Agenda

Agenda and Programme


WSIS Forum 2026 will take place from 6 to 10 July in Geneva, Switzerland, co-hosted by the ITU and the Swiss Confederation, 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).


Please note that the agenda is dynamic and changes may occur, with updates issued as needed.

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Sunday 5 July


119
UNGIS High-Level meeting
United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS)
UNGIS

12:00 – 13:30 (UTC+02:00)
UNGIS members only
Twenty-third UNGIS High-Level meeting UNGIS serves as the United Nations system inter-agency mechanism for advancing policy coherence and programme coordination on digital matters, coordinating substantive policy issues facing the United Nations…

Monday 6 July


596
WSIS Welcome & Connect
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

08:30 – 09:00 (UTC+02:00) Cafeteria
An informal starter moment bringing together participants of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 at the beginning of the day’s programme. It provides an opportunity to network, reconnect, and build new connections prior to…
Coffee will be offered during the session Coffee Break
299
The Action Line C7 on E-business Beyond WSIS+20
International Trade Centre, Universal Postal Union, UN Trade and Development
ITC, UPU, UNCTAD

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
The session will use the case of Tunisia to show how the e-business action line can be implemented, highlighting how national stakeholders, development partners, and international agencies can collaborate to advance e-business in a developing…
571
AI for Good at Scale: The Community-Led Impact Flywheel
Interlai Foundation
Interlai Foundation

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K1
Interlai Foundation is a tech nonprofit that partners with local organisations to co-design and deploy AI tools that expand human capacity and strengthen the systems communities rely on. One of the hardest challenges in social impact is scale - how…
137
Bridging the Digital Divide: Capacity Building for Women in Internet Policy
Internet Society
Internet Society

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K2
Despite significant progress in global Internet access, women—particularly in the Global South—remain underrepresented in Internet governance and digital policy spaces. Bridging this gap requires more than connectivity; it demands targeted capacity…
130
AI for Educational Transformation and Youth Development: Opportunities and Risks
International Competence Development Committee (ICDC), The Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy (CSEDS)
ICDC, CSEDS

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming education systems and reshaping the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities facing young people worldwide. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in learning, work, and social participation, there…
265
Data & Indicator Lab: Multistakeholder Dialogue on WSIS Action Lines, Indicators, and Accountability
European University Institute
European University Institute

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L2
Background Following the WSIS+20 outcome, significant efforts are underway to develop Action Line roadmaps, align them with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Digital Compact, review indicators and implement a biennial reporting cycle.…
127
Strengthening health data governance legislative frameworks: The foundation of trusted digital health and AI
Transform Health
Transform Health

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The health sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, which are now integral to health system delivery. Data underpins these systems and must be governed responsibly and equitably…
530
Scientists as Bridge-Builders: Contributing Research to Global Digital Public Goods
Global Youth Development Alliance
Global Youth Development Alliance

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
A special session themed Scientists as Bridge Builders: Contributing Research Outcomes to Global Digital Public Goods is set to convene during the 2026 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum. It is designed to address notable gaps…
126
Redefining Digital Citizenship: Safeguarding and Empowering Citizens in the AI Age
United Nations Development Programme Egypt Country Office (UNDP)
United Nations Development Programme Egypt…

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
The dominant discourse around online safety has long framed people, particularly young people, as passive players requiring protection from a dangerous digital world. As the digital landscape grows more complex, there is growing recognition that…
139
Public Trust and AI Procurement:
AI & Equality by Women at the Table; University of Cambridge; RC Trust, UA Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen; Council of Europe
AI & Equality by Women at the Table;…

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
When AI enters public life, it rarely arrives as something a government built. It arrives as something a government bought. The procurement contract — not the ethics charter — is where rights, transparency, and accountability are either written into…
149
Voices of the Digital Future: Youth High‑Level Dialogue
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
This high‑level dialogue convenes young leaders, policymakers, and global digital cooperation stakeholders to examine how youth can shape the next phase of the information society. Grounded in the WSIS Action Lines and informed by the WSIS+20 Review,…
518
Meaningful Connectivity by Design - The Role of Technical Standards in Connecting the Unconnected
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
IEEE

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K1
Meaningful connectivity goes beyond network coverage. It is reliable, safe, secure, affordable and usable access that enables people, communities, schools, health services and local businesses to participate in the digital economy. Yet many…
279
From Negotiation to Implementation: Reimagining the IGF in the WSIS+20 Era
Global Network Initiative and Global Partners Digital
GNI and GPD

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The adoption of the WSIS+20 outcome in December 2025 represented a critical moment for global digital cooperation. The substantive breadth and depth of this document, together with its adoption by consensus, illustrate the importance and resilience…
151
Human-Centred AI and Cognitive Readiness: Preparing Learners and Entrepreneurs for the Next Digital Economy
Dr Victor (Vik) Perez, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)
Dr Victor (Vik) Perez, Xi'an…

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
Led by Dr Victor (Vik) Perez (Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China), the session explores how human-centred AI requires greater attention to the cognitive conditions that enable learners and entrepreneurs to think, learn and make effective…
321
Democratizing Innovation: Citizen Data, Indigenous Knowledge & Participatory STEM
Women in Technology in Nigeria - WITIN & Nigeria Data Protection Commission – NDPC
WITIN & NDPC

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
As the world takes stock of the WSIS+20 Review Outcomes (A/RES/80/173), adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025, the imperative to place people at the centre of digital transformation has never been more urgent. This high-level session,…
162
Beyond the Access Gap: Gendered Realities of Digital Inclusion in Africa with Evidence from Four Countries
Research ICT Africa
Research ICT Africa

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
Global commitments to digital inclusion continue to treat access as the primary measure of progress, yet growing evidence shows that having a device or an internet connection does not guarantee meaningful participation. Women and girls across Africa…
156
Control Systems for Excellence: Data & Processing Systems (specific reference to bionic eyes)
IGF Dynamic Coalition on Data Driven Health Technologies
IGF DC DDHT

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K2
As we integrate systems globally, it is critical that we have excellence for data quality that sources other systems (including AI and Quantum) so as to minimize disruption from poor interoperability. Hence monitoring of the foundational systems for…
155
Accessible digital educational environments: transferring research knowledge
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
Educational environments are increasingly shaped by cultural and linguistic diversity. Migration, internationalization, multilingual communities and digital learning environments have transformed learning spaces into diverse communication spaces. At…
310
Ethics of the Information Society: Navigating the governance landscape of emerging and converging technologies
UNESCO
UNESCO

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
As technologies continue to evolve and converge, the ethical dimensions of the information society are becoming broader and more complex. While artificial intelligence remains a major focus of global governance discussions, it is increasingly…
328
The bridges the gap between high-level digital policy and the practical, socio-ecological realities of small-scale food producers in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation
Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
163
Empowering Voices: Strengthening CSO and Youth Participation in AI Governance
Globethics
Globethics

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
Civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth play a critical role in shaping the ethical and inclusive development of artificial intelligence. Yet their participation in AI governance is often constrained by limited access to knowledge, training, and…
191
Anchoring AI Evolution in Humanity: Pathways for Ethical, Inclusive, and Cross‑Boundary Collaboration
Zhu Consulting
Zhu Consulting

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
As AI rapidly reshapes the world as we know it, the transition from high-level value principles to concrete reality remains one of the defining challenges of our time. This panel discussion, organized by Zhu Consulting under AI for Humanity, brings…
562
AI-Driven Empowerment for Innovative Climate Finance: Bridging the Global Climate Investment Gap via an Inclusive, Digitally Equitable Just Transition
Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC), United Nations Global Leadership & ESG Programme (UNGLEP), UAE Global 2031 Strategics…
Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center…

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L2
This official WSIS 2026 thematic side event, co-hosted by the Global SDGs and Leadership Development Center (GSLDC), the United Nations Global Leadership & ESG Programme (UNGLEP), and the UAE Global 2031 Strategics Partner, and co-organized by…
193
Closing the Connectivity Gap in the Age of AI and E‑Governance
Paradigm Initiative
Paradigm Initiative

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
Despite increased interest in AI, e-governance and digital public services across the Global South, persistent connectivity gaps and affordability issues continue to be major barriers to meaningful participation. While governments adopt AI strategies…
326
From Data to Decisions: accelerating meaningful connectivity through the Connectivity Planning Platform (CPP)
ITU
ITU

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K2
As countries accelerate digital transformation, effective connectivity planning requires more than infrastructure investment; it requires trusted data, cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making. This session will explore how the…
320
WSIS Women and Girls Action Plan Roundtable
WSIS
WSIS

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The Women and Girls Gender Trendsetter Session champions a bold vision for a digital future where every woman and girl can participate fully, safely, and meaningfully. Building on the WSIS+20 reaffirmation of gender equality as a cornerstone of the…
195
Case Studies on Connectivity: Young Practitioners in the Forefront
IEEE-Innovation Partner
IEEE-Innovation Partner

