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

Room L, Palexpo

Monday 7 July

149

IEEE Knowledge Cafe: Strong Sustainability by Design, Place-based Policy and the SDGs

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

12:15 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Join this interactive Knowledge Cafe (lunch served) hosted by IEEE as part of the IEEE Planet Positive 2030 initiative. At the session, participants will explore together how strong sustainability principles, technical standards, and place-based…

Contributing Partner Knowledge Café

155

AI (and) education: Convergences between Chinese and European pedagogical practices

Beijing Institute of Technology; DiploFoundation / Geneva Internet Platform

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more and more integrated into our economies and societies, there is an urgent need to develop effective pedagogical frameworks that prepare learners for the AI era. This session, co-organised by institutions…

Interactive Session

166

Offline, underserved and left behind? - The overlooked intermediaries that are mitigating digital exclusion

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions & Universal Postal Union

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Despite decades of progress, 2.6 billion people remain offline, and billions more lack meaningful connectivity. This digital divide is not only about access—it reflects deep inequalities in digital skills, device affordability, infrastructure…

Interactive Session

223

Innovation and A.I. for a better information to citizens and more accurate EWS

Eurovisioni and WBU

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Disasters provoked by climate change will be more numerous, bigger in intensity and in their impact. In order to save lives, will be crucial to improve the quality and the accuracy of Early Warning systems on one side, and the capacity to convey…

Emerging Technologies Interactive Session

292

Youth contributing to digital and outcomes of the special track

WSIS

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

This session will bring together moderators from the day’s youth sessions to share key insights, audience contributions, and actionable recommendations. It will serve as a synthesis of the WSIS+20 Youth Special Track, highlighting how youth are…

Youth Interactive Session

Tuesday 8 July

306

Digital tech and the most marginalised: what still needs to be done?

ICT4D Collective and Microsoft (UN and International Organisations UNIO) (supported by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication ,…

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

The multistakeholder digital tech communities associated with the UN system seem unlikely to deliver on the SDGs by 2030, despite the efforts of those involved in developing and implementing the Global Digital Compact (2024). In particular, SDG10 on…

Interactive Session

204

Futurizing Democracy. Threats and Opportunities in the Digital Age

World Summit Awards

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Our democracies are facing unprecedented digital pressure. As AI evolves rapidly and the digital public sphere becomes increasingly weaponized, core democratic principles such as trust, participation, and the rule of law are being tested. From…

Supporting Partner Interactive Session

331

Governments and Technical Community: A Successful Model of Multistakeholder Collaboration for Achieving the SDGs

The Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) and the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority in Jordan (TRC)

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

In the true spirit of WSIS multistakeholder collaboration, this high-level session highlights how partnerships between the technical community and governments are translating shared digital development goals into measurable impact. Through concrete…

Interactive Session

440

Knowledge Café: WSIS+20 Consultation: Two Decades of WSIS: Advancing Digital Cooperation Through Action Lines

WSIS

12:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

First come, first served

🎉 Be the first to secure your spot! It's first come, first served for this knowledge cafe session. 🎉🌟 Reserve your seat now by signing up everything is HERE 🌟 ❗️Important Note❗️: Please ensure you complete the event registration first. Without…

Knowledge Café

178

fAInance for Good: Harnessing AI to AImprove the Global Financial Systems

ainitiative – to aimprove (y)our future

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

In an era where 1.4 billion adult people remain unbanked* and financial inequality widens, AI offers unprecedented opportunities to re-imagine our financial systems. This high-impact session explores how intelligent technologies can create more…

Emerging Technologies Interactive Session

209

Strengthening Multistakeholder Internet Governance: How The Technical Community Can Help

Canadian Internet Registration Authority

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

At a time when the multistakeholder model of Internet governance is facing renewed scrutiny and pressure, this session reaffirms the importance of this model as the most inclusive and effective approach for governing the Internet. Bringing together…

Interactive Session

267

Resilient infrastructure for a sustainable world

International Electrotechnical Commission

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

In an era of escalating climate risks and cyber-attacks, ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure is crucial for sustainable development and global progress. Today, the majority of the world’s socio-economic goals rely on robust information…

Interactive Session

275

Strengthening Corporate Accountability on Inclusive, Trustworthy, and Rights-based Approach to Ethical Digital Transformation

The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

As digital platforms become essential infrastructure for civic participation, economic activity, and information access, it is incumbent upon technology companies to ensure their products and services are grounded in inclusive, trustworthy, and…

Interactive Session

Wednesday 9 July

384

WSIS Action Lines C4 and C7:E-employment: Emerging technologies in the world of work: Addressing challenges through digital skills

ITU/ILO

10:15 – 11:15 (UTC+02:00) Room L

This is a joint session organised by ILO and ITU to present advancements under WSIS Action Lines C4 (Capacity Building) and C7 (e-Employment). The session aims to explore the critical role of digital skills on employment, particularly in light of the…

