Happy Friday !

 

The IGF MAG Webinar, titled 'Connecting WSIS, the IGF, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC)', was hosted by the Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF MAG) on May 20, 2025. The session aimed to explore how the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) framework and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) can contribute to the Global Digital Compact (GDC).

 

Key Takeaways:

• WSIS+20 Review: The webinar highlights the GDC as a continuation of the WSIS framework, suggesting its implementation should align with existing structures.
• IGF's Role: The IGF serves as a vital platform for diverse stakeholders to engage in discussions on Internet Governance and digital policy, showcasing the effectiveness of the multistakeholder model.
• Global Digital Compact (GDC): This initiative strives for an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, and secure digital future, forming part of the Pact for the Future emerging from the Summit of the Future.
• Multistakeholderism: The importance of multistakeholder collaboration, a core principle of WSIS, was emphasized as crucial for a thriving digital future.

 

Speakers at the webinar included representatives from:

• UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET)
• UN Development Programme (UNDP)
• Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)
• UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• Global Affairs Canada
• IGF’s Dynamic Coalition Coordination Group (DCCG)
• Permanent Mission of Brazil to the WTO
• OFCOM, Switzerland
• South African Mission to the UN Office and other International Organisations

 

The session was moderated by:

• Christine Arida from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, Egypt
• Concettina Cassa from the Agency for Digital Italy, Italy

 

 

RECORDING – IGF MAG Webinar – Connecting WSIS, the IGF, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC)

From <https://isoc.live/19366/>

 

 

 

Best

Mohibul