Agenda | WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025

Agenda and Programme

The WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 will take place from 7 to 11 July 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by ITU and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD. The Agenda and Programme for the Event are built based on official submissions received during the Open Consultation Process (OCP).

Webcast

Plenary Room C, Palexpo

Monday 7 July

541

Happening live at the Inaugural Session: Swiss Alpine Horn instrument experience!

Swiss Confederation

08:40 – 08:55 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Happening live at the Inaugural Session: Experience Swiss cultural heritage with the traditional sounds of the Alpine Horn! Countdown to the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 begins! Take your seat as we mark two decades of digital progress and shape the…

High-Level Plenary

542

...Countdown to the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 begins | Inaugural Video

WSIS

08:55 – 09:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

High-Level Plenary

128

WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 Inaugural Session: Celebrating Two Decades and Achieving Future Milestones Together

WSIS

09:00 – 09:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

It has been two decades since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was first launched, and in that time we have forged a path towards making digital advances equitable and sustainable. WSIS has redefined the way we think about building…

High-Level Plenary

531

Special Remarks - WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 WSIS Long-Standing Partner

United Arab Emirates

09:30 – 09:34 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Strategic Partner: WSIS Long-Standing Partner High-Level Plenary

133

WSIS+20 High-Level Dialogue: WSIS Legacy in Motion: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

WSIS

09:34 – 10:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Meet the ones who were there at the beginning of it all. As the WSIS process marks 20 years, we reflect on a journey that has shaped global digital development through collaboration and shared vision. A key part of this journey is the WSIS Forum,…

High-Level Dialogue

135

WSIS Prizes 2025 Winners' Ceremony

WSIS

10:30 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

The 2025 19 WSIS Prizes Winners (one in each of the 18 Action Line Categories plus a Special Recognition) represent the top 2% of ICT for development projects submitted to the WSIS Prizes 2025! Selected from the most voted and highest-rated…

WSIS Prizes

141

Multilateral Intergenerational High-Level Dialogue: Youth Special Track

WSIS

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This intergenerational high-level dialogue will bring together multilateral leaders and young changemakers to discuss the role of youth digital leadership and innovation in the next phase of digital transformation. The discussion will center around…

Youth High-Level Dialogue

162

Partner2Connect High-Level Dialogue

ITU Partner2Connect

15:00 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

As the world gathers to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), this is the perfect moment to highlight the shared values and complementary roles of WSIS and Partner2Connect (P2C). Both initiatives…

High-Level Dialogue

287

WSIS Prizes Champions' Ceremony

WSIS

16:00 – 18:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Representing the top 9% of global submissions, the 90 WSIS Prizes Champions are celebrated for delivering high-impact solutions that align closely with both WSIS Action Lines and the SDGs. These projects not only passed expert evaluations but also…

Champions Ceremony

521

Yoga: Wellbeing and mindfulness session with professional instructors

Permanent Mission of India

18:00 – 18:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Social Event

Tuesday 8 July

512

Building on the Success of the ITU Global Cyber Drill at GISEC 2025

UAE Cybersecurity Council, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

09:00 – 10:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This high-level session will explore innovative and collaborative cybersecurity practices through the lens of the Global CyberDrill (GISEC 2025). It will highlight lessons learned, best practices, and stakeholder engagement across sectors and…

Interactive Session

296

FAIR Cities

United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance - United for Smart sustainable cities

10:15 – 11:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for cities striving to improve quality of life. While AI can optimize urban services, enhance decision-making, and drive economic growth, its adoption…

Smart Sustainable Cities Interactive Session

390

WSIS Action Line C2 Information and communication infrastructure

International Telecommunication Union

11:30 – 12:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Background This session will explore how Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will engage on discussions with stakeholders from public and private sectors the development of reliable, inclusive, and sustainable ICT…

Interactive Action Line Facilitation Meeting

282

Safe Smart Cities and Climate Frustration

Global Cities Hub / WeGO / ITU

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

The Smart City Leaders’ Talk at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event week discusses the paradox of smart cities facing climate emergency. This high-level debate will enlighten opportunities Smart Cities bring to development and ways to overcome the…

High-Level Dialogue

265

Celebrating 20 Years of Multistakeholder Engagement: WSIS Forum, IGF, and the Road Ahead

WSIS/IGF

15:15 – 16:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Multistakeholder dialogue is one of WSIS’s most enduring contributions. This session explores how it shaped global platforms like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the annual WSIS Forum, inspired regional and national processes, and fostered…

