The following are the outputs of the captioning taken during an IGF intervention. Although it is largely accurate, in some cases it may be incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors. It is posted as an aid, but should not be treated as an authoritative record.
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>> MODERATOR: Hello everyone. I hope I'm audible. Everyone can hear me? Okay.
>> MODERATOR: Welcome to our session. I hope everyone can hear me. I'm going to move around. Because
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It's better if I move around so you're able to see me. And those online, are also able to see me.
Let me first start by introducing myself. My name is Cynthia Lesufi from South Africa. I'm the chairperson of the CWG on WSIS and SDG. And I'm honoured to be a moderator of today's session. And I also want to take this opportunity to welcome all of you. And I also want to thank the ITU as a cohost of this session. Really, we appreciate it in South Africa.
I thought I must do some sort of an introduction of this session, as far as the objectives. Today's session aims to gather your opinions as we'll discuss key topics including the intelligence since the Geneva Plan of Action. And how the WSIS process aligns with the 2030 agenda. And the future direction of WSIS beyond.
Additionally, we're highlight the cig contribution that has been made by the ITU to date, which is quite important. We'll also look at and emphasis the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders to ensure that we have a comprehensive and an inclusive review WSIS process. And its vision for the future beyond 2025.
I also want to introduce our panelists. We have a number of panelists in here today. And we are joined by the Vice Chairs of the Council Working Group. The two Vice Chairs. Ms. Mina Seonmin Jun and Ms. Renata.
We're also joined by Ambassador Schneider. Where is he? He's supposed to be here! He's not here. And we're joined by my friend Paul Blaker from the United Kingdom. And we are also joined here by Ian Sheldon. Is he here? Yay! Yes! Yes! And we are, again, joined by Ms. Maria Garza and, finally, we're joined by Mr. Osama from the Empowerment Foundation.
So before we can dive into our session, ladies and gentlemen, I want to keep this in mind. I want us to be open and free and discuss so that we are able to share and learn from each other. Most importantly, we collaborate in moving forward with regard to the issue of the review process.
And with this, I would like to hand over to our first speaker, which is Ms. Gitanjali Sah from the ITU. Thank you.
>> GITANJALI SAH: Thank you, Cynthia. Perhaps we could start with the you explaining the ITU's call, the origins, and, you know, the timeline. Then I can take it over from there.
>> MODERATOR: Oh, thank you. I'm going to do this sitting down. Ladies and gentlemen, those who are in the room, and those who are joining us online, I want us to recall council resolution which was adopted by the council in October of 2024. In that council resolution, what was agreed upon was that the ITU needed to issue a call so that you can share your views on the work of the ITU. In the WSIS+ 20 review, including leading to the review of the WSIS action lines.
In that resolution, we also adopted a timeline. In that timeline, we highlighted the activities that will actually move us forward as far as the call for input for the WSIS+ 20 review. And the first is the online forum launched by the ITU, together with myself as a council chair. That happened in August 2024. And the deadline for the submission on that call is on the 31st of January, 2025.
And following that, as I've said, we also had a Council Working Group on WSIS and SDG, which is the first meeting. The first physical meeting we've had in October of 2024. And following that, we're going to have, in February, 2025, an ITU Council Working Group and SDG second physical meeting. That will be followed by a side event during the WSIS+ 20 high‑level event in 2025. That is going to happen between the 7 and 11th of July.
Now over to Gitanjali Sah.
>> GITANJALI SAH: I apologize. I think now on this slide. We have the outline of the call, which is divided into two ‑‑ four main themes. The first theme is on the implementation of the WSIS process. And it includes a number of activities with questions in it. And they range from, "what are the main achievement of the WSIS process in the past 20 years ." " What are the ITU main contributions towards the implementation WSIS process in 20 years?" And the next area is the WSIS action lines themselves. And with regard to this one, we ‑‑ the question is, "which specific action lines had the most significant impact and why?" And we have a question that says "how can the alignment between the WSIS action line and the SDG be strengthened toward the achievement of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development?" And we have another area, in terms of the call, which is on the WSIS action lines for advancing SDGs. And under that area, we have a question, which says "how can the alignment between the WSIS action lines and SDG be strengthened toward achievement of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development?" And, lastly, we have a area on the future vision and the WSIS beyond 2025, which has three questions in it. And one of the questions is, "how can the implementation of WSIS process impact the future? And is digital compact realigned to achieve the shared goals?" And, "what are the key emerging trends and topics to be considered in the ITU in WSIS+20 review and future vision beyond 2025?" Now this is the time to hand it over.
