SPEAKERS Isabel De Sola Criado – UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) Yu Ping Chan – UN Development Programme (UNDP) Michel Roberto Oliveira De Souza – Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Deniz Suzar – UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Gitanjali Sah – International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Angel Gonzalez-Sanzfrom – Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Torbjorn Frederiksson – UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) David Fairchild – Global Affairs Canada, Canada Avri Doria – IGF’s Dynamic Coalition Coordination Group (DCCG) Leandro Santos Teixeira – Permanent Mission of Brazil to the WTO Jorge Cancio – OFCOM, Switzerland Cynthia Lesufi – South African Mission to the UN Office and other International Organisations
MODERATORS
Christine Arida – National Telecom Regulatory Authority, Egypt
Concettina Cassa – Agency for Digital Italy, Italy
In an increasingly interconnected world, digital technologies are transforming how economies function, how societies interact, and how individuals live and work. As the digital landscape evolves rapidly—shaped by innovations in artificial intelligence, data-driven platforms, and cloud infrastructure—there is a growing need to equip individuals, institutions, and governments with the capacity to engage meaningfully and effectively in this new paradigm. However, this digital acceleration has also exposed and, in some cases, deepened existing inequalities. The divide between the digitally connected and the digitally underserved—whether across geographies, socio-economic strata, or communities—risks marginalizing large populations from the benefits of digital progress. Addressing this gap requires more than just access to technology; it demands a structured and sustained approach to capacity building—encompassing digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, infrastructure development, inclusive governance, and agile policy-making. This webinar seeks to explore effective strategies, innovative frameworks, and collaborative models for capacity building in the digital age. By convening global thought leaders, practitioners, and policy influencers, the session will foster dialogue on how diverse stakeholders can co-create resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital ecosystems that uphold the principles of equity, security, and empowerment.
SPEAKERS Avri Doria – SIG Faculty, Technicalities, DC on Schools of Internet Governance Wout de Natris – Co-ordinator, Internet Standards, Security and Safety Coalition Judith Hellerstein – Co-ordinator, DC on Accessibility and Disability Muhammad Shabbir – Co-ordinator, DC on Accessibility and Disability Maarten Botterman – Chairman, IGF DC-IoT / Director, GNKS Consult Jutta Croll – Chair, Dynamic Coalition on Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment Stephanie Perrin – President, Digital Discretion, Inc / DC on Digital Financial Inclusion Markus Kummer – Chairman Emeritus, Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA) Roman Chukov – Programme Management Officer, DC Focal Point, IGF Secretariat
HOST / MODERATOR Rajendra Pratap Gupta – Chairman, DC on Digital Economy
On 8 May 2025 the Internet Society Egypt Chapter (Internet Masr ) presented the fourth in its infrastructure webinar series with a briefing session ‘The Planet Paradox: Digital Infrastructure & Environmental Responsibility‘. Ahmed Abdel-Latif explored the real-world impact of digital infrastructure on the planet we live on. As the digital economy continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, the demand for the infrastructure that powers it accelerates. While they are essential to enabling innovation, AI, cloud computing, and global industry reinvention, data centers also raise urgent questions about energy consumption, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
SPEAKER Ahmed Abdel-Latif, MEA Digital Infrastructure Expert
