21st April 2024, Kathmandu
Ministers and high-level officials will convene at the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 27 to 31, to delineate the trajectory for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) for the forthcoming years, following two decades of concerted efforts in connecting technology with sustainable development.
As the deadline for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) looms with 2.6 billion people still devoid of Internet access, the WSIS+20 Forum aims to confront challenges, acknowledge achievements, and outline future endeavors to ensure universal connectivity and leverage technology for global peace and prosperity.
UN’s WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event
With participation from over 160 countries, the forum will scrutinize pivotal trends like artificial intelligence and space for sustainable development. Esteemed delegates from governments, private sectors, civil society, academia, and international organizations will engage in discussions to commemorate 20 years of WSIS implementation and its alignment with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasized the enduring relevance of WSIS and its imperative role in addressing emerging digital challenges while striving to achieve the SDGs and implement the Global Digital Compact.
The WSIS process, conceived before the advent of the SDGs, has evolved to complement the global development agenda, navigating the intricate interplay between technology and progress. This year’s WSIS+20 Forum will deliberate on a spectrum of topics, including cybersecurity, digital governance, and capacity building, culminating in an outcome that will inform the UN General Assembly’s WSIS+20 review in 2025 and contribute to the formulation of the Global Digital Compact.
Co-hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Swiss Confederation, the event enjoys collaboration with UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD, and over 40 UN partners. Notably, the forum will feature the annual WSIS Prizes, showcasing exemplary use cases of digital technology bolstering sustainable development worldwide.
