Second Meeting of the Open Consultation Process - WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 (09:45 -10:45 Saudi Arabia Local Time, Room 10)


ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD

Session 105

Wednesday, 18 December 2024 07:45–08:45 (UTC+01:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Internet Governance Forum Interactive Session

This meeting will take place during the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at 09:45 to 10:45 (UTC+3). Venue: Workshop Room 10, King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC)

The Open Consultation Process (OCP) lays the groundwork for shaping the WSIS Forum’s agenda and program, fostering a participatory and inclusive approach. This process invites contributions from various stakeholders—governments, private sector, civil society, technical community, academia, and international organizations—to ensure broad ownership and continuous improvements. Through consultative meetings and online submissions, the OCP collects input to shape the development of the WSIS Forum. 

The Second Meeting of the Open Consultation Process will build on previous discussions, continuing to gather input from stakeholders to shape the agenda, program, and format of the WSIS Forum 2025, branded as the WSIS+20 High-Level Event, scheduled for 7–11 July 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The session will provide an open platform for participants to engage in discussions, share ideas, and contribute to the Event’s preparations. Participants will also have the opportunity to receive updates on the latest activities related to the WSIS Process and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 will be co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation. It will serve as a platform for discussion of the WSIS+20 review and the WSIS Action Lines and to take stock of the achievements and key trends, challenges and opportunities since the Geneva Plan of Action. The Event will highlight the way forward in preparation for the second review by the UN General Assembly, ensuring the continued relevance of the WSIS framework in digital governance.

During this session, co-hosts and co-organizers will share the latest updates on preparations for the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in 2025. Following the updates, participants are invited to join an open discussion to exchange ideas and insights. 


Agenda

  • Welcome and Introduction by Gitanjali Sah, Strategy and Policy Coordinator, ITU

  • Opening remarks by co-host, Swiss Confederation: Amb. Thomas Schneider, Ambassador and Director of International Affairs, Switzerland

  • Brief remarks by co-organizers:

    • Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO

    • Mr. Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer, UNDP

    • Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson, Head, E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch, UNCTAD (remote)

  •  WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 Updates by Ms. Gitanjali Sah, Strategy and Policy Coordinator, ITU

  • Open floor for contributions and inputs/Q&A with all stakeholders

Panellists
Ms. Gitanjali Sah
Ms. Gitanjali Sah Strategy and Policy Coordinator International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Moderator

Mr. Thomas Schneider
Mr. Thomas Schneider Ambassador and Director of International Affairs Office Fédéral de la Communication (OFCOM), Switzerland Co-host of the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025

Dr. Tawfik Jelassi
Dr. Tawfik Jelassi Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Mr. Robert Opp
Mr. Robert Opp Chief Digital Officer United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson
Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson Head, E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Remote Panellist

Ms. Cynthia Lesufi
Ms. Cynthia Lesufi Chair of ITU Council Working Group on WSIS&SDG South Africa

Ms. Mina Seonmin Jun
Ms. Mina Seonmin Jun Vice-Chair of ITU Council Working Group on WSIS&SDG South Korea

Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen
Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen Senior advisor global and regional internet governance Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Ms. Cheryl Miller
Ms. Cheryl Miller Vice President Digital Policy, United States Council for International Business (USCIB)

Mr. Chengetai Masango
Mr. Chengetai Masango Head of the Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) IGF Secretariat

Ms. Meni Anastasiadou
Ms. Meni Anastasiadou Policy Manager ICC Basis

Dr. Konstantinos Komaitis
Dr. Konstantinos Komaitis Resident Senior Fellow, Global Governance & Democracy Lead DFRLab/Tech & Democracy Initiative Remote Panellist

Ms. Nandini Chami
Ms. Nandini Chami Deputy Director and Fellow - Research and Policy Engagement IT for Change

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Mr. Felix Nyström First Secretary Permanent Mission of Sweden

Mr. Craig Stanley-Adamson
Mr. Craig Stanley-Adamson Head of Internet Governance Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, United Kingdom

Mr. Wallace S. Cheng
Mr. Wallace S. Cheng Head of Impact, Innovation and Development Globethics

Ms. Samia Melhem
Ms. Samia Melhem Lead Digital Policy Specialist World Bank

Ms. Halima Ismaeel
Ms. Halima Ismaeel ITU Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Board Representative, Arab States Kingdom of Bahrain

WSIS Action Lines
  • AL C1 logo C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
  • AL C2 logo C2. Information and communication infrastructure
  • AL C3 logo C3. Access to information and knowledge
  • AL C4 logo C4. Capacity building
  • AL C5 logo C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
  • AL C6 logo C6. Enabling environment
  • AL C7 E–GOV logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-government
  • AL C7 E–BUS logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-business
  • AL C7 E–LEA logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
  • AL C7 E–HEA logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-health
  • AL C7 E–EMP logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
  • AL C7 E–ENV logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-environment
  • AL C7 E–AGR logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-agriculture
  • AL C7 E–SCI logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-science
  • AL C8 logo C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
  • AL C9 logo C9. Media
  • AL C10 logo C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
  • AL C11 logo C11. International and regional cooperation
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 1 logo Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 2 logo Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  • Goal 3 logo Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
  • Goal 4 logo Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Goal 5 logo Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 6 logo Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
  • Goal 7 logo Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • Goal 8 logo Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
  • Goal 9 logo Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 10 logo Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Goal 11 logo Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Goal 12 logo Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13 logo Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Goal 14 logo Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
  • Goal 15 logo Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
  • Goal 16 logo Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
  • Goal 17 logo Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development