>> RENATA QUINO RIBEIRO: Thank you very much. The presentation has disappeared from the screen. While they're doing that, could you put it back. While they're doing that, so, basically, my slides ‑‑ Cynthia requested me to take me through what ITU has done in the 20 years. I know we have to prepare a report, which will be available online very soon.
So I presented this in my previous session. So I couldn't go through these with just the milestones and the joint preparatory process, which we spoke about in the previous session. We won't go through it again. But these are available online.
So what have we achieved? ITU mandate is absolutely clear. We have two other learning bodies. We have our planning council resolutions, we have the Council Working Group, we have a WSIS task force internally. So our structure in the learning body is absolutely clear and our membership is absolutely clear with what we should do.
It's the lead U.N. agency for ICTs. Those who don't know, and our main facilitating role is with the WSIS action lines on C2, C4 capacity building, C5 cyber security, and C6 enabling policy environments.
Apologies for the strong ‑‑ small font. The key partnerships I want to highlight through the implementation of not only these action lines, but all the 11 action lines is, of course, the initiatives with ITU and UNICEF. Where we're connecting every school worldwide. That's the goal. EQU ALs Global Partnership and relaunch. We work closely with the women. And the connect2recover. So post COVID enhancing infrastructure resilience. We stood up with the Correct2recover programme. The Digital Transformation Centres. Partnering with tech leaders and the U.N. to harness AI for health, climate change, disaster management, and so on.
The Partner 2 connect coalition. You know about the pledges there. The broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. The Child Online Protection we have with me who are present. So we often, you know, forget about that one, but it's an important activity that the six divisions of our respective organizations do to measure the impact.
Now for us as ITU, some of the key contributions of WSIS has been the WSIS forum of multi stakeholder platform for convening everyone. The IGF where we are here today. We can see the impact of the IGF, you know, growing. The multi stakeholder communities coming in. The WSIS data base, which is the data base of more than 13,000 projects that we have with us.
And innovative challenges like the hackathons, the WSIS Prizes and all of that we have been doing.
Getting the U.N. together under one umbrella. UN in Action. Some examples of collaborative projects ITU has been doing. Smart Islands. Be Healthy Be Mobile with WHO. Cybersecurity initiatives with so many countries and Digital Skills for Job Campaign. So I mean, we cannot talk about 20 years in this short time, but just to give you a glimpse of, you know, all of these activities. Our report will be available very soon, as well.
Back to you, Cynthia.
>> CYNTHIA LESUFI: Thank you for this elaborate presentation on what the ITU has been doing for the past 20 years. And the partnership that highlighted on your presentation. Let me give the floor to Mr. Osama Manzar, the Civil Society. We know how they're playing a critical role in the WSIS+ 20 at the grassroots level. We know you're doing it in partnership with the ITU. And I want to believe that WSIS is a success story because of the support we get from the Civil Society.
>> OSAMA MANZAR: Thank you for bringing me in. I have to get out to get a flight. I'm Osama Manzar out of Digital Empowerment Foundation. I'm a member of the APC and have been on their board for six years. One example, in 2003, when I joined WSIS in Geneva. We were one‑person organization. Today we are a 400‑people organization. We have 2,000 digital access points in India. And we have 35 million people digitally empowered on data. Trying to give that small little example that what process‑oriented impact can create. Not only organizations Civil Society, but also a larger scale impact on ground, which information society, the phrase that is meant for. Everybody should be part of the information society. The most grassroots people. The disabled people, Indigenous communities, people far away are the example that we have been able to create.
The two more examples I would like to create is that of how the payment system for the masses have reached ability levels because of the digital inclusion. How the community networks, which is the people oriented access has reached into the hands of people. So even though ITU is, you know, a union of all the organizations, but imagine the same has enabled institutionalized organization doing last‑mile access to bring people into the society.
Technologically and also in terms of capacity building. Just to put into three processes, because we have been part of the process for the last 20 years. And we have been a participate from the Civil Society organization. There are two big examples that I can also add into the process, is that National Digital Literacy Mission in India was created by civil society. To make the whole country digitally literal. We also liberalized the licensing of the internet service provider that nobody needs a license to buy an internet and to sell the internet. That's also completely liberalized. Because of this, you know, Civil Society. Access must be affordable and practical to the local people.