High-Level Dialogue

517

Powering Digital Futures: Data Governance - Navigating Data in the Digital Age

UNESCO, UNDP, ITU

16:30 – 17:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

As the digital era continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the governance of data has emerged as a critical policy priority. From managing cross-border data flows to enabling responsible AI development, countries and stakeholders navigate increasingly…

Interactive Session

Wednesday 9 July

378

High-Level Track Inaugural Leaders TalkX: Forging partnerships for purpose: advancing the digital for development landscape

WSIS

09:00 – 09:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX session underscores the pivotal role of governments and stakeholders in driving ICTs for development. Emphasizing the vital need for cooperation, it champions the effective participation of all entities. Encouraging the development…

Leaders TalkX

379

Leaders TalkX: Information and communication infrastructure: a foundation for universal, sustainable and affordable access

WSIS

09:30 – 10:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX emphasizes the crucial role of infrastructure in achieving digital inclusion. It advocates for governments to support an enabling environment for investment in ICT infrastructure and the development of new services. The discussion…

Leaders TalkX

533

Spotlight Keynote by Malaysia - Platinum Partner

Malaysia

10:04 – 10:08 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Join our Spotlight Session where strategic partners share visionary insights rooted in the WSIS process and highlight their valuable contributions to advancing digital cooperation and sustainable development, supporting the path toward a trusted,…

Strategic Partner: Platinum Spotlight

535

Spotlight Keynote by Saudi Arabia - Gold Partner

Saudi Arabia

10:09 – 10:11 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Join our Spotlight Session where strategic partners share visionary insights rooted in the WSIS process and highlight their valuable contributions to advancing digital cooperation and sustainable development, supporting the path toward a trusted,…

Strategic Partner: Gold Spotlight

537

Spotlight Keynote by South Africa - Gold Partner

South Africa

10:11 – 10:14 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Join our Spotlight Session where strategic partners share visionary insights rooted in the WSIS process and highlight their valuable contributions to advancing digital cooperation and sustainable development, supporting the path toward a trusted,…

Strategic Partner: Gold Spotlight

417

Leaders TalkX: Accelerating global access to information and knowledge in the digital era

WSIS

10:15 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX explores the transformative power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in democratizing access to information worldwide. It emphasizes the importance of policy guidelines for promoting public domain information,…

Leaders TalkX

419

Leaders TalkX: Future-ready: enhancing skills for a digital tomorrow

WSIS

10:45 – 11:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX discussion focuses on the imperative of ensuring universal access to ICT skills and literacy for all individuals. It emphasizes the need for domestic policies integrating ICTs into education and lifelong learning, eradicating…

Leaders TalkX

421

Leaders TalkX: Towards a safer connected world: collaborative strategies to strengthen digital trust and cyber resilience

WSIS

11:30 – 12:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX investigates strengthening confidence and security in the Information Society. It advocates for governmental cooperation, both within the United Nations and across other platforms, to enhance user trust and safeguard data…

Leaders TalkX

430

Leaders TalkX: Building inclusive and knowledge-driven digital societies

WSIS

14:00 – 14:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX explores the transformative power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and media in democratizing access to information worldwide. It emphasizes the importance of policy guidelines for promoting public domain…

Leaders TalkX

427

Leaders TalkX: ICT application to unlock the full potential of digital - Part I

WSIS

14:30 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leader TalkX explores the intersection of technology and socio-economic progress. Stakeholders from governments, international organizations, and the private sector converge to explore avenues for promoting international trade, improving…

Leaders TalkX

428

Leaders TalkX: Local to global: preserving culture and language in a digital era

WSIS

15:15 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

The "Leaders TalkX: Local to global: preserving culture and language in a digital era" aims to highlight cultural and linguistic diversity as cornerstones of a dialogue-driven Information Society. This session gathers a multistakeholder panel to…

Leaders TalkX

426

Leaders TalkX: When policy meets progress: paving the way for a fit for future digital world

WSIS

15:45 – 16:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX delves into the crucial intersection of policy-making and progress in the digital space. It emphasizes the significance of confidence and security as foundational elements of the Information Society. Governments are urged to…

Leaders TalkX

431

Leaders TalkX: Moral pixels: painting an ethical landscape in the information society

WSIS

16:45 – 17:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leaders TalkX session will delve into the necessity of infusing universally held values and ethical dimensions into the digital. The discussion will focus on the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to foster an Information Society that…

Leaders TalkX

433

Leaders TalkX: Partnership pivot: rethinking cooperation in the digital era

WSIS

17:15 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

The digital revolution has the potential to propel societies forward, yet a significant divide, 2.6 billion people remain without access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). This Leaders TalkX underscores the critical need for…

