Virtually Together at IGF‎ ‎‎2020‎‏ 
Internet for human resilience and solidarity

‎2 November 2020 – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th annual meeting of the Internet ‎Governance Forum (IGF) is being hosted online by the United Nations in two phases: from 2 to 6 ‎November and from 9 to 17 November (excluding the weekends).‎
Under the overarching theme ‘’Internet for human resilience and solidarity’’, the premier ‎UN-hosted annual event will bring together over five thousand experts, leaders and ‎stakeholders of all sectors and all parts of the world, to discuss the impact of the Internet on ‎our lives within four key thematic tracks: (1) Data; (2) Environment; (3) Inclusion and (4) Trust.‎
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Community-facilitated sessions
Through more than 200 different sessions, international and intergovernmental organisations, ‎governments, businesses, civil society and technical communities will engage in dialogues on ‎some of the most pressing issues on digital public policy. The critical thematic discussion ‎frameworks will relate to:‎

• Inclusion, as a key contributor to stronger economies and enhanced economic ‎development through shared wealth, shared employment, and equal opportunity for all, ‎as well as a vital enabler in fully achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable ‎Development. How can we overcome the issues and challenges to achieving inclusion ‎for all?‎
• Online data revolution as a contributor to inclusive economic development, while ‎safeguarding people’s rights and freedoms.‎
• Safer environment, with technologies helping to achieve the agreed climate action ‎goals and digital technologies reducing their environmental footprint to support UN ‎‎2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.‎
• Public Trust in technologies and decision-makers, as an essential element for the ‎Internet to reach its full potential as a tool for empowerment, a channel of free speech ‎and an engine of economic development. ‎

High-Level Leaders Track
Within the Forum’s High-Level Leaders Track, some of the world’s most prominent experts and ‎leaders from all sectors will gather together to discuss the role of Internet governance in the ‎age of uncertainty. In times of emergencies, how can the Internet and digital public policy ‎support people to continue to thrive? The Track sessions will focus on these issues and their ‎connection to the areas of health, security, economy, social development and environment. ‎

In addition to the multistakeholder nature of the high-level leaders track panels, the IGF 2020 ‎will also feature a Parliamentary Roundtable high-level session to support continuity and ‎linkages between the annual meetings of IGF ‎‎with other global, regional and national legislative ‎bodies. The interactive discussion between members of parliaments from all parts of the world ‎will focus on ways of building trust, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery ‎period.‎
The track will be live-streamed, with interpretation available in the six official UN languages.‎

Youth engagement
The 15th IGF is investing special effort in youth engagement. This year’s IGF 2020 Global Youth ‎Summit will facilitate an interactive discussion platform for the ideas and ‎concerns of youth ‎participation organised across all regions. ‎
IGF Village
The Forum will also feature its traditional IGF Village in a form of a virtual fair. Over 70 ‎different organisations will display their work on Internet governance and create spaces for ‎live-online networking with all participants.‎

About the IGF
The IGF has been convened by the United Nations Secretary-General since 2006, as a Forum for ‎multi-stakeholder dialogue on public policy issues related to key elements of Internet ‎governance, such as the Internet’s sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development. ‎The Forum meets annually to maximize the opportunity for an open and inclusive dialogue on ‎the exchange of ideas on Internet governance issues; create opportunities to share best ‎practices and experiences; identify emerging issues and bring them to the attention of the ‎relevant bodies and the general public; as well as to contribute to capacity development for ‎Internet governance. This year marks the 15th annual edition of the Forum, that, due to the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, will be hosted online by the United Nations under the overarching theme ‎‎‘’Internet for Human Resilience and Solidarity’’. ‎

For additional information, live webcast, and schedule, please visit: ‎https://igf2020.intgovforum.org   ‎

Media and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate and engage in all sessions. ‎

Secretariat contacts
Chengetai Masango, chengetai [dot] masango [at] un [dot] org  
Anja Gengo, anja [dot] gengo [at] un [dot] org 
IGF Secretariat ‎

Wai Min Kwok, kwok [at] un [dot] org  
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 
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