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
This session explores how emerging leaders are advancing the intersection of digital connectivity and sustainable energy systems. Through real-world case studies, participants will examine how digital infrastructure, responsible AI and data-driven…
166
Building an Inclusive Digital Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Digital Futures, Leadership and Diversity in Decision Making
OTDEC - TACTIC - Ana Gabriela Valdiviezo Black
OTDEC - TACTIC

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
Digital transformation cannot be measured solely by the number of people connected. The real challenge is ensuring that everyone has the skills, opportunities and enabling environments needed to participate in and benefit from the digital economy and…
324
The Global Shield: Collaborative Cyber Resilience for global e-Commerce and logistics
Universal Postal Union
Universal Postal Union

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K1
Cyber threats don't stop at national borders or sectoral silos. Neither do they end after you complete an online purchase. This session will demonstrate how the UPU’s POST-ISAC and SECURE.POST platforms provide a proactive 'Global Shield' for the…
330
WSIS Action Lines Roundtable - WSIS Forum 2026 (closed meeting)
WSIS Secretariat-ITU
WSIS Secretariat-ITU

12:00 – 13:00 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The WSIS Action Lines represent the backbone of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, providing a shared framework for global cooperation on building an inclusive, people-centred, and development-oriented information society.…
332
Knowledge Café - Youth Participation and Digital Inclusion Action Toward WSIS 2035
WSIS
WSIS

12:00 – 13:30 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
334
WSIS Action Line C1: WSIS+20 in Action: Implementation, Cooperation and Review – Part I
UNDESA
UNDESA

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
The WSIS+20 outcome reaffirmed the continued relevance of the WSIS vision, principles and Action Lines as the main framework for inclusive digital transformation and digital cooperation. It also emphasized the need to strengthen implementation,…
141
The role of humans in the cyber age
EC MEDICI Framework of cooperation
EC MEDICI Framework of cooperation

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
Technology is usually considered neutral, neither good nor bad it is the purpose and use that humans choose to make the difference. For a long time, researchers in the technological sector didn’t pose their attention both on ethical and ontological…
248
Re-engineering Institutions for Digital Transformation and AI Readiness
Hant International Consulting
Hant International Consulting

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L2
Governments, public institutions and private organizations are accelerating investment in digital transformation and artificial intelligence. However, many initiatives underperform because technology is introduced into institutions that still operate…
337
Governing the Systemic Impacts of AI Where Regulation Doesn't Reach: Standardised Commitments and Lateral Requirements across Value Chains
AI Commons (AIC) Framework Working Group, Centre Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Studies (CLEA), Free University of Brussels (VUB)
AIC-CLEA-VUB

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K2
Much of the AI governance landscape is converging on a shared agenda: making AI systems safe, lawful, and accountable. These are goals regulation is built to pursue, through standards, requirements, and enforcement that apply across systems alike.…
485
All women and girls are architects of a safe digital future
Soroptimist International
Soroptimist International

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
Artificial intelligence, digital platforms and cybersecurity architectures are increasingly shaping access to education, public services, economic opportunity, civic participation and online safety. In the WSIS framework, these issues are not only…
269
Trustworthy Health Information in the Age of Generative AI: GEO as a New Capacity for Digital Health Governance
World Digital Technology Academy
World Digital Technology Academy

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K1
Generative AI is changing how people seek, understand, and act on health information. Increasingly, individuals, professionals, institutions, and policymakers are no longer only searching and comparing multiple sources; they are asking AI systems and…
304
WSIS Action Line C7 E-agriculture - Advancing Trusted Data Governance, Inclusive AI, and Digital Public Goods to enable scalable DPI and collaborative, Multilingual Innovation Ecosystems for Agrifood Systems Transformation
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAO

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as a leading institution facilitating WSIS Action Line C7 on E‑Agriculture, continues to champion human‑centred, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation of agrifood systems.…
340
Rising from the Margins: Co-Creating Inclusive Digital Learning for Every Child
Center for programming and digital creativity "KIBERone Banja Luka
KIBERone BL

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
Rising from the Margins: Co-Creating Inclusive Digital Learning for Every Child explores how digital education can move beyond access and towards meaningful participation for children with diverse learning needs. Across many educational systems,…
271
Measuring what matters: Embedding gender equality in AI governance through gender-specific indicators
The Gender in Digital Coalition (GiDC)
The Gender in Digital Coalition (GiDC)

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
Resolution A/RES/80/173 mandates that gender equality be mainstreamed across all WSIS Action Lines and that related "indicators and metrics to facilitate monitoring and measurement" be included. Although the Resolution shows progress in addressing…
254
Catalyzing Youth-Led Digital Public Infrastructure: A Philanthropic Roadmap for Human-Centric AI and Global Equity
Global Youth Philanthropy, Peaceland Foundation
GYP

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
BackgroundAs the global community navigates the "WSIS+20" era, the acceleration of the United Nations Global Digital Compact (GDC) demands a radical reimagining of how we build and govern technology. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and…
274
AI Filmmaking: Navigating Creativity in the Generative Era
LocalhostHQ x Latent Aurum
LocalhostHQ x Latent Aurum

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
Generative AI is fundamentally rewriting the rules of video production. By lowering the barriers to entry, these tools are empowering a new wave of global creators and dismantling traditional industry gatekeeping. However, this rapid transformation…
272
Building E-waste Management Systems
The Communications, Space & Technology Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International Telecommunication Union
CST and ITU

14:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
Why build e-waste management systems? 62 million tonnes of e-waste is generated annually, with less one quarter of this formally collected and recycled. The estimated economic value of the annual generation of e-waste is 91 billion USD. If managed…
415
The DPI Opportunity for Women & Girls
Co-Develop
Co-Develop

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
This event will explore how digital public infrastructure (DPI) can be a powerful enabler of the social and economic participation of women and girls, particularly by expanding access to health, justice, education, and financial services. The session…
146
Science to Society: Youth, Digital Platforms and Trusted Communication for Climate and Food Security
FAO, ITU and WMO
FAO, ITU and WMO

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
A dynamic, practical, forward-looking, and conversational session exploring the role of youth innovation in using digital platforms and science communication to make weather, climate and agricultural information clearer, more inclusive and more…
301
WSIS Action Line C7 E-learning
UNESCO
UNESCO

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
DescriptionThe Charter for Public Digital Learning Platforms, jointly finalized by UNESCO, UNICEF, and ITU in 2026 following country consultations and public review, identifies openness as a key principle for advancing Digital Public Learning…
170
Children First: Empowering the Next Generation with a Holistic Digital Code of Conduct
eWorldwide Group
eWorldwide Group

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
252
Young people's mental health in an online world
Mission permanente de Belgique - Wallonie-Bruxelles à Genève
Mission permanente de Belgique -…

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
(Session in French and English with interpretation - Session en français et en anglais avec interprétation) This session will address the impact of digital devices—and social media in particular—on young people’s mental health. What if the greatest…
172
Optimal decision making in the digital age
The Association for Digital Democracy
The Association for Digital Democracy

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
The session describes (1) the theoretically optimal decision making system in a digital age and (2) a practical implementation with some real world results. The Association for Digital Democracy has combined liquid democracy with a prediction system…
171
Dialing up Mobile Phone Data for Official Statistics
(ITU/ World Bank/UN-CEBD Task Team on Mobile Phone Data (MPD)
(ITU/ World Bank/UN-CEBD Task Team on Mobile…

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
This session brings together international experts working on initiatives in advancing the integration of Mobile Phone Data (MPD) into national statistical systems. The session will highlight the World Bank’s Global Data Facility – Mobile Phone Data…
298
WSIS Action Line C7 E-government Inclusive e-government services: Reaching the hardest to reach through multi-channel service delivery
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Universal Postal Union
UNDESA; UPU

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
Digital government has become central to improving the efficiency, transparency, inclusiveness, quality and cost-effectiveness of public services, while also helping reduce corruption and strengthen trust in institutions. According to the forthcoming…
280
Applying Responsible AI Governance Under WSIS+20: Strengthening Capacity, Ethics, and International Cooperation
CyberInstitute
CyberInstitute

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
This interactive workshop explores how governments, international organizations, industry, academia, and civil society can strengthen their capacity to implement Responsible Frontier Technology governance in practice while advancing the goals of…
347
Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World
ICT4D Collective
ICT4D Collective

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
This session builds on the outcomes of our session (306) at WSIS 2025 on "Digital Tech and the Most Marginalised: what still needs to be done", and provides an overview and examples from the new book "Digital Inclusion in an Unequal World: An…
167
Transforming Global Education through Digital Innovation: Bridging Access, Skills, and Leadership
Nation Builders University
Nation Builders University