Interactive Action Line Facilitation Meeting

452

Knowledge Café: WSIS+20 Consultation: Strenghtening Multistakeholderism

WSIS

12:15 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Room L

First come, first served

🎉 Be the first to secure your spot! It's first come, first served for this knowledge cafe session. 🎉 Without registration, you will not be able to access the venue or attend the Knowledge Café or any other sessions. The World Summit on the…

Knowledge Café

519

Empowering Workers in the Age of AI

International Labour Organization

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Room L

This session showcases the ILO´s integrated approach to preparing workers, institutions, and systems for the challenges and opportunities of AI and digital transformation. It highlights how the ILO is addressing critical areas—skills development,…

Digital Skills Interactive Session

478

High Level Dialogue: Strengthening the Resilience of Telecommunication Submarine Cables

ITU/Portugal/Nigeria

16:45 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Over 99% of global Internet traffic is carried by submarine telecommunications cables—forming the critical backbone of international digital communications. As our global dependency on digital services accelerates, these infrastructures face mounting…

Emerging Technologies High-Level Dialogue

Thursday 10 July

278

Breaking the Fake in the AI World: Staying Smart in the Age of Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate, and Deepfake

eWorldwide Group

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

In the era where the geopolitical environment is both unpredictable and unstable, understanding how AI-driven technologies and unethical algorithms are reshaping online interactions and narratives through misinformation, disinformation, hate speech,…

Media Interactive Session

248

Digital Humanism: People first!

EC MEDICI Framework of cooperation

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

The PEOPLE-FIRST session aims to promote the development of digital and industrial technologies that are centred around people and uphold ethical principles. This session aligns with the overarching objective of building a strong, inclusive, and…

Interactive Session

185

AI for Digital Inclusive Development

Internet Society of China / Estrategia Latino-Americana de Inteligencia Artificial

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

As algorithmic systems mediate ever more dimensions of daily life, interpretative asymmetries have emerged between technology creators and users—an issue that disproportionately affects marginalized and vulnerable populations in the Global South and…

Emerging Technologies Interactive Session

467

Knowledge Café: WSIS+20 Consultation: Sharing Stories from the Ground - Showcasing Impact through WSIS Prizes 2025

WSIS

12:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

First come, first served

This session will spotlight inspiring stories from the ground, shared directly by the winners, champions and nominees of the WSIS Prizes. It will highlight concrete achievements and best practices that demonstrate how ICTs are transforming…

Knowledge Café

215

Approaches Towards Meaningful Connectivity in the Global South

Paradigm Initiative

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

WSIS Action Line C1 calls on the government and relevant stakeholders to promote ICTs for development. However, the extent of digital exclusion in the Global South and access to digital technologies is a major concern, often due to poor digital…

Interactive Session

338

Beyond International Aid: Investing in Community Connectivity and Making it Self-Sustainable

Association for Progressive Communications

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Large and persistent digital divides continue to underscore the difficulties of achieving the goal of universal access. It has increasingly been recognized in many internet governance fora, including the WSIS and UN CSTD, that community connectivity…

Interactive Session

224

Communication is Humanitarian Aid

World Association for Christian Communication/Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities Network

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

An exploration of how communication/information integrity is crucial in the context of civil strife and vital to policy-making about rebuilding infrastruture and shaping post-conflict dialogue. There are multiple opportunities for the media to play a…

Interactive Session

214

The Trust Dilemma: AI across sectors

Trust Valley

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in public services, private enterprise, and global governance, the urgency to develop and implement responsible AI frameworks has never been greater. This panel will explore how principles can…

Interactive Session

Friday 11 July

242

Strengthen Digital Governance and International Cooperation to Build an Inclusive Digital Future

Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

At present, a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation rapidly evolves, which accelerates the development of the information society. Meanwhile, the swift evolution of technology also introduces a series of risks and…

Interactive Session

222

Information Society in Times of Risk

International Community of Experts on Risk Information Management, Risk Models and Applications (RIMMA CoE), The UN Consultative Committee on…

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

WSIS aims to build a people - centric, inclusive, and development - oriented Information Society. In the context of an ever - changing world filled with various risks, this session focuses on the special demands that the Information Society faces…

Interactive Session

244

Driving the Future: Opportunities and Challenges of Autonomous Vehicles

The Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University, Globethics, Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (TUM)

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L

Autonomous driving technology has not only redefined modes of transportation, but also provided humanity with a brand-new digitalized living experience. As a brilliant fusion of artificial intelligence and the transportation sector, autonomous…

Emerging Technologies Interactive Session

480

Knowledge Café: WSIS+20 Consultation: Towards a Vision Beyond 2025

WSIS

12:00 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Room L

First come, first served

🎉 Be the first to secure your spot! It's first come, first served for this knowledge cafe session. 🎉 🌟 Reserve your seat now by signing up HERE 🌟 ❗️Important Note❗️: Please ensure you complete the event registration first. Without it, you will…

Knowledge Café

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