace-building.

Impact

This comment elevated the discussion from technical implementation to philosophical foundations, emphasizing that digital transformation must serve human flourishing. It introduced the concept of digital technologies as tools for peace-building, adding depth to the conversation about the purpose of digital governance.

We are not here simply representing the interest of the organizations that are funding our participation, but we are representing the aspirations of the whole world. From the remote villages across all of Africa to the financial districts… to the serene streets of Geneva.

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Reason

This comment is thought-provoking because it challenges participants to think beyond their institutional roles and consider their broader responsibility to global humanity. It emphasizes the moral weight of their decisions and the diverse constituencies they serve.

Impact

As the incoming chair’s opening statement, this comment set expectations for the week’s discussions, emphasizing inclusivity and global responsibility. It shifted focus from organizational interests to human impact, establishing a framework for more people-centered discussions.

Will the digital revolution unite us or divide us further? Will it bridge old gaps or create new ones?

Speaker

Pedro Manuel Moreno

Reason

These rhetorical questions cut to the heart of the digital transformation challenge, forcing participants to confront the fundamental uncertainty about technology’s impact on human society. They frame the entire WSIS mission as being at a critical inflection point.

Impact

These questions created a sense of urgency and choice that permeated the rest of the discussion. They established that the outcomes of digital transformation are not predetermined but depend on the decisions and actions of the participants in the room.

Overall assessment

The most impactful comments in this discussion successfully transformed what could have been a routine anniversary celebration into a urgent call for action. Pedro Manuel Moreno’s ‘two worlds’ metaphor was particularly powerful in shifting the tone from congratulatory to confrontational with existing inequalities. The combination of Bogdan-Martin’s emphasis on WSIS’s continued relevance, Jelassi’s connection to peace-building, and Malatsi’s call for global responsibility created a narrative arc that moved from historical achievement through current challenges to future obligations. These key interventions elevated the discussion from technical implementation details to fundamental questions about technology’s role in human development and social justice. The speakers built upon each other’s themes, creating a cohesive argument that digital governance is not just about technology, but about choosing between futures of division or unity.

How can we ensure that digital transformation continues to advance equity, inclusion, and human dignity in the face of emerging technologies?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This is a fundamental question about adapting frameworks for emerging technologies while maintaining core values of equity and inclusion in digital transformation

How do we respond to the deepening global inequalities and interconnected challenges in the digital age?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This addresses the critical issue of growing digital divides and the need for coordinated responses to global digital inequalities

Where have we succeeded and where must we do better in the WSIS process over the past 20 years?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This calls for a comprehensive evaluation of WSIS achievements and failures to inform future strategies

How must we adapt our frameworks in the face of emerging technologies that are transforming the very fabric of our societies?

Speaker

Solly Malatsi

Explanation

This highlights the need to update governance frameworks to address rapid technological changes and their societal impacts

Will the digital revolution unite us or divide us further? Will it bridge old gaps or create new ones?

Speaker

Pedro Manuel Moreno

Explanation

These fundamental questions address the dual nature of digital transformation and its potential to either increase or decrease global inequalities

Are we making our stakeholders and individuals more successful through what we have been offering them? Are we transforming lives?

Speaker

Tawfik Jelassi

Explanation

These are key evaluation questions to assess the real-world impact and effectiveness of WSIS initiatives on people’s lives

Have we built this people-oriented, inclusive and development-oriented information society?

Speaker

Tawfik Jelassi

Explanation

This is a critical assessment question about whether the original WSIS vision from 2005 has been achieved

How can we establish a robust monitoring framework for WSIS based on universality indicators?

Speaker

Tawfik Jelassi

Explanation

This addresses the need for better measurement and tracking of WSIS progress using human rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation principles

How can we create a joint implementation roadmap for WSIS and the Global Digital Compact to avoid duplication?

Speaker

Thomas Schneider

Explanation

This focuses on coordination between different digital governance frameworks to maximize efficiency and impact