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
Digital transformation is reshaping societies, economies, and education systems at an unprecedented pace. Yet millions of learners, particularly in developing countries and underserved communities, continue to face barriers to accessing quality…
173
From Ideas to Action: the integration of the Sao Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines within the broader digital governance processes
CGI.br, OFCOM, FOC, GPD
CGI.br, OFCOM, FOC, GPD

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The WSIS+20 review process reaffirmed the central role of multistakeholder approaches in advancing a people-centred and development-oriented Information Society. The São Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines (SPMGs), developed through a global and…
144
Youth Digital Well-Being and Mental Health Implications
ITU, OHCHR, UNITAR & WHO
ITU, OHCHR, UNITAR & WHO

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
Through a structured debate format, participants will engage with real-world examples, evidence-based arguments, and lived experiences to examine both the opportunities and risks associated with digital engagement. The session aims to create a safe…
179
Governing AI for Humanity: Policy, Ethics, and Multistakeholder Pathways to Inclusive Digital Futures
SPAR- Berkeley AI Alignment Initiative
SPAR- Berkeley AI Alignment Initiative

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
This session explores how governments, industry, academia, civil society, and international organizations can collaboratively shape trustworthy and inclusive approaches to artificial intelligence governance in an era of rapid technological…
175
Beyond State vs. Corporate: Community Data Governance Models from the Global Majority
Tech Global Institute, Paradigm Initiative, InternetLab
TGI, PIN, InternetLab

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
As the WSIS process approaches its twenty-year milestone, data governance has become a defining challenge for the Information Society. Yet mainstream debates remain trapped in a binary: data is governed either by states or by corporations. For the…
178
From Access to Leadership: AI for Women’s Empowerment and Inclusive Growth
Her Symbiosis and 499 Group
Her Symbiosis and 499 Group

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L1
As the world accelerates toward a digital future, Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a dual reality for gender equality. On one hand, AI risks perpetuating historical biases, deepening the digital divide and excluding women from economic…
213
Responsible GenAI in Public Services: From Policy Principles to Deployable Workflows
WomenInGenAI
WomenInGenAI

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
As governments and public institutions move from AI strategy to real-world implementation, the urgent question is no longer whether Generative AI matters. The question is how to deploy it responsibly, safely, inclusively, and in ways that create…
176
Poland’s Model for Digital Resilience: Secure Schools, Skilled Citizens, Strong Society
NASK – National Research Institute
NASK – National Research Institute

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
This session will present Poland’s comprehensive model for building digital resilience, based on three mutually reinforcing pillars: secure public digital infrastructure, nationwide cybersecurity support, and intergenerational digital-skills…
343
Advancing Circular ICT: Eco-design, E-waste and Digital Product Information Systems (DPIS)
ITU, UNEP, BRS Secretariat, One Planet Network
ITU, UNEP, BRS Secretariat, One Planet…

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
Discussions on Digital Product Information Systems (DPIS), including Digital Product Passports (DPP), are rapidly evolving at global level, reflecting the growing need for transparency, traceability, and sustainability across product value chains.…
578
Yoga: Wellbeing and mindfulness session with professional instructors
Permanent Mission of India
Permanent Mission of India

18:00 – 18:30 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
545
WSIS Youth Networking Reception
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

18:30 – 20:30 (UTC+02:00) Cafeteria
547
Reception by Poland
Poland
Poland

19:00 – 21:00 (UTC+02:00) Poland Mission
On invitation only

Tuesday 7 July


302
WSIS Action Line C7 E-health Building Health Systems Resilience and Local Capacity through Digital Foundations, Learning and Partnerships (WHO)
World Health Organization, International Telecommunication Union
WHO, ITU

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
Context The renewal of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) mandate through 2035 and the extension of the Global Strategy on Digital Health to 2027, together with the development of the next Global Strategy (2028–2033), present an…
307
WSIS Action Line C8 Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
UNESCO
UNESCO

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
Since the adoption of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) framework, Action Line C8 on cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content has provided an important normative and policy foundation for advancing…
283
Who Gets to Shape AI Governance? Youth, the Global South, and the Future of Digital Power
Young AI Leaders - San Francisco
Young AI Leaders - San Francisco

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Everyone agrees that youth should have a role in AI governance. Far fewer can say where youth actually sit in it today. This youth-led session answers that question directly. Through the Young AI Leaders (YAIL) community, the AI for Good youth…
255
Business Perspectives on Furthering the Outcomes of the WSIS+20 Review
International Chamber of Commerce - ICC Basis
International Chamber of Commerce - ICC…

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
Following the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), the global community is entering a critical phase focused on implementation, follow-up, and advancing the outcomes of the review. This session will explore the…
183
Bridging the Intelligence Divide: AI Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing for the Global South
CAST UN Consultative Committee on Information Technology (CCIT)
CAST UN Consultative Committee on Information…

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, the world is entering a new wave of digital transformation driven by intelligent technologies. However, the development of AI is highly uneven. Countries in the Global South face multiple…
473
UNIGE Trialogue Remodeling UN
UNIGE
UNIGE

09:00 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Innovation Hub
The 2026 ReModelUN Workshop is all about developing new solutions for the Model United Nations (MUN), an international movement of over 1M high school and university students who organize UN-style negotiations every year. This is a youth community…
555
From AI Strategy to AI Delivery: Building National AI Institutions for Public Impact
Rwanda
Rwanda

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
WSIS Forum 2026 will take place from 6 to 10 July in Geneva, hosted at ITU Headquarters from 6–7 July and at Palexpo from 8–10 July. As the first Forum convened after the WSIS+20 UNGA review, it will play a vital role in supporting Member States as…
295
WSIS ActionLine C6 Enabling Environment
International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
Digital transformation depends not only on infrastructure, technology and the growth of the digital economy, but also on the quality of the policy, legal, regulatory and governance frameworks that enable, steer and shape their development. Under WSIS…
285
AI and Virtual Worlds
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G1
As artificial intelligence and virtual worlds become increasingly integrated into global digital infrastructure, questions of governance and safeguards have moved to the forefront of policy discourse. This panel examines the current state of AI…
569
Building Accessible and Unbiased AI
Latvia/Google
Latvia/Google

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
AI systems are increasingly used to make decisions about people's health, livelihoods, and access to public services. In these scenarios, some of the most vulnerable groups are persons with disabilities, elderly persons, women and girls, and others,…
541
The Future of Education and Research in the AI Era: Equipping Young People for Tomorrow
International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
The Future of Education and Research in the AI Era: Equipping Young People for Tomorrow will examine how emerging technologies are reshaping both learning and research. As automation transforms traditional academic and research practices, the session…
352
I.T.U. – leaving no one behind…. I need a Telephone to connect to yoU
Institute for Digital Culture, University of Leicester
Dr Fox - IDC

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
Connecting the world and beyond is the key driver for the ITU. Today, this is facilitated by movements in a digital world that increasingly connects us virtually while often aiding physical transport. But arguably, therein lies a possible…
184
Fit for Whom?
Women at the Table/FemTechnology
Women at the Table/FemTechnology

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
The Call High-risk AI systems are being deployed on women who were never in the data. This session calls for sex-stratified data and disaggregated performance reporting to be established as minimum requirements — not best practices — for any AI…
592
Coffee Break
Permanent Mission of Latvia
Permanent Mission of Latvia

10:45 – 11:00 (UTC+02:00) Cafeteria
The coffee break will be served before the Permanent Mission of Latvia's session.
296
AI, Digitalisation and the Transformation of Jobs: Ensuring Decent Work
International Labour Organisation
International Labour Organisation

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
In this WSIS session, organised by the ILO under Action Line C7 (e‑employment), ILO and ITU experts will analyse the differentiated effects of AI and digitalisation on work. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are reshaping labour…
359
Trust and authenticity in digital communication: enabling transparent and accountable Institutions
Arbor Media
Arbor Media

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
Public institutions are facing a trust challenge. Citizens increasingly expect transparency, accountability, and direct access to information. At the same time, public institutions operate in an environment where misinformation, manipulated content,…
185
Advancing WSIS Implementation: Emerging Trends across Governance, Infrastructure, Access, and Capacity
The RIPE NCC
The RIPE NCC

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
This session will identify emerging digital trends and global priorities shaping the evolution of WSIS Action Lines C1–C6, with a focus on governance, infrastructure, access to information, capacity building and enabling environment. It will bring…
187
Empowering Individuals and Strengthening Resilience in an AI-Driven Information Environment
Permanent Mission of Latvia
Permanent Mission of Latvia

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
The attention of the international policy community is increasingly drawn to impact of general-purpose AI on societies and economies. While this technological progress creates important opportunities for innovation, education and economic…
Coffee will be served before the session Interactive Session
357
Strengthen Digital Capacity-Building to Create an Inclusive and Secure Digital-Intelligent Future Beneficial to All
Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies
Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G1
At present,digital technologies are rapidly applied, driving human society into a digital-intelligent era. The digital divide among countries, regions and groups still exists, with gaps in digital infrastructure, tech application, digital skills,…
566
AI and Healthcare: Building the Foundations of Intelligent Health Systems
United Nations Development Programme Egypt Country Office (UNDP)
UNDP

