IGF 2023 DC-IUI Advancing rights-based digital governance through ROAM-X

Over the past 17 years, UNESCO has been advocating for an inclusive and human rights-based digital governance through its engagement with the Internet Governance Forum community. At its 38th General Conference, UNESCO endorsed the Internet Universality concept with its four cross-cutting R.O.A.M principles-- an Internet based on human Rights, and the principles of Openness, Accessibility and Multi-stakeholder participation. Current Internet Universality ROAM-X framework with 303 indicators, including 79 cross-cutting ones concerning gender equality, youth, ethical dimensions and sustainable development, embodies the ROAM principles. Since its launch at the IGF 2020, the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Universality ROAM-X indicators, initiated by UNESCO, has played a crucial role in supporting over 40 national assessments across five continents. The Coalition has consistently organized meetings and sessions during global IGF and regional IGF meetings in Africa, Asia Pacific, EuroDIG, and other regions where UNESCO is actively engaged. This year, the Dynamic Coalition session will focus on the update of the ROAM-X indicators to include new relevant dimensions in the framework and guarantee the transformative aspect of the recommendations formulated in the national assessment of ROAM-X. This session also aims to encourage synergies and collaboration between the IUIs project and other initiatives championed by the IGF community to jointly advance evidence-based policy making and empower stakeholders around the world via our Dynamic Coalition. Additionally, the DC seeks to work jointly with partners to support the UN Global Digital Compact and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, this session will trigger discussions to achieve below objectives: Discuss the revision of the ROAM-X framework in light of the rapid development and unprecedented challenges posed by digital transformation, explore how the framework can be adapted to effectively address these evolving dynamics and ensure its continued relevance in navigating the complexities of the digital era. Reflect on how ROAM-X framework can support the formulation of Internet governance policies that empower all people and support the formulation and implementation of the Global Digital Compact, promoting a collaborative and inclusive approach to digital governance. Gather and expand the members of IGF  Dynamic Coalition on Internet Universality ROAM-X indicators, reinforce the extensive partnership with the Dynamic Coalition community to advance digital governance by fostering synergies and collaboration between the Internet Universality Indicators (IUIs) project and other initiatives championed by the IGF community.

The 2023 IGF will be a hybrid event, meaning that people should be able to participate fully, whether onsite or online. The IGF Secretariat and the Host Country will provide the technical tools to support this. It is vital that workshop organizers are aware of this, and that providing for hybrid accessibility and interactive engagement is central to all session planning. Organizers should make every effort to ensure that any session speakers or organizers that will be participating online have sufficient connectivity to participate in a hybrid session.