Agenda

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has been a pivotal global multistakeholder platform for digital cooperation and development since its inception in 2003. Over the past two decades, WSIS has facilitated significant dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in the realm of information and communication technologies (ICTs), contributing to the shaping of the global digital landscape. As we approach the comprehensive WSIS+20 review in 2025, it presents a critical opportunity to reflect on the progress made, the challenges encountered, and the future direction of digital transformation.

The WSIS+20 review will be instrumental in reaffirming the global community's commitment to leveraging ICTs for the advancement of information and knowledge societies, directly contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This review will also align with the objectives of the Global Digital Compact, aiming to establish a shared vision for digital cooperation and governance.

To emphasize the critical importance of translating the WSIS process into tangible actions at various levels of engagement, this session will foster a dialogue on how to better align local and regional initiatives with the WSIS framework and the potential commitments under the Global Digital Compact. In particular, it will explore how to better align UN Regional Commissions’ initiatives to foster inclusive and people-centered approach to digital transformation.

Objectives

This side event aims to:

1. Highlight the Alignment: Examine the alignment between the WSIS process, the upcoming WSIS+20 Overall Review, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasizing their interconnected goals and shared objectives.
2. Promote Understanding: Enhance understanding of the WSIS process and its critical role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the context of the Global Digital Compact.
3. Highlight the Role of UNGIS: Examine the significant contributions of UNGIS as an inter-agency mechanism in global digital governance processes, emphasizing its role in advancing the WSIS process and fostering international cooperation for sustainable digital development.
4. Foster Multistakeholder Dialogue: Encourage multistakeholder participation, bringing together representatives from government, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community to discuss challenges and opportunities in the digital era.
5. Identify Key Priorities and Tangible Actions: Determine key priorities and develop actionable strategies to ensure that digital governance frameworks and policies are effectively implemented. This will include incorporating the perspectives of UN Regional Commissions to ensure regional needs and priorities are addressed. The focus will be on fostering an inclusive, people-centered approach to digital transformation.

Themes and Topics

The side event will cover the following themes and topics:

• WSIS and Sustainable Development: Understanding the impact of WSIS on the SDGs and the critical role of digital technologies in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
• WSIS+20 Review: Preparing for the comprehensive review in 2025, reflecting on past achievements, current challenges, and future directions.
• Global Digital Compact: Discussing the alignment and integration of WSIS objectives with the Global Digital Compact to foster cohesive and coordinated digital governance.
• Multistakeholder Engagement: Emphasizing the importance of multistakeholder participation in shaping the digital agenda and ensuring inclusive, equitable digital transformation.
• Digital Cooperation and Governance: Exploring the role of UNGIS and its members in facilitating digital cooperation and governance at the global level.
• Local and Regional Dimension: Exploring the local and regional perspectives in determining key priorities and actionable strategies to ensure that digital governance frameworks and policies are effectively implemented.