I will end by say there are three learnings we have learned in the last 20/ 25 years. We taught about digital inclusion. Creating information society, but it is also time that our
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There is something that happens because of digital exclusion. You know, the difference between the ‑‑
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You feel happy that we have achieved a lot. But when the people who are left over by not being connected are being totally excluded, their rights are excluded, their opportunities are excluded, then it's a negative impact we are leaving behind. Because everybody, the rules and regulations and legislations are becoming digital must. You know, because of digital must, if I don't have access, I cannot have my biometric, I cannot my identity, access to entitlements. That's something that the process needs to work on in the next 20 years. Is that how do we take into consideration the process in such a way that nobody left behind. Even if somebody is left behind, they're not excluded from the framework of being included into the digital pervasiveness. And because there is a huge example. For example, in India, even after 25 years, we have 48% people without connectivity. That's a large number. Besides, out of the 50% that were connected, large number are facing misinformation. How do we take
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Thank you very much.
>> CYNTHIA LESUFI: Thank you. Thank you, Osama, for sharing such a beautiful story. However, we also appreciate the learnings that you are also sharing with us. And I think this was going to help a great deal going forward.
Let me take this opportunity to give the floor to my Vice Chair, who is about to leave. But she wants to speak before she leaves! Mina.
>> MINA SEONMIN JUN: I'm from Republic Korea. I'm here for the Council Working Group on WSIS and SDG. We have 39 countries. I briefly mentioned this morning, we have diverse countries geographically and culturally. So we have most of the countries landlocked countries and small island countries, as well. So it makes us difficult to meet all of the regions' needs from our population.
But I would say over the past 20 years, we've made a significant development progress in advancing the WSIS outcomes. This was possible because we work together with all the nations and the ITU and other WSIS facilitators. And all the stakeholders, as well.
Firstly, I would like to say in ITU infrastructure, we have shown a tremendous growth. So mobile subscriptions so Japan, China, Korea we have mobile rates exceeding 100%. But countries such as Myanmar have made significant progress in improving access to ICT. So 62% of regions population has access to mobile networks. And secondly, in an effort to promote digital inclusion and capacity building has been a core focus in our region. Related projects were implemented across the region to bridge the digital divide. And programmes aimed at improving digital literacy have empowered marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Thirdly, the Asia‑pacific regions has been for most of adapting emerging technologies. Countries have embraced technologies such as AI to enhance the sustainability and improve citizens' quality of life. However, we have significant challenges for our region. According to the ITU data, the percentage of individuals using the internet in this region from 48% in 2019 to 56% in 2024. But this is still below the global average. And this means approximately one‑third of the population in our region is still unconnected. So this is evident between the urban and rural areas. Internet usage in urban areas 83%. In rural areas it's 49%. It makes a significant urban and rural gap.
But the positive side, our internet usage is a bright spot. Around 81% of individuals aged 15 to 24 use the internet. This is higher than the overall average of 66%. It highlights the potential for youth to drive digital transformation and connectivity in our region.
In summary, the Asia‑Pacific regions all stakeholders have made significant strides. I want to emphasize the importance of sharing. Korea has a [?] last year as a report. But I encourage our countries to do the same things to share our experience to let the world know. Thank you.
>> CYNTHIA LESUFI: Thank you very much, Mina, for sharing, again, how is your region achieving the sustainable goals through the action lines that ITU based. You know, and, also, for highlighting the challenges, which are still ahead of us. And for, also, encouraging everyone to keep on sharing the achievements so we can learn and build the future of tomorrow.
I now want to give the floor to ICC.
>> MARY FERNANDA GARZA: Thank you very much. Is it okay? The mic? ICC institutional representative of more than 45 million companies located in over 170 countries.
And through our unique mix of advocacy, solutions, and standards setting, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct, and a global approach to regulation. Our members include many of the companies. As you can imagine, the majority of them are business associations and local chambers of commerce. ICC was the local point for the WSIS process that started in Geneva over 20 years ago. And since then, the business has continued to stay engaged through ICC business action to support information society initiative. On the WSIS follow up processes at the WSIS forum year by year. To take stock of the WSIS action lines and charter together with partners from all stakeholders.