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how health systems detect disease, deliver care, and manage resources. Yet the promise of AI in health remains unevenly distributed, with innovation concentrated in high-income settings while the countries that…
560
Civil society roundtable (closed meeting)
WSIS Secretariat-ITU, and civil society organizations
WSIS Secretariat-ITU, and civil society…

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The Civil Society Roundtable brings together diverse civil society actors to reflect on their long‑standing and indispensable role within the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process and to chart a renewed vision for the next phase of…
537
Knowledge café WSIS Action Lines
WSIS Action Lines Facilitators
WSIS Action Lines Facilitators

12:00 – 13:30 (UTC+02:00) Satellite Room
First come, first served
The Knowledge Café on WSIS Action Lines is an open, informal space where participants sit together, share ideas, and explore how each Action Line can better support an inclusive and sustainable digital future. Each table focuses on a different Action…
556
High-Level Lunch by Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia and ITU
Saudi Arabia and ITU

12:15 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00)
On invitation only
Strategic Partner: Gold High-Level Lunch
196
Structural Asymmetry: Addressing the Sovereign Risk of AI Labor Displacement
Santiago & Company
Santiago & Company

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Digitally delivered service exports built the formal-employment ladder for millions of educated youth in the Global South. Today, this sector drives massive economic value—for example, accounting for ~1.9 million jobs and ~$40 billion in revenue in…
188
AI Empowerment for Older People from a Gender Mainstreaming Perspective
Aging & Technology Policy Lab, KAIST Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy
KAIST

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
Two global megatrends are reshaping our societies at once: rapid population ageing and pervasive digitalization. As they converge, AI is moving into the everyday lives of older adults, through smart-home monitoring, conversational agents, AI-assisted…
323
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Government Ecosystem
Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), and Information Technology Organization (ITO)
Iran University of Science and Technology…

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
In the rapidly advancing digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key driver in reshaping e-services and pushing the boundaries of our journey toward a digital society. Among various ICT applications, e-government, which provides…
309
WSIS Action Line C9: Media - Towards Resilient Information Ecosystems in Times of Crisis: Rethinking ‘Preparedness’ in Digital Governance
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
In times of crisis and emergencies, timely and accurate information can be as lifesaving as food, water and medical care. Yet crisis communication is no longer confined to national media systems. It increasingly unfolds within globally interconnected…
377
Intergenerational Mentorship in the Age of AI
The Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development
The Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
BackgroundIn ageing societies and countries experiencing demographic transition, the re-engagement of older adults in economic and social life is becoming both a demographic necessity and a strategic opportunity. At the same time, many countries face…
222
Deep Skilling for the Quantum Age: A Global Education Model for Women and Girls
Innovation Network Global; Innovation Network Canada, Dynamic Coalition on Emerging Technologies (DC-ET), UN Internet Governance Forum
ING, INC, DC-ET, UN IGF

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
The applied value of quantum will largely be realized through people most quantum education programs do not address. Existing programs train the quantum scientist — the physicist, the computer scientist, the mathematician who advances the science.…
368
Helping SMEs Succeed in Digital Trade: Lessons from European & ASEAN Trade Promotion Organisations
UN International Trade Centre
UN International Trade Centre

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The session will examine how trade promotion organisations integrate digital innovation to rethink their organisational setup and their service portfolios to support SME participation in global trade. Conducted in cooperation with Trade Promotion…
528
Scaling trust: from Digital Proof-of-Life to a UN Digital Identity ecosystem
UNJSPF, UNICC, UNDP, IADB
UNJSPF, UNICC, UNDP, IADB

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
This WSIS High-Level Forum side event will showcase how the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), in partnership with UNICC, UNDP and IADB, has successfully designed and scaled a secure, inclusive and standards-based digital identity…
190
Converging Digital Intelligence for an Accessible Future: Building Sustainable Ecosystems for Information Inclusion
Internet Society of China (ISC)
Internet Society of China (ISC)

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G1
This session aims to explore how emerging digital technologies—such as artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, and IoT—can be harnessed to create more inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystems. With a focus on bridging accessibility gaps for marginalized…
366
Smart Hydrology: Data, AI and the Future of Water Management
WMO
WMO

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
Water-related challenges are becoming increasingly complex due to climate variability which leads to floods and droughts and which is further exacerbated by growing demand. The advances in emerging technologies are changing the way we collect water…
303
WSIS Action Line C7 E-environment
ITU/WMO/UNEP
ITU/WMO/UNEP

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
As digital technologies rapidly transform societies, their role in shaping environmental sustainability has become both critical and complex. WSIS Action Line C7 on e-environment addresses this dual challenge through three priorities: leveraging ICTs…
201
Citizen Digital Sovereignty in Action: From a Civic Declaration to a Global Alliance
Fundación Cibervoluntarios
Fundación Cibervoluntarios

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G1
For 25 years, Fundación Cibervoluntarios has been working to help thousands of people turn technology into a tool for transforming their lives. one key idea has become clear: being connected is not enough. Having access to the Internet or knowing how…
373
Operationalizing Digital Sovereignty: The Autonomy Blue Print
RealTyme
RealTyme

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
In an era of shifting geopolitical alliances and hyper-scaler dominance, digital sovereignty has graduated from a policy objective to a national security imperative. Developing nations face a dual challenge: avoiding systemic vendor lock-in and…
203
From Fragmentation to Coherence: The Role of the International Law Association in Global AI Governance
International Law Association’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Technology Law
ILA Committee on AI & Tech Law

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
A growing number of institutions are developing rules and principles for artificial intelligence. Initiatives e.g. from the European Union, Council of Europe, UNESCO, and the OECD, together with national AI laws, strategies, and international…
372
Connecting the Unconnected in the field of Education Excellence, Cyber Security & Rural Solutions and Women Empowerment in ICT
CMAI Association of India/CSAI/TEMA
CMAI Association of India/CSAI/TEMA

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
International Conference on Digital Transformation in ICT, AI, Quantum Technologies & Education: Roadmap Towards SDG 4 and Digital Inclusion 2026 Along with the 19th International ICT World Communication Awards, Cyber Security Excellence Awards…
318
I Thought AI Was Only for Tech Experts: A Practical Introduction to Engaging with AI for Women
International Council of Women
International Council of Women

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
This session responds to a growing and urgent gap in digital capacity building: while artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how work is conducted across sectors, many women—particularly those working in civil society, policy, and…
305
WSIS Action Line C7: E-Science in Action: Operationalizing the WSIS+20 Vision through AI, Quantum, and Open Data for the Global South
UNESCO
UNESCO

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
The WSIS Forum 2026 (6–10 July 2026, Geneva) marks a critical milestone as the first forum convened following the WSIS+20 review and the adoption of the outcome document by the UN General Assembly in December 2025 . The UNGA outcome reaffirmed the…
205
Access, Agency, Voice.
WACC
WACC

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
Presentations and discussions challenging the idea that there is only one technological future. Other technological worlds are possible and they are being created by local communities and indigenous peoples of the global South: through community…
212
Competition Policy, Platform Ecosystems, and Fair Opportunities for Small Developers: Building an Inclusive App Economy
Association for Competitive Technology
Association for Competitive Technology

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room T103
The World Summit on the Information Society set out a bold vision in 2003 and 2005: a people-centred, inclusive information society in which everyone can create, access, and share information and knowledge. Central to that vision was the conviction…
206
Promoting and enhancing cybersecurity among small and medium-sized enterprises for the sustainable development: trends and best practices
Kaspersky
Kaspersky

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in facilitating sustainable development in multiple ways – from serving the daily needs of consumers to being important links in critical supply chains. At the same time such businesses…
374
The Monoculture Problem in Artificial Intelligence
University of Florida (UFL), Geneva School of Diplomacy
University of Florida (UFL), Geneva School of…

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
As AI systems converge on a narrow set of architectures, training datasets, and embedded value assumptions, they increasingly reproduce a single way of seeing the world — an epistemic monoculture in which the languages, knowledge systems, and…
215
Enhancing CEDAW Accountability through AI Governance and Tech Value Chains
CEDAW,UN WGDAW, OHCHR, UN Women, ITU
CEDAW,UN WGDAW, OHCHR, UN Women, ITU

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
The round table “Enhancing CEDAW Accountability through AI Governance and Tech Value Chains,” convened at the 2026 WSIS Forum, addresses the urgent need to embed women’s human rights into the rapidly expanding digital economy. As artificial…
218
From Conversation to Co-creation: Fostering Next-Generation Leadership for Sustainable Development through AI Literacy
Navinor/International and Bilingual School Educators Association (IBSEA)
Navinor/International and Bilingual School…

