13 Jul 2026

WSIS Forum 2026 closes with call to turn digital commitments into action

WSIS Forum 2026 concluded with a call to turn digital commitments into measurable action, as leaders urged governments and stakeholders to make the coming decade one of implementation focused on digital inclusion, responsible AI, and improving people’s lives.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 concluded with a strong call for the next decade to focus on implementation, as leaders from governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society stressed that digital transformation must be measured by its impact on people’s lives rather than by technological progress alone.

Closing the week-long forum in Geneva, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin described the gathering as a historic milestone for the global digital community, while Forum Chair Raafat Hendy of Egypt urged stakeholders to ensure that commitments made under the renewed WSIS mandate translate into tangible outcomes by 2035.

Honouring the past while looking ahead

Before reviewing the forum’s achievements, Bogdan-Martin paid tribute to three long-time contributors to the WSIS process who had recently passed away, Rita Goulous of Tunisia, Yuri Grin of the Russian Federation, and Gary Fowley of Canada. She recognised their lasting contributions to building the multistakeholder framework that has guided WSIS for more than two decades.

Turning to the forum itself, Bogdan-Martin highlighted its unprecedented scale, with more than 12,000 participants from over 170 countries attending Geneva Digital Week, including the AI for Good Global Summit, the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and the WSIS Forum.

She also celebrated major milestones achieved during the week, including the Partner2Connect initiative surpassing its original target by securing more than USD 120 billion in connectivity commitments worldwide. Another key outcome was the publication of the final report of the International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience after two years of global collaboration.

Looking ahead, Bogdan-Martin outlined the next phase of the WSIS process, noting that Action Line facilitators will submit implementation roadmaps to the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) in 2027, directly linking WSIS commitments with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Digital Compact.

A decade of implementation

Forum Chair Raafat Hendy reflected on the week’s discussions, identifying digital inclusion, AI for development, digital finance, youth participation, and closing the gender digital divide as the central priorities that emerged throughout the forum.

He argued that connectivity alone is no longer sufficient, stressing that people also need affordable access, digital skills, relevant content, trusted services, and meaningful opportunities to participate in the digital economy.

‘Success should be measured not by technology deployed, but by lives improved,’ Hendy said, urging governments and stakeholders to focus on practical outcomes rather than technological achievements.

The WSIS Prizes were highlighted as examples of that approach, with 18 winners and 72 champions selected from 1,595 submissions representing 122 countries. According to Hendy, the projects demonstrated that digital technologies are already improving education, healthcare, inclusion, and community development worldwide.

Global cooperation remains essential

Representatives from Malaysia, South Africa, and the Republic of Korea reaffirmed their commitment to the WSIS vision of a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society.

Malaysia pledged continued cooperation to advance universal connectivity, trusted digital governance, and resilient digital infrastructure, while South Africa emphasised the importance of maintaining Africa’s active role in shaping the global digital agenda. The Republic of Korea highlighted the need to move beyond basic connectivity towards meaningful digital use supported by affordability, digital skills, accessibility, and trust.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers consistently stressed that digital transformation cannot be achieved by governments alone. Instead, they pointed to the multistakeholder model that has defined WSIS since its inception, bringing together governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, civil society, and the technical community.

Closing the forum, Bogdan-Martin described the renewed WSIS mandate as an opportunity to move from discussion to delivery. With implementation roadmaps due in 2027 and the mandate extended to 2035, she said the coming years should focus on translating political commitments into measurable improvements for people everywhere.