Le mercredi 21 mai 2025, le troisième Forum des Jeunes sur la Gouvernance de l’Internet en RD Congo (Youth IGF DRC) aura lieu dans un format hybride, avec une participation physique à Kinshasa (au Auditorium Silikin Village) et une participation virtuelle pour les individus de tous les coins du pays. Cette année, le Forum est placé sous le thème : “La jeunesse, actrice clé de la transformation numérique et du développement de la RDC. ”
09:00 – Cérémonie D’Ouverture Kevin MUKENDI, Coordonnateur, Youth IGF DRC Anja GENGO, Secrétariat, UN IGF Dominique MIGISHA, Coordonnateur, ADN Christian KATENDE, Président, ARPTC Augustin KIBASSA MALIBA, Ministre PTN
09:30 – PANEL 1 : Vers une inclusion numérique résiliente : la fibre optique, l’Internet par satellite et l’opérationnalisation de la 5G en RDC Bruno YUMA, Directeur Affaires internationales, ARPTC Alain BETU, Expert en politiques publiques Eric MUTONJI, Expert en Télécoms et Consultant International Mohammed BOUHELAL, DG, Open Access Data Centres Gloria AKA TSHIUNZA, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineer
Modératrice : Françoise MUKUKU, Présidente, ISOC RDC
11:30 – PANEL 2 : La place de la RDC comme pays solution pour le développement de l’Intelligence Artificielle et des nouvelles technologies Gad NSIMBA, Expert en IA et Cofondateur MayeleAI Prof. Onésime MBULAYI, Prof UNIKIN, chercheur en IA Olga KAVIRA, Directrice-Chef de Service Secrétariat général au Numérique Serge Parfait GOMA, Expert en Télécoms, Congo Brazzaville Guy Germain MBAKI, Consultant expert en Cybersécurité
Modérateur : Serge LUMUNA, Expert en TIC, Assemblée Nationale
12:30 – PANEL 3 : La jeunesse congolaise, levier de la transformation numérique et boussole du développement de la RDC Ministère de la Jeunesse Felix MALU, Formateur en IA Générative Trecy KASINDU, Fondatrice et CEO, FlyNanga Christel ILAKA, Co-founder, VaultPay Hosni DUBU, Directeur, Général Qalyx
Modératrice : Anuarite MATHE, Si Jeunesse Savait
14:00 – PRÉSENTATION : SMSI+20 et implémentation du Pacte Numérique Mondial, quel rôle pour la RDC Bruno LEMARQUIS, Coordonnateur Résident, ONU RDC Athanase BAHIZIRE, Youth IGF DRC
14:30 – PANEL 4 : Lutte contre la désinformation et le discours de haine en période de guerre, cas du Kivu
Ministère de la Communication Me Joel KASONGO, Membre du CA – Law & Technologies Glody NDAYA, Experte en communication, DG de Eventsrdc Trésor KALONJI, Expert en Cybersécurité, Fact-checker et blogueur Nadine KAMPIRE, Coordonnatrice Afia-Amani Grand-Lacs, Goma Lena SLACHMUIJLDER, Executive Director, Digital Peacebuilding
Modérateur : Arsène TUNGALI, DE, Rudi International
15:30 – TABLE RONDE : Dialogue intergénérationnel avec les parlementaires sur les législations du numérique Hon. Safari AYOBANGIRA, Assemblée Nationale Hon. Tobie KAYUMBI, Assemblée Nationale Hon. Christelle VUANGA MUKONGO, Parlementaire Celine BAL, UN IGF Jonathan LUBILA, Youth IGF DRC
Modératrice : Deborah BILAU, Youth IGF DRC
16:30 – PARTAGE DES RECOMMANDATIONS DU FORUM
Intervenant : Obed KABONGO, Youth IGF DRC
16:40 – CÉRÉMONIE DE CLÔTURE Athanase BAHIZIRE, Co-coordonnateur, Youth IGF DRC Arsène TUNGALI, Secrétaire Exécutif FGI RDC Anja GENGO, Secrétariat, UN IGF Christian KATENDE, Président, ARPTC
09:00 Welcome Remarks Matt Larson – Vice President of Research, ICANN Christian Dawson – Executive Director, i2Coalition / Co-Founder, Coalition on Digital Impact
09:10 Fireside Chat: The Importance of Language in Digital Access Rebecca MacKinnon -Vice President of Global Advocacy, Wikimedia Foundation Ram Mohan – CSO, Identity Digital / Chairman, Coalition on Digital Impact
09:30 Fireside Chat: Meaningful Connection in a Multilingual World Steve Crocker – CEO /co-founder, Shinkuro, Inc. Rachel Sterling – Chief Marketing Officer, Identity Digital
09:40 Panel 1: Universal Acceptance: The Cornerstone of Meaningful Connection Jennifer Chung – Vice President, Policy, DotAsia Steve Crocker – CEO / co-founder, Shinkuro, Inc. George Sadowsky – Information Technology consultant / ex-ICANN Director (2009-2018)
Moderator: Christian Dawson – i2C
11:00 Fireside Chat: Bridging Digital Divides: The Evolution and Future of A Multilingual Internet Vint Cerf – Chief Internet Evangelist, Google John Perrino – Senior Policy and Advocacy Expert, Internet Society