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has long championed the role of youth as digital change-makers. However, the rapid proliferation of Generative AI and autonomous systems has created a paradox: while young people are digital natives,…
224
Whose Wallet, Whose Future? Operationalizing Multistakeholder Financing for Digital Development
Tech Global Institute, Research ICT Africa, Factum, Foundation for Media Alternatives
TGI, RIA, Factum, FMA

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G3
The WSIS+20 review invited the ITU to establish an internal task force to assess the gaps and challenges in financing for digital development, and to recommend concrete ways of strengthening the financial mechanisms that developing countries depend…
379
Empowering the Next Generation: Girls in STEM and AI for Good
WOMENVAI
WOMENVAI

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H2
This session aims to inspire and equip girls/ and the educators who support them/ to pursue STEM pathways and engage confidently with emerging technologies. Through an interactive format, participants explore how AI can be leveraged for social good,…
220
Bridging the Algorithmic Divide: Deploying Offline-First DPI and AI for Universal Disability Inclusion in the Global South
JSE NGO
JSE NGO

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G1
BackgroundAcross the Global South, the rapid digitization of government services has inadvertently created a new paradigm of marginalization. Traditional Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI) heavily rely on 4G connectivity, smartphone ownership, and…
225
Teaching AI to Speak our Language: A Showcase of Global Efforts to Bridge the ‘Last Mile’ of AI Inclusion for Local Impact
CLEAR Global
CLEAR Global

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room H1
Today’s AI technologies excel in English and only a few other major languages, threatening to leave as many as 4 billion people – whose native tongues, cultures and local conditions are under-represented – behind and facing unreliable, inaccurate,…
216
Science in the Age of AI: Knowledge, Data, and Trust
International Science Council & Committee on Data of the ISC
ISC & CODATA

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
BackgroundArtificial Intelligence is reshaping the scientific enterprise, but current governance discussions have paid insufficient attention to AI's systemic implications for science as a knowledge system. While social, economic, ethical, and…
498
WSIS Gala Dinner
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

19:00 – 22:00 (UTC+02:00)
On invitation only
Strategic Partner: Diamond Social Event

Wednesday 8 July


568
2nd Business Roundtable
ICC BASIS and USCIB
ICC BASIS and USCIB

07:30 – 08:30 (UTC+02:00) Room B
On invitation only
The adoption of the WSIS+20 outcome document marks the beginning of a new phase focused on implementation. Achieving the vision of a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society will require substantial investment,…
496
WSIS Forum 2026 Exhibition Inauguration
WSIS
WSIS

08:15 – 08:45 (UTC+02:00) Lobby ABC
Be among the first to experience the WSIS Forum 2026 Exhibition as we officially open one of the Forum's most dynamic and interactive spaces, bringing together more than 50 exhibitors and partners from around the world to showcase digital solutions…
121
WSIS Forum 2026 Inaugural session
WSIS (ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD)
WSIS (ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD)

09:00 – 09:15 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Twenty years after the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) reached its landmark WSIS+20 milestone, the global community enters a new chapter for digital cooperation. The adoption by consensus of the United Nations General Assembly WSIS+20…
600
Handover of Chair and the Appointment of Chair of WSIS Forum 2026
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

09:15 – 09:25 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Handover of chairship WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025: H.E. Mr. Mondli Gungubele Deputy Minister Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa Appointment of new Chair of WSIS Forum 2026: H.E. Mr Raafat Hendy Minister, Ministry of…
500
WSIS Forum 2026 Inaugural session: Spotlight session
WSIS
WSIS

09:25 – 09:40 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Spotlight session by the United Arab Emirates, Diamond Strategic Partner Spotlight session by Malaysia, Platinum Strategic Partner Spotlight session by Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of), Gold Strategic Partner
501
WSIS Forum 2026 Inaugural session: High-Level Plenary: The Future We Choose: Leadership for an Inclusive Digital World
WSIS-ITU
WSIS-ITU

09:40 – 10:30 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Rooted in the WSIS vision, this high-level plenary will reflect on progress in implementing the WSIS Action Lines and on the continued relevance of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) framework in guiding global digital cooperation in…
598
WSIS Forum 2026 co-organisers remarks
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

10:30 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C
382
High-Level Dialogue: Mayors - Localizing the Twin Transition
Global Cities Hub
Global Cities Hub

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C
The Smart City Leaders’ Talk discusses the issue of the twin transition at the level of people-centered and sustainable smart cities and provides a great example of an inclusive dialogue between international organizations and local governments on…
158
Enabling Inclusive Digital Development: Regulatory Capacity-Building through Multilingual Peer-to-Peer Learning between EU and Sub-Saharan Africa
Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER), Stockholm University
SPIDER

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room B
Bridging the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa depends on strong regulatory institutions that shape how digital networks are built, accessed, and governed in the public interest. Telecommunications regulation plays a key role in setting the rules…
199
Investing in what already works: Public access institutions as drivers of digital equity
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, UNESCO, Universal Postal Union
International Federation of Library…

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
Background The WSIS+20 Review Outcome Document Resolution reiterates a longstanding recognition of the role of public access facilities such as schools, post offices, libraries and hospitals in providing connectivity, including for people in…
384
Whole-of-Society Approaches to Countering Digital Scams
United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Scams are a global challenge that cost up to one trillion dollars per year. In addition to the financial costs, scams cause a wider set of harms and erode digital trust. AI and other emerging technologies are powering scam tactics, while also being…
227
Enabling Environment: Tell Your Story - Engaging Citizens in Shaping Regional Digital Public Infrastructure
IEEE SSIT Sustainabiility Technical Committee
IEEE

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
Digital Public Infrastructure is built by governments but only works when citizens understand it, advocate for it, and hold it accountable. Most DPI sessions address the builders. This one addresses the ambassadors — the practitioners who translate…
387
From Data to Implementation: Scaling Digital Tools for Human Rights Monitoring
Friedrich Naumann Foundation & Geneva Human Rights Hub & OHCHR
Friedrich Naumann Foundation & Geneva Human…

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
The implementation of all recommendations from UN human rights mechanisms depends on accessible, interoperable and trusted digital tools. Governments, UN entities, civil society organizations and human rights defenders are increasingly using digital…
385
Putting data justice at the heart of AI governance
IT for Change
IT for Change

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
The Working Group on Data Governance at All Levels is a multi-stakeholder body established by the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) in 2025, following a request from the UN General Assembly (Resolution A/RES/79/1) within…
445
Knowledge Café - Meaningful Connectivity by Design: Exploring Practical Pathways and Solutions Together
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
IEEE

12:00 – 13:00 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This Knowledge Cafe will create a highly participatory space for WSIS stakeholders to exchange practical experiences and co-develop ideas on enabling meaningful connectivity by design, such as reliable, secure, affordable and usable access that is…
Light meals will be offered to attendees during the session Innovation Partner Knowledge Café
506
High-Level Lunch
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

12:15 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00)
On invitation only
Strategic Partner: Diamond High-Level Lunch
558
Digital Payments - A tool for Financial Inclusion: Success stories from Dubai Cashless Strategy
Department of Finance, Government of Dubai
Department of Finance, Government of Dubai

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
229
Human-Centred Model for Global AI Governance: What Can Be Learned from the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (Vilnius Convention)
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Lithuania
Permanent Mission of the Republic of…

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
This session will present the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, also known as the Vilnius Convention, as the first comprehensive legally binding international instrument governing artificial intelligence, grounded…
317
Tool or Takeover? AI, Music, and Creative Ownership
Lindsey Mastis, Blue Moves Media
Lindsey Mastis, Blue Moves Media

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
AI can generate music in seconds. But who owns the song? In this keynote, 4x Emmy Award-winning journalist and songwriter Lindsey Mastis brings the conversation to life through real voices from her mini-documentary Is AI Ruining Music? It features…
122
From Digital Inclusion to Digital Sovereignty: Building Capacity, Infrastructure, and Governance for Sustainable Digital Transformation
AISMA - Alliance for Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing for Africa & DTA - Digital Transformation Alliance
AISMA; DTA

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
This session addresses the transition from digital inclusion to digital sovereignty. This theme is of a central importance to the post-WSIS+20 agenda. The discussions held during the WSIS+20 review process, together with the Resolution adopted by the…
257
Promoting Universal Acceptance (UA) for a Multilingual Internet: Launch of the UNESCO–ICANN UA Policy Brief
UNESCO/ICANN
UNESCO/ICANN

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room B
Advancing Universal Acceptance directly contributes to the goals of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), particularly in promoting inclusive knowledge societies, the use of the Internet in all languages and scripts, and equitable…
284
How Technological innovation could improve Early warning system and traditional media alerts in case of Disasters
Eurovisioni/EBU/ITU
Eurovisioni/EBU/ITU