20 years ago the WSIS process envisioned the development of a global people‑centered information society. One where everyone can truly benefit from the enormous opportunities that the internet, the information and communication technologies, and the digital transformation has to offer. And this was a region not only for the governance for the internet, for inclusive and sustainable growth. Helping populations everywhere develop and thrive.
WSIS made clear we have a shared responsibility in sharing inclusive information society jointly across all stakeholders groups to find meaningful solutions to overcome challenges. And we have come a long way since 2003! But our greater challenges still remains. We still have over 2 billion people that are not connected. And we know it takes more than just access to the internet connection to fully benefit of the opportunities of the digitalization.
And we also know that governments alone cannot mean the investment needs and implementation challenges of expanding meaningful connectivity. And that the private sector has been a partner in bridging these gaps. So to continue and upscale business investment, we need a policy. We need a policy environment. And the WSIS+ 20 process can help define what is that environment. How it looks like. But it's important that policy makers understand how the private sector makes the investment decisions. As well as how political and decisions impact the technical functioning of the infrastructure or service.
Ultimately, enabling environment is one that stimulates the necessary investment in a way that results in sustainable facilitator or service over time. And that means a few things must be in place. A regulatory environment. Free flow of data across borders. A holistic whole of government approach to policy making. And, finally, but probably the most important, a multi stakeholder partnership.
Close cooperation with businesses and other stakeholders is beneficial to ensure that implemented policies pave the way to maximize opportunities, while addressing issues that are relevant locally and respecting the local culture and the social norms.
And enabling environment facilitates public/private partnerships in implementation of projects. It also considers the use of those that are required for the policy the from the first moment of the policy creation. At ICC, we work with both the public and the private sector to co‑create such enabling environments. Ensure strong and meaningful business contribution to multi stakeholder dialogues, and promote all‑inclusive digital collaboration for the people, for the planet, and for prosperity.
And this is why we participate year after year in the WSIS forum. Organized by ITU and its partners. And why we have joined the ITU as a member of the ITU telecommunications development sector. With the long history contributing to the WSIS process, its technical expertise and convening power. The ITU is well positioned to assess and understand how the global policy landscape looks like. And the approaches among governments, industry, and other stake holders to leverage WSIS+ 20.
We count on the ITU to advance multi stakeholder dialogue by engaging governments, business, Civil Society, technical, and academic communities to ensure that the WSIS+ 20 outcomes reflect diverse perspectives and actionable recommendations. Thank you.
>> CYNTHIA LESUFI: Thank you so much, Maria, for sharing the perspective of the private sector to WSIS+ 20 process. And we also, I think, for me, listening to what you're saying. The take I'm really getting out of this, is that co‑creation of the enabling environments, which is quite key for policy makers to consider when we develop the policies.
I would now want to give the floor to Ian from Australia. And, Ian, I want you to share with us Australia's approach to the WSIS+ 20 review process.
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>> IAN SHELDON: Thank you. Thank you, Cynthia.
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To become a remarkable success story and demonstrated when all stakeholders work together, we can harness the full potential of technologies such as the internet. And I want to make a point
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It's a great example of fostering the opportunities for the multi stakeholder community. Bringing together policy makers in academia, Civil Society, and technical community. Come together and key issue of importance.
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It has given a voice to individuals across the world shaping local solutions and the opportunities. And has also sparked a lot of key vital initiatives. Such as the growth of IXP, community networks with, and fostered the next generation of leaders.
So from our perspective, fostering innovation is at the core of WSIS. What we see in the WSIS+ 20 review, as an opportunity to continue building on this spirit of multi stakeholder. And set out an ambitious, positive agenda to ensure all countries and citizens continue to benefit from this digital world.
It's with this multi stakeholder approach. I want to take a little bit of time to talk about how Australia is preparing for the WSIS+ 20 review. It's vital and core component to the WSIS success over the last few decades. And will carry us through many more years to come. And it's the multi stakeholder engagement, which needs to be baked into the heart of the review process. So in Australia, we're taking a truly grassroots approach to our multi stakeholder preparations, and bringing together whole parts of our community to work alongside policy makers as we prepare to engage in this review process.
We can leverage the expertise of those who live and breathe the higher digital landscape. And we can ensure that we continue to make sure our negotiating points are well informed.
