Session
Women in Internet Governance
1. Raymond Mamatta , E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA)/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society, Africa 2. Gloria F. Amofah-Adjekum Women in Internet Governance (WIG) , Civil Society , Africa 3. June Parris Women In Internet Governance(WIG) Leadership panel Committee member, LAC, ISOC Civil Society , Role Member NRI representative 4. Betty Fausta 5. Harisa Shahid, Information Security Engineer & NetMission Ambassador/ Women in Internet Governance , Technical community, Asia 6. Mary Rose Ofianga Wadhwani Foundation / Women in Internet Governance, Civil Society , Asia Pacific 7. Natalie Tercova IGF Czechia/ Women in Internet Governance(WIG), Technical Community , Eastern Europe 8. Pari Esfandiari, Global Technopolitics Forum/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society , WEOG 9. Dr. Houda CHIHI, Senior researcher at InnovCOM Lab of Sup’COM/ Women in Internet Governance, Technical community, African group region, Africa 10. Sarata Omane , E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA)/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society , Africa 11. Olayinka Wilson-Kofi, Ericsson ( Middle East &Africa)/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society, Africa 12. Prerna Chhetri, 13. Eva NCHO-HIE, IGF Cote d’Ivoire/ Women in Internet Governance(WIG), Technical , Regional Group
1. Raymond Mamattah , E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA)/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society, Africa 2. Gloria F. Amofah-Adjekum, Women in Internet Governance (WIG) , Civil Society , Africa 3. June Parris, Women in Internet Governance(WIG), Leadership panel Committee member LAC, ISOC, Civil Society , Role Member NRI representative, 4. Betty Fausta Women in Internet Governance 5. Harisa Shahid, Information Security Engineer & NetMission Ambassador/ Women in Internet Governance , Technical community, Asia 6. Mary Rose Ofianga Wadhwani Foundation / Women in Internet Governance, Civil Society , Asia Pacific 7. Natalie Tercova IGF Czechia/ Women in Internet Governance(WIG), Technical Community , Eastern Europe 8. Pari Esfandiari, Global Technopolitics Forum/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society, WEOG 9. Dr. Houda CHIHI, Senior researcher at InnovCOM Lab of Sup’COM/ Women in Internet Governance, Technical community, African group region, Africa 10. Sarata Omane , E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA)/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society , Africa 11. Olayinka Wilson-Kofi, Ericsson ( Middle East &Africa)/ Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Civil Society, Africa 12. Prerna Chhetri , Thimphu Techpark Ltd/Women in Internet Governance (WIG), Technical Community , Asia Pacific 13. Eva NCHO-HIE, IGF Cote d’Ivoire/ Women in Internet Governance(WIG), Technical , Regional Group
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequalities
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: SDG 4 (Quality Education) – Ensuring that women are involved in Internet governance discussions will be achieved through this initiative by offering them training workshops and mentorship programs through which they will learn the necessary expertise to engage actively. It will also entail opportunities for knowledge sharing, where participants can get updates on current and future digital policy trends in internet governance. SDG 5 (Gender Equality) – To increase the representation of women in Internet governance by empowering them with the required knowledge, skills, and networks that would enable them to take leadership positions in digital policy, especially in Internet Governance. It will also address systemic barriers, through mentorship and capacity-building programs, that limit women’s involvement and participation in decision-making processes. SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth)- The initiative will support women's career growth in technology and digital policy by pushing for equal opportunities, encouraging leadership pathways, and creating platforms for women to demonstrate their expertise in the field. In its effort to close the gender gap in digital governance and contribute to a diverse and innovative workforce. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)- In Internet governance and policy-making, women remain underrepresented compared to men in this area of expertise. This program aims to tackle these discrepancies by equipping women with resources and networking connections and offering them chances to participate in governance discussions at both global and regional levels so that their perspectives can influence important decisions. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)-Building teamwork is essential, for driving progress in enhancing gender equality and inclusivity initiatives over the long term in the area of promoting women in Internet governance efforts; this endeavour involves forging alliances with various sectors such, as governmental entities, private enterprises civil society groups and academic institutions The collaborative strategy is geared towards leveraging diverse skills and resources in order make significant changes
Roundtable
45-minute panel discussion with speakers from different regions. The session will have opening remarks, a moderated discussion on key issues, and a Q&A session for both onsite and online participants."
The launch of the Women in Internet Governance (WIG) initiative is a step toward tackling the challenges that continue to limit women’s involvement in internet governance, digital policy and leadership. Around the world, women are still underrepresented in internet governance processes, which means that many important perspectives are left out of decisions that affect everyone (Harcourt, 1999). This session will take place during IGF 2025 under the theme of Universal Access and Digital Rights. It will bring attention to the barriers that keep women from participating fully in internet governance and offer practical ways to overcome them. It will also introduce WIG’s mentoring and fellowship programme. These are aimed at helping more women grow into leadership roles, get involved in policy work, and connect with others doing similar work across different regions. Women who have made progress despite the odds will share their personal stories. These interviews will highlight both their accomplishments and the struggles they faced, helping others learn from their journeys. Guest speakers will include respected women from digital policy and technology spaces, such as representatives from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UN Women, the former Acting CEO of ICANN, and leaders in the cybersecurity and internet governance space will give their goodwill messages.
The WIG leadership team, made up of women from eight regions: Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, North America, and Oceania will also be introduced during the session. Participants will be guided through the process of joining WIG. For those interested in volunteering, they will be asked to state their reasons for joining and understand what is expected of them. Information about the fellowship, including how to apply and the responsibilities that come with it, will also be shared.
This session will:
1. Show why it is important to include women in decisions about the internet and digital policy.
2. Encourage practical steps to promote women’s participation in local, national, and global policy spaces.
3. Provide opportunities for networking and collaboration across regions.
At the end of the session, those attending will also:
• Understand what Women in Internet Governance stands for and how they can get involved.
• Learn more about the fellowship opportunity.
• Be inspired by the stories of other women in the field.
• Be encouraged to take action in their own communities.
Reference:
Harcourt, W. (1999). Women@Internet: Creating New Cultures in Cyberspace. Palgrave Macmillan.
1. To ensure an engaging and inclusive workshop, we will employ both onsite and online moderators who will collaborate closely. The online moderator will actively monitor the chat, gather questions, and ensure that the perspectives of online participants are seamlessly integrated into the discussion. This dual-moderation approach fosters a cohesive experience for all attendees, regardless of their location. 2. The event aims to offer a smooth experience, for all participants with a planned schedule including talks by speakers and group conversations alongside interactive activities. Good audio and video quality will guarantee communication for those joining remotely; recorded clips and live stories from women in Internet management will showcase achievements. Engaging features, like sessions and social media involvement, will add depth to the event. 3. Zoom/WebEx/IGF Virtual Platform – For live participation and real-time discussions and also for Q&A and real-time feedback Maybe 1 or 2 quizzes to create commitment and impact? Slido/Mentimeter – To facilitate audience polls, Q&A, and real-time feedback. Also, Important conversations will be highlighted on media platforms, like Twitter ( X ) LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Moreover, if suitable the event might be live-streamed on YouTube or Facebook Live to connect with an audience.