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This workshop, moderated by a professional journalist, will showcase two initiatives currently in development that aim to strengthen last-mile communication through the help of technological innovation and the media. ITU/EBU publication on Media…
388
The 2nd Interregional Dialogue on Digital Cooperation: Regional and Inter-regional pathways for the WSIS 2035 and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance
MCIT-Eygpt and the UN Regional Commissions (ESCWA, ECA, ECLAC, ESCAP, ECE)
The Ministry of Communications and…

13:15 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Building on the 2025 UN Regional Commissions Interregional Dialogue: AI and Emerging Technologies; Public Policies Issues in Different Regions, held on Thursday 10 July 2025, within the WSIS Forum 2025 (Session 548), And on the outcomes of the…
563
WSIS Prizes Nominees
WSIS
WSIS

13:45 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Following a record-breaking 1,595 submissions from 122 countries, 360 outstanding projects were selected by the WSIS Prizes Expert Group to advance to the Online Voting phase. These nominated projects distinguished themselves through a rigorous…
587
Coffee Break
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

13:45 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Coffee Station - 1st floor
The coffee break will be served before the UAE's session.
Strategic Partner: Diamond Coffee Break
464
Leaders TalkX 1 - From Access to Impact: Leading ICT Infrastructure Development
WSIS
WSIS

14:00 – 14:30 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Connectivity is the foundation upon which every other digital development rests, and yet for many people around the world, essential connectivity remains out of reach. Despite remarkable progress in the last two decades, stark divides remain between…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
490
Beyond Digital: Advancing Digital and AI Transformation in the UAE
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
Join the UAE to explore its journey towards digital government transformation, powered by artificial intelligence and innovation. This workshop offers an overview of the strategic frameworks guiding technology adoption across federal and local…
Coffee will be served before the session Strategic Partner: Diamond Partner's Insight
327
Connected and coherent: the Yin and Yang of digital education
ITU, UNICEF, UNESCO
ITU, UNICEF, UNESCO

14:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room B
Education systems globally are at a pivotal moment in their digital transformation journeys. While digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to expand access to quality learning, many countries continue to face persistent gaps in both…
481
Leaders TalkX 2 - Shaping Intelligent Societies: The Role of Multistakeholder Partnerships
WSIS
WSIS

14:30 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
If the last 20 years have taught us anything, it’s that no single actor can shape the digital society alone. Delivering on the vision of a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society requires coordinated leadership across…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
591
Coffee Break
Malaysia
Malaysia

14:45 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Coffee Station - 1st floor
The coffee break will be served before Malaysia's session.
Strategic Partner: Platinum Coffee Break
465
Leaders TalkX 3 - Artificial Intelligence : Policy, Ethics, and Global Cooperation
WSIS
WSIS

15:00 – 15:30 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every dimension of the information society at a speed and scale that is testing the limits of our existing governance, institutional capacity, and ethical norms. However, it possesses the potential to accelerate…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
492
Inclusivity for an Equitable Future: Towards a Connected, Inclusive and Safe Digital Society
Malaysia
Malaysia

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
As digital transformation accelerates, ensuring that it remains connected, inclusive and safe is essential to achieving equitable and sustainable development. This session will showcase Malaysia's digital transformation journey, anchored by the MCMC…
Coffee will be served before the session Strategic Partner: Platinum Partner's Insight
470
Leaders TalkX 4 - Information Without Barriers: Making Knowledge Accessible
WSIS
WSIS

15:30 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Access to information and knowledge is essential for human dignity, economic opportunity, and sustainable development. However, millions of people remain unable to fully participate in the information society due to barriers outside of just…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
589
Coffee Break
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia

15:45 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Coffee Station - 1st floor
The coffee break will be served before Saudi Arabia's session.
Strategic Partner: Gold Coffee Break
466
High-Level Dialogue: Connecting Communities, Unlocking Futures: Strengthening Digital Connectivity for Refugees and Host Communities
ITU/GSMA/UNHCR
ITU/GSMA/UNHCR

16:00 – 17:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
For people forced to flee, and the communities that host them, connectivity is a lifeline. Meaningful connectivity enables access to education, health services, livelihoods, protection, and participation in society, while also providing life-saving…
494
The Future of AI in Saudi Arabia: Innovation, Trust, and Partnership
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
Saudi Arabia has made substantial progress in AI infrastructure, governance, talent development, and international engagement, positioning the Kingdom as an emerging global hub for artificial intelligence. This presentation-style session brings…
Coffee will be served before the session Strategic Partner: Gold Partner's Insight
582
Rethinking skills in the AI age
MSIT Korea/OECD
MSIT Korea/OECD

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
As general-purpose technologies like the steam engine and electricity once revolutionised society, artificial intelligence (AI) is likewise doing so today. By enhancing productivity, stimulating economic growth and creating new job opportunities, AI…
574
Beyond Ethics and Regulation: Compassionate AI for a Just and Sustainable World
Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion (SMGC)
SMGC

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
As artificial intelligence increasingly shapes the structures of governance, commerce, and social life, the normative frameworks guiding its development carry consequences that will extend across generations. The session is anchored in Nobel Peace…
468
High-Level Dialogue on Financial Mechanisms for Digital Development
International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union

17:00 – 18:00 (UTC+02:00) Room B
The High-Level Dialogue on Finance, convened as part of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2026 Forum, will provide a platform for discussion on how to strengthen financing for digital development and advance universal, meaningful…
565
Nigeria’s Digital Economy: From Vision to Impact
Nigeria
Nigeria

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
As countries accelerate digital transformation, Nigeria is demonstrating how strategic investments in talent, connectivity, and artificial intelligence are driving inclusive growth and expanding digital opportunities. This Country Insight Session…
483
Leaders TalkX 5 - Building Resilience: Secure and Trusted Digital Public Infrastructure
WSIS
WSIS

17:15 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C
When a farmer in a landlocked developing country accesses a government service through a shared digital platform, or a small business owner completes a transaction through an open payment system, they are benefiting from something that markets alone…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
471
WSIS Prizes Nominees
WSIS
WSIS

17:45 – 18:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Following a record-breaking 1,595 submissions from 122 countries, 360 outstanding projects were selected by the WSIS Prizes Expert Group to advance to the Online Voting phase. These nominated projects distinguished themselves through a rigorous…
475
WSIS Prizes Nominees
WSIS
WSIS

18:00 – 18:15 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Following a record-breaking 1,595 submissions from 122 countries, 360 outstanding projects were selected by the WSIS Prizes Expert Group to advance to the Online Voting phase. These nominated projects distinguished themselves through a rigorous…
580
Yoga: Wellbeing and mindfulness session with professional instructors
Permanent Mission of India
Permanent Mission of India

18:15 – 18:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C

Thursday 9 July


551
Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in ICT Breakfast Meeting
International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union

08:00 – 09:00 (UTC+02:00) Room X
On invitation only
The third edition of the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in ICT will be held in conjunction with the WSIS Forum 2026 and in strategic collaboration with AI for Good. Bringing together women Ministers, regulators, industry leaders, and emerging…
442
WSIS Prizes 2026 Winners Ceremony
WSIS
WSIS

09:00 – 10:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
The WSIS Prizes 2026 Winners Ceremony is one of the flagship moments of the WSIS Forum 2026, bringing together the global digital development community to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impact. Following a historic edition of the WSIS Prizes…
479
Ministerial Roundtable
WSIS
WSIS

10:00 – 12:00 (UTC+02:00) Room B
Ministers only
Interpretation: EN/FR/AR/ZH/ES/RU Ministerial Round Table
147
AI for faster and better targeted humanitarian response
UN Global Pulse, the Secretary-General’s Innovation Lab
UN Global Pulse, the Secretary-General’s…

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This joint talk presented by UN Global Pulse, the Secretary-General's Innovation Lab, and Google Research will highlight DISHA, a leading example of a multi-sector collaboration of partners matching AI capabilities to humanitarian and development…
395
The Politics of Knowledge in the AI Age: Empowering Human Agency through Standards, Human Rights, and the Role of Corporations
ITU, OHCHR and HKS
ITU, OHCHR and HKS

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies are reshaping not only economies and public services, but the politics of knowledge itself: what can be known, who controls that knowledge, and how it is used to shape individual and collective…
277
Post‑Quantum: Preparing the Internet for Post-Quantum Cryptography
AFNIC
AFNIC

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
As advances in quantum computing accelerate, the global Internet community faces one of its most significant security challenges/ How can we transition to PQC in a coordinated, timely, and inclusive manner? What impact on the DNS and Internet? The…
508
Leaders TalkX 6 - Skills for the Future: Leading Inclusive Capacity Building
WSIS
WSIS

10:15 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Digital transformation delivers on its promise only when people have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to fully and meaningfully participate in it. Across developing and least developed countries, as well as underserved communities, capacity gaps…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
514
Leaders TalkX 7- Frameworks that Enable: Policy Leadership in ICT Development
WSIS
WSIS