Leaders TalkX

Thursday 10 July

463

Untangling the Red Tape: WSIS Champions Brainstorm and Offer Solutions

The Document Project

09:00 – 09:50 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Join this innovative and fascinating session as three 2025 WSIS Prize Champions brainstorm in person to solve the gigantic problems of bureaucratic Red Tape. The synergies of their perspectives and expertise will uncover bold solutions. Access to…

Interactive Session

310

Global Digital Governance & Multistakeholder Cooperation for WSIS+20

Freedom Online Coalition

10:00 – 10:50 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

As the global community approaches the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), inclusive and ethical digital governance remains critical to upholding human rights and advancing sustainable development. This roundtable…

WSIS+20 Interactive Session

545

Keynote Address by the President of the Republic of Estonia

Estonia

10:50 – 11:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Special Session

131

United Nations High-Level Leaders' Dialogue

ITU

11:00 – 12:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

For over two decades, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process is the United Nations' multistakeholder platform for digital cooperation, bringing together governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the technical…

High-Level Dialogue

212

Revamping Decision-Making in Digital Governance and the WSIS Framework

CGI.br - Brazilian Internet Steering Committee

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This session aims to address the gaps and opportunities of the global digital governance ecosystem, especially when it comes to the governance architecture and cooperation, with a special focus on the WSIS framework. In the last 20 years, the World…

Interactive Session

259

EQUALS Research Report 2025: Launch & The Path Forward

EQUALS, KAIST, ITU, Research ICT Africa, NIC.br

15:15 – 16:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

EQUALS: From Data to Action, Building a Gender-Inclusive Digital Future” is a high-level session organized under the WSIS+20 framework to mark a new phase in the EQUALS Global Partnership: EQUALS 2.0. Founded by ITU, UN Women, UN University, ITC, and…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

261

Driving meaningful participation of women in cyber through policy and practical action

Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Association for Progressive Communication

16:30 – 17:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Women remain significantly underrepresented in cybersecurity, despite growing efforts to expand the workforce. This session will explore meaningful participation, ensuring women are not just present but can thrive in cybersecurity careers and also…

Interactive Session

461

Swiss Reception | Partners Certificate Ceremony

17:45 – 20:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 – Official Reception Join us for an evening of networking and camaraderie with fellow participants as we celebrate two decades of people-centred digital cooperation. This special occasion also recognises the valuable…

Social Event

Friday 11 July

436

Leaders TalkX: Click to govern: inclusive and efficient e-services

WSIS

09:00 – 09:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leader TalkX explores the transformative potential of ICT applications in fostering sustainable development across various sectors. Emphasizing e-government strategies, the discussion focuses on innovating public administrations, enhancing…

Leaders TalkX

438

Leaders TalkX: ICT application to unlock the full potential of digital - Part II

WSIS

09:30 – 10:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

This Leader TalkX explores the intersection of technology and socio-economic progress. Stakeholders from governments, international organizations, and the private sector converge to explore avenues for promoting international trade, improving…

Leaders TalkX

476

High-Level Dialogue: The role of parliaments in shaping our digital future

ITU and IPU

10:15 – 11:15 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

The digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped societies worldwide, creating unprecedented opportunities while exposing persistent inequalities. As technology companies achieve unprecedented global influence and artificial intelligence emerges…

High-Level Dialogue

508

Law, Tech, Humanity, and Trust

International Committee of the Red Cross

11:30 – 12:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

As armed conflicts increasingly extend into cyberspace, the imperative to protect medical and humanitarian digital infrastructure has become more urgent than ever. The protection of medical and humanitarian activities are among the oldest rules of…

Interactive Session

484

WSIS Action Lines Facilitators Meeting

WSIS

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Since 2015, stakeholders have worked to align the WSIS Process with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, integrating digital technologies into strategies that support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Now, 20…

Action Line Facilitators Meeting

539

Charting the Path Forward for the WSIS+20 Review: A conversation with the WSIS+20 Co-Facilitators

WSIS

15:00 – 15:30 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

On 23 April 2025, the President of the United Nations General Assembly has appointed H.E. Mr. Ekitela Lokaale, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations, and H.E. Ms. Suela Janina, Permanent Representative of the…

Interactive Session

486

High-Level Track Facilitators Certificates

ITU

15:30 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Leaders TalkX

488

WSIS+20: Vision of WSIS beyond 2025 | Chair’s Summary | Closing Ceremony

WSIS

16:00 – 17:00 (UTC+02:00) Plenary Room C

Closing Ceremony

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