So Australia's approach to the WSIS+ 20 is based on six key steps. Evaluating WSIS so far. Identifying gaps in the future opportunities. Considering the evidence. Analysing options and solutions. Consulting and building feedback. And working on common ground ahead of the WSIS+ 20 resolution. This is guided by a number of core principles, which we believe are key to building trust from the multi stakeholder community. So that is, of course, being truly multi stakeholder in the way we engage. Openness and transparency. Listening to and building on the perspectives and voices of all. Making sure that what we do is holistic and evidence‑based. And we do continue to take a long‑term view to these priorities.
We are quite keen to ensure that all countries, also, get a real opportunity to take part in these discussions. We know that these processes will be quite complicated with many moving parts. And so we are keen to reach out and work across the region, as well as globally, to work together on navigating this complexity.
We continue to, I guess, show how multi stakeholderrism works for us. And continue to demonstrate how it will be benefit to many other countries, as we navigate this complex world.
I might pause there as far as Australia's preparations go. I'm sure there will be plenty of questions, in due course.
>> CYNTHIA LESUFI: Thank you so much, Ian, for being so elaborative in terms of Australia's approach and sharing Australia's successes, in terms of the WSIS and the IGF frameworks. And for, also, volunteering and, you know, giving, you know, putting forward your intentions to partner and share what Australia has learned and what Australia is intending to do going forward.
Can I now take this opportunity to give the floor to Ambassador Schneider from Switzerland. To really share with us Switzerland's view. In doing that, we want to recognise the fact that Switzerland has been an ITU partner since the Geneva Plan of Action in designing the WSIS process. Ambassador, can you share the summary of the High‑Level Event of 2024 in your intervention. And, also, provide with us the vision that the summary is highlighting. And yes, thanks.
>> THOMAS SCHNEIDER: Can you hear me?
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I'll try to be brief. The chairman summary is available on our website. It's easy to read. I think we ‑‑ yeah. I can encourage you to quickly go through it on the ITU's website. It is basically looking back at what achieved. Identifying some gaps, some shortcomings. What I would like to use, like, one or two minutes of my intervention. Now to try to figure out one understanding ‑‑
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Some people are not really sure about what the different elements of the processes bring.
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In our view, the WSIS the annual WSIS forum, the main goal is to look at the action lines of the Geneva phase. But, also, at the agenda and the agreements of the second phase and to see, to what extend, we have achieved these goals. And to what extend there are gaps that need to be filled. And, actually, if you look at the action lines, some of them are substantiative, but others are rather more process oriented. Where, probably, it's obviously there's no entities.
For instance, if you look at the first action line, it's about the role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT's full development. This is something that never ends. We have to continuously discuss the role of all stakeholders in using digital tools to achieve the SDG. For instance, this is of a different nature than, for instance, action line three. Access to information and knowledge. But, also, there's never an end. We have new tools. We have platforms. We have social media that can help us give access to information and knowledge. But they can also be, let's say, give us access to disinformation and other kinds of data.
I think in our view, the WSIS forum should be looking back to see what you have achieved of the goals. How are we supposed to understand them now? What are the gaps? Like we have done last year, to some extent, but I think there's more to come. But I think this is the difference now we have the SDG, they have already done, to some extent, this analysis. Not necessarily through going through the action lines one by one, but through identifying gaps in the sense that what are new issues we need to tackle. And I think this is the WSIS forum is one opportunity to take it into the analysis. See, okay, if we look at the gaps. What are the gaps that are already identified or the emerging issues already identified and knowing they will not have a huge structure to implement it. Many proposals on how the goals are identified can be integrated into the implementation structure of the WSIS. I think this is something that a lot of you would be valuable value added at the WSIS forum can create together with other events and structures. Like the SDGs. Yeah. Trying to bring together a lot of things together in April so we can build. So in July we can build on what is produced in April.
But I think, yeah. We do not ‑‑ we don't have the resources. We have the substance, the action lines are there. The vision is there. If we can use the WSIS forum to see what have we achieved? What are the gaps? How do we prepare the discussions for the overall review at the end of next year? What could be a concrete structure? How do we need to cooperate among the stakeholders. So this is, actually, again, action line one. One of the most important for us. How do we cooperate? What is the structure? What is our vision on incorporation in order to implement the outstanding WSIS or the never‑ending WSIS action lines and goals of the agenda? For us, this is the goal we use the processes next year to bring everything together. And not to create more new diverse tracks that we all struggle with. I think the WSIS forum next year could really be a catalyst in trying to bring all of this together.