10:45 – 11:15 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Effective policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks are the bedrock of inclusive digital transformation, yet for many developing and least developed countries, building them remains a formidable challenge. Limited technical expertise, institutional…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
261
Tanzania e-Government AI initiatives to enhance service delivery
United Republic of Tanzania
United Republic of Tanzania

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The session will highlight the country's e-Government and Artificial Intelligence initiatives aimed at enhancing public service delivery and improving institutional efficiency. The session will showcase Tanzania's progress in developing the National…
391
Workshop: Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in ICT Leadership Circle Lab 2026
International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
On invitation only
The Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in ICT Leadership Circle Lab is an invitation-only workshop designed to complement the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in ICT Breakfast. Bringing together women Ministers, regulators, industry…
513
From GenAI to Agentic Fraud: A Multi-stakeholder Approach to Building Global Digital Trust
International Trademark Association
International Trademark Association

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This high-level panel addresses the evolution from Generative AI to Agentic AI and automated fraud, examining how impersonation and automated deception impact the foundational trust required for an inclusive digital society. The session demonstrates…
393
From local to global Internet governance
ISOC France
ISOC France

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
Sebastien Bachollet (chair of the session) – France – 9 minutesIntroduction and presentation of the speakersHow French IGF was born? Abdeldjalil Bachar Bong – Chad – 7 minutesIGF Chad and subregional African IGF Olivier Crepin-Leblond – UK – 7…
516
Leaders TalkX 8 - Strengthening International Cooperation for the Information Society
WSIS
WSIS

11:15 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C
The challenges for building an inclusive, secure, and sustainable digital society are inherently global, because no country can meet them alone. That means we must work together to do everything from mobilizing financing for digital infrastructure in…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
564
WSIS Prizes Nominees
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

11:45 – 12:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Following a record-breaking 1,595 submissions from 122 countries, 360 outstanding projects were selected by the WSIS Prizes Expert Group to advance to the Online Voting phase. These nominated projects distinguished themselves through a rigorous…
572
WSIS Prizes Nominees
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

12:00 – 12:15 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Following a record-breaking 1,595 submissions from 122 countries, 360 outstanding projects were selected by the WSIS Prizes Expert Group to advance to the Online Voting phase. These nominated projects distinguished themselves through a rigorous…
510
High-Level Lunch by Malaysia
Malaysia and ITU
Malaysia and ITU

12:15 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00)
On invitation only
Strategic Partner: Platinum High-Level Lunch
539
Knowledge Café WSIS Stocktaking - Showcasing Projects
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

12:30 – 13:00 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
The Knowledge Café provides an informal and interactive space to reflect on the enduring importance of the WSIS process as a central, trusted, and uniquely multistakeholder platform for global digital cooperation. Reaffirmed by the recent UN General…
263
GovStack Women in GovTech Challenge 2026 & Digital Leaders' Forum
ITU/ GovStack partners
ITU/ GovStack partners

12:45 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room C
The GovStack Women in GovTech Challenge 2026 & Digital Leaders’ Forum brings together global leaders, development partners, governments, academia, and the GovTech community to explore how inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can…
207
Advancing Quantum Safe Transitions: Ethical, Legal, Social, and Policy Dimensions
DepHUB, UNESCO IFAP, and ITU
DepHUB, UNESCO IFAP, and ITU

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
The transition towards post-quantum cryptography (PQC), quantum key distribution (QKD), hybrid security architectures, and emerging quantum internet infrastructures is accelerating as governments, industry, standards bodies, and research institutions…
266
Measuring What Matters: Revisiting ICT Core Indicators for the WSIS Vision
Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development
Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This session will present recent developments in the global framework for monitoring progress towards an inclusive information society. It will highlight the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing the work of the Partnership on…
281
Advancing Universal Acceptance of all Domain Names and Email Addresses
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
ICANN and UNESCO

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room B
Enabling domain names and email addresses in local languages and scripts has been a longstanding commitment, articulated in WSIS 2005 (in Tunis) and also supported through UNESCO’s 2003 Recommencation Concerning the Promotion and Use of…
208
Who Certifies the AI That Moves Among Us? Building Independent Safety Assurance for AI in the Physical World
Responsible AI for Safety and Ethics (RAISE)
Responsible AI for Safety and Ethics (RAISE)

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
Background. Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to screens and data centres. It now flies drones over inhabited areas, drives ground robots through hospitals, airports and city streets, and operates assistive and surgical systems — taking…
210
Building the infrastructure of trust, governance, and scalability for the prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases
WHO, ITU, Vital Strategies and REACH Digital
WHO, ITU, Vital Strategies and REACH Digital

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
This session is jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Vital Strategies, and REACH Digital as part of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026. It brings…
520
Regulators Roundtable
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

14:00 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Room B
Regulators only
Interpretation: EN/FR/AR/ZH/ES/RU Regulators Round Table
449
UN Leaders Dialogue
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
The UN Leaders Dialogue @ WSIS brings together senior leaders from across the United Nations system for a strategic and forward‑looking exchange on the future of global digital cooperation. Grounded in the long‑standing WSIS process and energized by…
401
From Policy to Practice: Implementing AI Governance and Cybersecurity Frameworks in Emerging Digital States
Ministry of Technology&AI Lebanon
Ministry of Technology&AI Lebanon

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes economies, governments, and societies, countries are facing growing pressure not only to develop national AI strategies, but to operationalize them in ways that are secure, practical, and trusted. This talk…
236
Building to Belong – Future of Public AI and Lessons from Local Innovation
United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
A candid conversation between leaders designing, building and funding culturally adapted, public-interest AI for contexts where reliability and inclusion are make-or-break: the equatorial forests along the Congo River, the steppes of central Mexico,…
233
WSIS+20 follow-up - from Milestones to Momentum: what comes next?
Internet Society United Kingdom Chapter; Internet Society Swiss Chapter; Internet Society Serbian Chapter; Internet Society German Chapter
ISOC UK; ISOC CH; ISOC RS; ISOC DE.

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This session will offer a measured, action‑oriented forum for reviewing progress since WSIS+20 and for aligning next steps across the UN digital cooperation architecture. Panelists will reflect on the outcomes of the April CSTD meeting and the…
232
Breaking Barriers: Pathways to Accelerate AI‑Enabled Healthcare
Geneva School of Diplomacy
Geneva School of Diplomacy

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
The workshop will explore concrete strategies to accelerate the global scale‑up of e‑health and AI solutions by addressing regulatory, economic, and operational challenges. Despite the potential of digital health to improve system performance and…
397
Preventing Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse: Global Responses to Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
SWGfL
SWGfL

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse, has emerged as one of the most significant forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), affecting millions of women and girls globally. The adoption of the UN Cybercrime Convention,…
407
High-level Roundtable: A Digital Climate-Resilient Future
ITU
ITU

14:00 – 14:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
The accelerating impacts of climate change, combined with rapid digital transformation, are reshaping how societies anticipate, respond to, and recover from environmental challenges. Digital technologies—including artificial intelligence,…
593
Coffee Break
South Africa
South Africa

14:45 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Coffee Station - 1st floor
The coffee break will be served before South Africa's session.
Coffee will be served before the session Coffee Break
478
Leaders TalkX 9 - Cyber Confidence: Enhancing Security in the Digital Age
WSIS
WSIS

15:00 – 15:30 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Trust is the invisible infrastructure within our digital society. Without the confidence that our technologies are safe, secure, and rights-respecting, we cannot fully achieve equitable, sustainable digital transformation. To be sure, with every…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
453
UN-WSIS Regional Commissions
ITU
ITU

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
The UN-WSIS Regional Commissions Meeting is held annually during the WSIS Forum, bringing together the five United Nations Regional Commissions—the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe…
577
Africa's Digital Roadmap to 2035: Implementing WSIS+20 Outcomes, Advancing Agenda 2063 and Accelerating Inclusive Digital Transformation
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda
South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya…

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Coffee will be served before the session Country's Insight
116
Sustainable financing for digital development
Association for Progressive Communications and the Swiss Federal Office of Communication
APC, BAKOM

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
This interactive roundtable brings together practitioners, researchers and policymakers directly involved in financing digital development — including members of the newly established UNGIS Task Force on Financing Digital Development, mandated by the…
408
When digital systems fail: Understanding the Risk of a Global Digital Pandemic
ITU/UNDRR/SciencesPo
ITU/UNDRR/SciencesPo

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
This session will draw on the findings of the report “When digital systems fail: The hidden risks of our digital world”, highlighting how increasing reliance on interconnected digital infrastructure creates systemic vulnerabilities. It will examine…
400
Green Digital Action: The road between COP30 to COP31
ITU/World Bank/GIZ/CODES/UNESCO
ITU/World Bank/GIZ/CODES/UNESCO