11:10 Panel 2: Will AI Break or Build Barriers? Linguistic and Cultural Divides on the Internet Chaula Gupta, Vice President / Chief Program Officer, Digital Promise Vint Cerf – Chief Internet Evangelist, Google AJ Bhadelia – North America Government Affairs and Public Policy, Cohere
Moderator: Aliya Bhatia – Senior Policy Analyst, CDT
12:15 Closing Keynote: One Internet, Many Languages. A Common Future Theresa Swinehart – Senior Vice President, Global Domains & Strategy, ICANN
12:25 Wrap-up Remarks
Ram Mohan – CSO, Identity Digital / Chairman, Coalition on Digital Impact
Christian Dawson – Executive Director, i2Coalition / Co-Founder, Coalition on Digital Impact
The 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is ongoing and the overall review process will conclude at the two-day high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), to be held on 16–17 December, CCAOI believes it is important that stakeholders from India understand and engage in the process by sharing their perspective.
This was the introductory discussion on this topic, more discussions are planned for when the Zero document is released.
INTRODUCTION TO TOPIC Gitanjali Sah – Strategy and Policy Coordinator, ITU Sorina Teleanu – Director of Knowledge, Diplo Foundation
SPEAKERS Anita Gurumurthy – Executive Director and Senior Fellow – Research & Policy Engagement, IT for Change Anirban Sarma – Director, Centre for Digital Societies, Observer Research Foundation Sunil Abraham – Public Policy Director – Data Economy and Emerging Tech, Meta India Avinash Agarwal – Deputy Director General (International Relations), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India Dr. Devesh Tyagi – Chair, India IGF / CEO, NIXI Angela Wibawa – Director of Government and IGO Engagement, Asia Pacific, ICANN Sushil Pal – Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India
The Internet Governance Forum has been, in the past, often given the sobriquet of “a talk shop”. During the WSIS+10 Review, the APC performed an analysis of concrete decisions or actions that have been taken as a result of engagement at national, regional and global Internet Governance Forum. Since the WSIS+10 recommended that more “Concrete Outcomes” were needed from the IGF, a number of processes including the publication of formal messages from each IGF as well as the IGF High Level Panel were implemented. Today, many examples abound where the dialogue started at IGF and ended up with concrete outcomes including discussions that moved to specialised fora and agencies. Linking workshops and the IGF Processes to SDGs was also a significant step into making sure the IGF discussions led to advances in the world’s sustainable development.
This session looked at the specific case of Core Internet Values. From its first workshop in Sharm el Sheikh 2009 (Workshop on Fundamentals: Core Internet Values) until today, the DC-CIV has been refining the list of Core Internet Values and this, along with work undertaken by other organizations, has led to the widespread comprehension that there are indeed some Internet fundamentals which make the Internet what it is and what it will continue to be. But what and how can more be done?
HOSTS
Olivier Crépin-Leblond (in person)
Pari Esfandiari (remote)
01 Inauguración. Palabras de autoridades. Esther Cuich-Laroche – Directora, UNESCO Santiago) Chiara Sáez – Directora, Núcleo de Regulación, UChile
Modera: Anahí Urquiza – Universidad de Chile)
02 Directrices para la Gobernanza de las Plataformas Digitales. Salvaguardar la libertad de expresión y el acceso a la información con un enfoque de múltiples partes interesadas. Ana Cristina Ruelas – UNESCO París
Modera: Chiara Sáez, FCEI
03 Desafíos presentes y futuros para la Gobernanza de las Plataformas Digitales en Chile. Jorge Avilés – ODC Chile. Mauricio Muñoz – CNTV Patricio Cabello – CIAE UChile María Cristina Escudero – FGob UChile
Modera: Patricia Peña, FCEI UChile / Internet Society Chile
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