Looking back, looking at what we have achieved. What are the gaps and which gaps and visions been identified in the new text, and how do we bring it together? That would be, let's say, the play from our side on how to best use the processes next year. Thank you very much.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you, Ambassador, for sharing with us your views in terms of how we can approach the WSIS High‑Level Event next year in relation what is contained. Thank you. I want to take the opportunity to give the floor to Paul from the United Kingdom. Maybe before you take the floor, Paul, I want to say that we acknowledge the key role that you've been playing since WSIS plus 10 and the process of the ITU and the CSTG. Can you share the UK approach in consulting to the Council Working Group's call and the overall review process. Thank you.
>> PAUL BLAKER: Thank you. Can you hear me? Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you for the introduction.
My name is Paul Blaker. The UK has been a strong supporter of the WSIS process and will continue to be so.
I would like to thank South Africa and the ITU for organizing great session. Thank you, Cynthia, in particular, for the leadership she's bringing to the Council Working Group at the ITU. And for the initiative of this consultation.
I think the consultation will be a critical opportunity to gather views and ideas on the implementation of the WSIS action lines, and how we can ensure they are fit for the future. And I hope that all members of the IGF community will take a look at it and make a contribution into that process. I think it is worth looking back briefly at just how much we have achieved through the WSIS process over the last 20 years. Only 17% of people had access to the internet in 2005. I think now the figure is 67%. We've seen new applications, new services transforming all of our societies.
And that progress has only been possible because of the multi stakeholder approach, which is at the beating heart of the whole of the WSIS process. And we see the WSIS+ 20 as an opportunity to renew and strengthen our commitment to cooperation and partnership between governments, the private sector, and the Civil Society, and the technical community. It's vital that review process is itself a multi stakeholder process. And all communities have the opportunity to contribute. Because there is so much more to do, one‑third of the world's population is still offline. That must be an urgent priority to connect the unconnected. And we face new opportunities and new challenges. At the WSIS 20 years ago, no one was focusing on the impact of social media, the impact of AI, virtual reality. Issues as the gender digital divide, the environmental impact of ICT's human rights, and other issues were not featured as strongly as they perhaps should today. I think we have to make sure that the WSIS review process makes sure WSIS is up to date and fit for the future. We think that one of the great strengths of the action line items is the way they do not focus on individual technologies. I think if they did, they would very quickly be out of date. Instead they focus on the social, economic, cultural impacts of the technologies. That's why they are still so relevant today. When we think about AI, we need to think about it in terms of capacity building, in terms of applications, linguistic and cultural diversity, ethical issues. All of these aspects are there in the action lines. I think those action lines give us a comprehensive and durable framework. What we need to do is make sure we're addressing the new issues we face.
I think one final point, I think we should recognise, as well, the great support we've had from all of the action line facilitators throughout the process. In facilitating and supporting the development of so many outstanding partnerships. And I hope that during the WSIS review process, all the action line facilitators will bring their expertise and experience to the table. It's good to see the agencies involved. UN Women, for example, I don't think they existed at the time, but we need to hear those voices as part of the process. This consultation is a good example of the kind of preparatory discussions we should be having as we prepare for the WSIS process. And I hope that we can continue to build on this collaboration and this partnership. Thank you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you so much, Paul, for sharing with us the UK's perspective on the WSIS+ 20 process. We really appreciate.
Can I now give the floor to my Vice Chair, saving the best for last. Can you share with us the perspective of your region. And what are the plans going forward in relation to the WSIS process. Thanks.
>> RENATA AQUINO RIBEIRO: Thank you very much. We have few time to do all the work. We have a huge system that we deal with. But we think we need to pay attention to different levels of needs. When we're talking about gaps, for example, we had a lot of different regional challenges. And I think it was very interesting what was said about the network communities. Because it in our perspective, they had the kind of basic needs already. So we think that, like, when you talk about education, action lines, when you talk about capacity building. They're very important to talk about meaningful connectivity for Indigenous people, and people who have never had connection to the internet. That's one challenge I had.
I can talk some examples like community networks that we're incentivizing a lot. We're doing big work on these. And, also, we had a lot of organizations doing work talking to people that have no idea what internet is. So we think that is the kind of challenge. And we have already this is kind of challenge for the future and talking about beyond 2025.
