Looking back, moving forward: how to continue to empower the IGF’s role in Internet Governance

Reaching the WSIS vision for a people-centered, inclusive and sustainable information society requires two fundamental considerations: multistakeholder collaboration and enabling, interoperable policy environments. As one of the key outcomes of WSIS, the IGF is a pioneering example and enabler of bottom-up discussions allowing stakeholders to exchange best practices, address challenges and reap the opportunities that the Internet, and more broadly, digital technologies have to offer. Since the first IGF in 2006, the contribution it has made in shaping the Internet is profound. The development of its intersessional work enabled by meaningful exchange of information and good practices, and connection with national and regional initiatives, continue to facilitate a common understanding on how to maximize the opportunities of the Internet and address challenges in a holistic, bottom-up manner. Despite significant progress made, the vision for people-centric, sustainable digitalisation remains out of reach.

With the Global Digital Compact agreed, the upcoming WSIS review of what has happened over the past two decades, and what should happen next, the IGF community must now ensure that the future of Internet governance continues to embrace an open and inclusive Internet.
This Main Session will showcase the unique role of the IGF as a central asset in enabling global digital cooperation, and a vehicle towards interoperable policy approaches in Internet and digital governance. The session will present examples of the long term contributions that the IGF and its multistakeholder community have made to the broader Internet governance space and share recommendations on how to strengthen the IGF and ensure that it is prepared to be one of the key follow-up frameworks to the outcomes deriving from the GDC and the WSIS+20 processes.