Digital@UNGA
WSIS+20 Edition
Celebrating two decades of digital progress for people and prosperity
15 December 2025 | UN Headquarters, Delegates Dining Room | 15:00–18:00 EST
As the world marks 20 years since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), digital technologies have become central to global progress, inclusion and sustainable development.
Mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, the WSIS+20 process offers a unique opportunity to reflect on achievements, address persistent gaps and chart an ambitious course for the future of digital cooperation.
Building on the momentum of Digital@UNGA in September, this special edition—jointly convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—spotlights WSIS+20 as the UN’s principal framework for harnessing digital technologies for people and prosperity. It also serves as a bridge to the global WSIS+20 review at the UN General Assembly on 16–17 December.
This gathering takes place in the context of the recently adopted Global Digital Compact, which calls for an inclusive, human-centered, and rights-based digital future. The WSIS Action Lines will be highlighted through action-oriented mechanisms built on multistakeholder collaboration, including ITU’s Partner2Connect digital coalition (P2C).
Focus on global partnerships
This special edition of Digital@UNGA also serves as the 2025 Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition Annual Meeting. P2C is dedicated to mobilizing resources, partnerships, and commitments to achieve universal and meaningful connectivity, particularly for the hardest-to-connect communities. This dual event underscores the crucial role of collective action and partnership in driving sustainable digital transformation and bridging the global digital divide.
Programme
In a dynamic, high-energy format, the WSIS+20 Edition will convene high-level participants in person—including government and industry leaders, civil society, international organizations, and youth.
The programme focuses on digital inclusion, emerging technologies, partnerships, and multistakeholder collaboration, structured around three acts:
- Act I – 20 Years, 20 Journeys
Reflection on two decades of progress, highlighting milestones of the WSIS process. - Act II – 20 Pledges for WSIS+20
Commitments and actions from leaders and organizations to advance digital development. - Act III – 20 Voices for 2035
Perspectives from youth, innovators, and changemakers shaping the next era of the Information Society.
Expect interactive segments, dynamic storytelling, lightning interventions, audience engagement, impact stories, ambitious pledges, and networking.
Purpose
- Leverage the Digital@UNGA platform in the context of the WSIS +20 process to explore how digital solutions can drive inclusion, opportunity, and sustainable growth for people and prosperity.
- Raise awareness of the significance of the WSIS+20 process and its alignment with the Global Digital Compact in advancing inclusion and development through digital technologies.
- Celebrate WSIS+20 achievements, recognizing milestones, best practices, and changemakers, while preparing for the global review at the UN on 16–17 December.
- Explore the future of WSIS +20 including the impact of emerging technologies, governance and digital public infrastructure in building information and knowledge-based societies.
- Feature ITU’s Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition as a key action-oriented mechanism for implementing WSIS Action lines and advancing universal connectivity.