And on the other hand, we have some challenges like global challenges when you talk about new and emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing or things like that that we need to. We are in a different kind of perspective. We need to have multi stakeholder environment to discuss together. Because I think it's impossible just one part decides. They are huge challenges. And I don't think so ‑‑ not even know how to deal with it. We need to be together. We are talking about experts, people that are familiar with this kind of environment. So we can talk about cybersecurity that is very important. And ethics will be very important. Because we need to talk about this. So I think these are important issues that we need to think about for the future. That's it. Thank you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you for sharing with us Brazil's perspective into how we need to look at the WSIS+ 20 review. And for highlighting something that I keep on hearing, Renata, of not focusing only on one technology. I heard the UK talking about it. Even in the previous session. There was a mention of that from one of the panelists. Which is quite interesting to hear.
Now we have heard from all of our speakers. I want to open the floor for your comments, as the participants in the room. I'll also give an opportunity for those who are joining us online to also share their views on what they have heard to date coming from our speakers. Anyone want to take the floor and share their views. Or have questions. Okay.
I give the ‑‑
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you. I'm from South Africa. We work a lot with women in the digital space. I literally had this meeting save on my first meeting on the agenda. It would be nice if WSIS said what they want to achieve for women and girls. It's so broad. We the WSIS agenda is very broad. I think we should say, "for women and girls, this is what is going to happen."
And that's what I would like to see when the review happens.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you. ITU wants to respond to that.
>> GITANJALI SAH: There were many meetings that ITU supported. There was a call, the same call, that gender should be better highlighted in the next review process. And WSIS' vision is beyond 2025. There was a strong call from several participates to have an action line on the agenda, which is, of course, we don't ‑‑ the decision will be only taken in the General Assembly. What we can do is start working on a framework, you know, together. Just highlighting exactly what we're saying. That what do we want to see if there was an action line on the agenda. Perhaps we could already start working with the U.N. women and ITU and other agencies involved. Just to provide a framework that, you know, the action line on gender would have these kind of aspects. We'll be looking forward to working with you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you. And I see Renata ‑‑ oh. Okay. Okay. Yes. I see the gentleman over there.
>> AUDIENCE: Good morning everyone. I Minister of Economic Finance. I want to know if [?] will continue to talk about WSIS. The challenge for each country to know if I'm doing well or not in WSIS review. Or if I'm doing well or not digital process.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you for the question. Is there any member of the panelists who want to answer that question? Who wants to attempt to answer that question? Okay. ITU.
>> GITANJALI SAH: Sorry. I was a bit distracted with Australia that time. What's the question?
>> MODERATOR: Do you mind to repeat your question again.
>> AUDIENCE: Okay. We are talking about digital global compact now. I want to know if we talk about WSIS reviews again. For me, as Ministry, in the WSIS review process or the GDP process.
>> GITANJALI SAH: Thank you for that question. Well, we are reviewing the WSIS process, and, you know, GDC, I believe, has its own process. You know, I think it has the assessment. Someone who is more knowledgeable. So Canada is nodding. So the WSIS has a U.N. Resolution which says that the process should be reviewed. In 2025, there would be a new version, you know, basically for WSIS beyond 2025. So we are all working in a joint preparatory process. UNESCO, the CSTT which we presented to basically gather multi stakeholder views on the WSIS beyond 2025. To answer your question, the two processes are a bit different. In the U.N. system, the WSIS process will be reviewed in 2025.
We have a two‑year thing. Maybe you want to add something to that. Because I'm not very knowledgeable on ...
>> AUDIENCE: It describes there will be a High‑Level Event in 2027 which is the review itself. So the obligations around the implementation, but the actual review isn't scheduled until 2027.
>> MODERATOR: I see ‑‑ okay. Can I just give ...
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you so much. I work with Light Aid Africa. Good presentation. My comments, as a progress from here. Okay. What are the pathways to leverage libraries? Libraries are key partners. We're assisting staff and infrastructure and, also, up skilling digital libraries.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you for the question. ITU, perhaps you want to take this one in terms of how do we ‑‑ can we incorporate the issues that they are raising? I think this is about maybe the responding to the call.
