Video Message
Members of the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group,
Distinguished Participants,
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Internet Governance Forum, it is a pleasure to address you today.
Let me start by extending my heartfelt appreciation to all members of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) and to our Host Country, Norway. Your dedication and hard work are instrumental in shaping IGF 2025, ensuring that it remains dynamic, meaningful, and impactful.
As we look ahead, the 20th IGF coincides with a defining moment -- the United Nations General Assembly¡¯s twenty-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society. This presents a historic opportunity to assess progress since the original WSIS Summits, and to deliberate on the mandate of the IGF and the future trajectory of digital governance and digital transformation.
As the Secretariat for the WSIS+20 review process, my Department -- the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), is committed to keeping the IGF community well-informed, coordinating timely contributions, and facilitating the active participation of all stakeholders in accordance with the established modalities for the overall review.
In this significant year, the role of the MAG is paramount in developing a compelling and forward-looking agenda, that meaningfully contributes to the IGF¡¯s preparations for the WSIS+20 review process.
During the First Open Consultation and MAG meeting earlier this year, you established the overarching theme for IGF 2025: Building Digital Governance Together.
As technologies continue to rapidly evolve and reshape our world, the critical importance of global digital governance cannot be overstated. The IGF remains a unique and vital platform, and it has successfully adapted to the ever-changing digital landscape.
The steadily increasing number of National, Regional, and Youth IGF initiatives, alongside its intersessional work, bring invaluable diverse perspectives, and significantly contributes to a more inclusive and representative approach to digital governance.
To all stakeholders actively participating in these open consultations, I strongly encourage your continued engagement in shaping an exceptional and impactful IGF 2025.
To our esteemed donor community, I extend my deepest gratitude for your indispensable support. Your contributions have been and continue to be crucial in fulfilling the IGF¡¯s mandate, particularly in supporting capacity building efforts in developing countries.
I wish you a productive and successful meeting over the next three days as you work together towards a robust and transformative 20th session of the IGF.
I look forward to receiving the positive outcomes.
Thank you.