Internet governance issues are becoming increasingly relevant in a number of fields – from labor and trade, to sustainable economies; from peace, security and education, to policy surrounding media ethics. The next Internet Governance Forum (IGF) annual meeting will strive to capture emerging issues, with the understanding that more than ever, addressing these requires cooperation and strong partnerships among multiple stakeholders.IGF 2017 will take place in Geneva, which presents a unique opportunity for its multistakeholder community to interact with and enhance linkages to UN and Government policymakers. Capitalizing on ‘International Geneva’, the IGF is encouraging representatives of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and Governments to not only participate in the annual meeting but also in the programmatic planning in the months ahead.

This session will feature testimonials from IGOs and Governments who have actively engaged in the IGF in the past, whether in its annual meeting, intersessional work, or both. Participants will hear what the outcome of their IGF sessions or deliberations have been, how they successfully used the IGF network to strengthen or build strategic partnerships, and what value was added to their activities through IGF participation. Governments and Geneva-based IGOs who have not traditionally been a part of the IGF’s activities but who plan to participate this year, will share their expectations for the meeting and what issues they would like to see covered, especially in light of how integral Internet governance is becoming to several policy areas.

Participants will also be briefed by host country representatives on the outcomes of the 2016 IGF, as well as on the state of preparations for the 2017 meeting.