Webinar – Digital inclusion and accessibility: Leaving no one behind in virtual worlds and the citiverse

Description

In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona are co-organizing this webinar to showcase the progress of the Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Track, a key initiative within the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI – Discovering the Citiverse.

As cities undergo rapid digital transformation, the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI aims to establish normative frameworks that define the principles, enablers, and governance necessary to integrate metaverse solutions into urban environments. With cities facing growing socio-economic challenges, this presents an opportunity to bridge digital divides and remove barriers to human interaction in virtual spaces.

Through this initiative, global experts are collaborating to develop a set of guidelines that will ensure an inclusive Citiverse by design. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)—these guidelines will provide strategic recommendations for equitable digital transformation.

Join us as we celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025 and explore how inclusive digital technologies can shape the future of cities in the metaverse. Together, we can build a Citiverse that is accessible, empowering, and truly for all.

Target Audience

Participation is open to the ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, Academia, and to any individual from a country that is a member of the ITU and who wishes to contribute to the work. This includes individuals who are also members of international, regional and national organizations. Participation is free of charge.

Note: By registering for this event, you agree for ITU (the event organizer and data controller) to process your personal data for the organization and management of the event in accordance with the ITU Data Protection and Privacy Policy. The personal data you submit as part of the registration and your participation in the event will be used by ITU for the organization, management, and follow-up of the event, including managing attendance and for internal ITU administrative requirements. The event is taking place via Zoom, and it will be recorded. You can read here Zoom’s privacy notice on how it processes your personal data. The event video recording will be made publicly available on ITU’s event webpage to raise awareness and promote standardization aiming at knowledge-transfer and bridging the standardization gap. For any questions or requests concerning your personal data, including your inclusion in video, you can contact ITU at digitaltransformation@itu.int.