>> GITANJALI SAH: So you're raising a very important point. And if you look at our document, the WSIS Outcome Document that Paul is carrying. Libraries have been given an important status. And one of the targets of WSIS to connect libraries. UNESCO and a couple of agencies were part of the partnership. They will be looking at this aspect of connect libraries. Like what have we achieved? UNESCO takes the lead on this. You must bring it up in the formal process by inputting into the call for inputs. And to the WSIS forum input. So we can take it into suggestion for the process. This an opportunity stakeholders have to contribute so we can take in your views seriously and build on them. Please do fill in through the process. And put this important point across. Thank you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you, Gitanjali Sah. Let me give you the ‑‑
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you very much. I'm from the Association of Progressive Communication. A brief expression of support to the proposals of our integration of the WSIS and the GDC. I want to react to one of the questions that came from the floor in relation to the additional having to separate process could create. As we know, in monitoring the implementation and assessing the contributions of implementation of the WSIS action lines, it's already a capacity and resource. If we are adding another framework, another framework that runs in parallel to a framework that is still completely relevant. We are going to, as I was saying at an additional, to an area that is already stressed in terms of, you know, not only to keeping updated but as we're seeing persistence challenges that we have. So I just wanted to say that.
I think it would be very important for the different stakeholders to get together and support these and explore the most effective ways to integrate the WSIS framework under the WSIS infrastructures. Including the review and monitoring and follow up process. Or mechanisms.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you for sharing your perspective. Paul, you can take the floor.
>> PAUL BLAKER: Thank you. Just a couple of comments on the questions. I think this issue of the relationship between the SDG and the WSIS process is important. There's a risk we'll see greater fragmentation in the U.N. system. That's more difficult for member states and other stakeholders to navigate. It's so important that we use our resources effectively. So I hope that the WSIS process will also help us to make sure that the two compliment one another. That they promote cooperation between agencies and clarity around the roles of different thoughts of the U.N. system. We should be building that into our preparation for the action line. Or for the review of WSIS. And then, finally, the point about libraries. I remember in WSIS 10, libraries were a major point of discussion. They made a contribution. There was a recognition that libraries provide a critical community‑level resource for so many people. We need to make sure that we're making the most of the contribution they make and the potential they make in these areas. I hope that will be a big part of the WSIS+ 20, as well.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you, Paul. Anyone?
>> LILIAN CHAMORRO: Thank you. I'm Lilian Chamorro from Colombia. And, also from the IGF process. IGF Latin America. I just wanted to say that I think it's an opportunity to have other, also, other spaces where we can speak our view WSIS. For me, it's spaces where you can find the people working in the countries. They're working in the topics people are interested. Where we can ‑‑ I think we can see what is happening. What is happening in the countries. What is happening in the region. I think more than other things, there is an opportunity that we have to follow up CWG to give ground. I think sometimes that kind of process. It's so hard. It's difficult to follow. We can see what is happening in our countries. And how it's connected with the work agendas. And I would like to consider that opportunity. That we have.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you for serving Colombia. And I think the ITU, we have noted this. Anyone asking for the floor? Do we have anyone on the online? I don't see. Okay.
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you. The action plan we need SDC to revise. And what I suggest, we need to work in the action plan. Thank you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you for sharing your perspective with us, in terms of what is it that needs to happen. I don't see any other person asking. Okay.
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you for giving me the floor. I have a question. Trying to mobilise the collective intelligence. I remember incubator ideas were spoken on. Do you know if there is anything already existing that we can pull them together or any suggestions to implement these kind of ideas? Thank you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you. I'll give the floor to Gitanjali Sah.
>> GITANJALI SAH: We've been trying to get, you know, investors and supporters, U.N. agencies to kind of, you know, take these young innovators. So we did get some U.N. agencies who gave them internships and, you know, sort of involved them in the work they're already doing. But there are so many more, like, at least from our hackathons. We did one for aging. Such brilliance from the young people around the world. We're missing that hub where we can get all these young innovators together and kind of incubate and provide. There is one in Geneva at the University of Geneva. We're trying to also do something. But we, if you have any ideas, we need you to step up and take these young start‑ups or innovators. So, really, this would be something great.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you, Gitanjali Sah. Any other questions? I see no one asking for the floor. So this should bring us to the end of our session. And I really want to take this opportunity to thank all the participants, including the speakers. And thank you, again, and looking forward to seeing you at our future session! Thank you very much!
Okay. Can we do a group photo?