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
Digital transformation is accelerating across all sectors, while climate change, environmental degradation, e-waste generation and the energy footprint of digital technologies continue to grow. At the same time, digital innovation can enable…
235
Operationalizing Digital Resilience
GNKS Consult; Marconi Society Resilience Institute
Marconi Society

15:00 – 15:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
The WSIS+20 Review reaffirmed the World Summit on the Information Society as a unique multistakeholder framework for advancing an inclusive, secure, and development-oriented digital future. At the same time, the Global Digital Compact highlights the…
403
Leaders TalkX 10 - Global Perspectives on Emerging Technology
WSIS
WSIS

15:30 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
The digital landscape of 2026 looks nothing like the one that WSIS sought to shape two decades ago, and the pace of change is only accelerating. Blockchain systems are redefining trust and transparency in transactions and governance. Quantum…
Real-time captioning Interpretation: EN/FR Leaders TalkX
410
Leaders TalkX 11 - Digital Government, Digital Citizens: Ensuring Accessibility to Public Services
WSIS
WSIS

16:00 – 16:30 (UTC+02:00) Room C
E-government has come a long way since the World Summit on the Information Society first identified it as a cornerstone of inclusivity. Now, governments worldwide deliver a wide range of digital services to citizens and businesses. Yet access to…
Real-time captioning Leaders TalkX
413
The Workforce of the Future - Workplace Transition and the role of Education
International Federation for Information Processing
IFIP

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
This session will focus on the workforce of the future including the workplace of the future, and the impact on education the AI-driven technological transformation is driving. The panelists will provide current information on these topics from the…
259
New Technological Deal, or a Global South Digital strategy for impactful ICT Transformation
Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Affairs of Senegal/ Ministère des Télécommunications et du Numérique, Sénégal
MTN

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
New Technological Deal: From Vision to Collective Action – Senegal’s Digital Transformation Journey As digital transformation accelerates worldwide, Senegal is advancing a new strategic ambition through its New Technological Deal, a national…
239
Better Data for AI – A Possible Task
UN-CCSA/ UNCTAD/ITU/ Colombia, Norway, UK
UN-CCSA/ UNCTAD/ITU/ Colombia, Norway, UK

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
Large language models and generative AI increasingly shape how knowledge is used and shared, but their reliability depends on the quality and provenance of training data. As AI expands into governance, public services and markets, identifying…
399
Foresight for FAIR Cities – Exploring AI Risks and Mitigation Strategies
United Nations University - EGOV
United Nations University - EGOV

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room B
This workshop contributes to the work of the "FAIR Cities" ITU U4SSC working group and will present key outputs, including the Guide for Cities on FAIR AI and the Repository of Best Practices and Frameworks for Urban AI. It will also introduce a…
237
Common But Differentiated Responsibilities – How can we realize this principle in WSIS implementation?
Global Digital Justice Forum
Global Digital Justice Forum

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
In December 2025, in their statement on the WSIS+20 Outcome Declaration, the G77 expressed regret that the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) had not been explicitly invoked in the document. In the bloc’s view, this…
417
From Implementation to Review: WGDT Reflections on next steps for the GDC (closed group meeting)
Working Group on Digital Technologies/ITU/ODET
Working Group on Digital…

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
On invitation only
The 2026 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum takes place midway through implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). As discussions on the modalities and scope of future GDC review processes begin, there is a timely…
416
Delivering ICT’s Climate Impact: Data, Methods and Country Experiences
ITU/GIZ
ITU/GIZ

16:00 – 16:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
Digital technologies play a critical role in enabling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and energy efficiency across sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, and cities. However, unlocking this potential requires moving beyond…
594
Coffee Break
Nigeria
Nigeria

16:00 – 16:15 (UTC+02:00) Coffee Station - 1st floor
411
WSIS Prizes Nominees
WSIS
WSIS

16:45 – 17:00 (UTC+02:00) Room C
Following a record-breaking 1,595 submissions from 122 countries, 360 outstanding projects were selected by the WSIS Prizes Expert Group to advance to the Online Voting phase. These nominated projects distinguished themselves through a rigorous…
420
High-Level Dialogue - LLDCs
ITU
ITU

17:00 – 18:00 (UTC+02:00) Room B
The High-Level Dialogue on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), convened as part of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026, will examine how digital connectivity can address the structural challenges faced by LLDCs and…
423
WSIS+20 Outcome Document: Fostering Digital Transformation in Africa
Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA)
Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA)

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
424
How can we articulate Global AI Governance with Human Rights and Multistakeholder Engagement?
Data Privacy Brasil
Data Privacy Brasil

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
The global governance of Artificial Intelligence has been contested by multiple actors and institutional arenas. Processes such as AI Summits, the Independent Scientific Panel, and the Global Dialogue have emerged as spaces of significant attention,…
250
Rethinking learning for the AI era
DiploFoundation/Geneva Internet Platform, Beijing Institute of Technology
DiploFoundation/Geneva Internet Platform,…

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room Alpha
This session will explore approaches towards developing the skills and competencies needed for learning in the AI era. It builds on the 2025 WSIS Forum session on “AI (and) education: Convergence between Chinese and European pedagogical practices”,…
425
From Dialogue to Practice: NRI-Driven Multistakeholder Labs for WSIS Implementation
AGID - Italy, APC , LAC IGF, IGF Secretariat and other stakeholders
Agency for Digital Italy

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
This interactive session will explore how National and Regional IGF Initiatives (NRIs) can contribute to the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcomes and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) by connecting local…
421
AI and Energy for Sustainable Digital Development: Governance, Infrastructure, and Global Cooperation
The EnergyPact Foundation
The EnergyPact Foundation

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
Artificial intelligence is reshaping global computing demand and is putting unprecedented pressure on power grids, water resources, and energy infrastructure worldwide — while simultaneously offering tools to optimize the very systems that power it.…
355
Digital Inclusion as a Driver of Community Development
ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Rhizomatica and Association for Progressive Communications
ITU-D, Rhizomatica & APC

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
Over the past seven years, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Development Bureau (ITU-D), together with regional and international partners, has been supporting digital inclusion in rural, remote and Indigenous…
454
Hackathon Award Ceremony, WSIS Photo Contest 2026 Award
WSIS
WSIS

17:00 – 17:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
Celebrating the Power of Visual Storytelling: WSIS Photo Contest 2026 Out of a record-breaking 465 submissions from WSIS stakeholders around the world, 151 finalists were selected for their compelling ability to capture how ICTs are driving inclusion…
553
WSIS Forum 2026: Official Reception | Partners Certificate Ceremony
WSIS/ITU, Switzerland
WSIS/ITU, Switzerland

17:45 – 20:00 (UTC+02:00) Room A

Friday 10 July


Upcoming Sessions


455
UNGIS working-level meeting LIVE
UNGIS
UNGIS

09:00 – 10:30 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room Alpha
UNGIS members only
The United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) working-level meeting brings together representatives of UN entities to strengthen coordination and coherence on digital development across the UN system. The annual working-level meeting at…
585
Leaders TalkX 12 - Co‑Creating Tomorrow: Digital and AI in Partnership LIVE
WSIS
WSIS

10:00 – 10:30 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room C
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are rapidly reshaping economies, public services, and societies, creating new opportunities for innovation, inclusion, and sustainable development. Yet significant challenges remain in ensuring that…
314
WSIS+20 in Action: Implementation, Cooperation and Review – Part II LIVE
UN DESA
UN DESA

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room G
The WSIS+20 outcome reaffirmed the importance of international and regional cooperation in advancing inclusive, people-centred and development-oriented digital transformation. It also emphasized the need to strengthen implementation, follow-up and…
293
Rethinking capacity building and digital learning for today and tomorrow's world (WSIS Action Line C4 session) LIVE
International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
ITU, UNESCO

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room K
In an era defined by rapid digital transformation and the accelerated deployment of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, societies worldwide face both unprecedented opportunities and widening digital divides. Despite major progress…
246
Building Digital Trust: The Role of International Standards in Inclusive Digital Transformation LIVE
The British Standards Institution
The British Standards Institution

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room L
Digital technologies are creating new opportunities for economic growth, service delivery and participation in the global economy. At the same time, they introduce increasing complexity and risk, particularly in relation to cybersecurity, data…
245
Safe at Scale: Translating the UN Automated Driving Systems (ADS) Regulation into Global Action LIVE
The Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University
I-AIIG

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room F
In June 2026, the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) is expected to adopt a landmark United Nations Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on Automated Driving Systems (ADS). This milestone marks an important step toward…
488
Sovereign Health Systems and the Collective Privacy Gap: What the World's First Indigenous-Sovereign AI Health Initiative Reveals About the Limits of Current Governance LIVE
Innovation Network Global (ING), Innovation Network Canada, Dynamic Coalition on Emerging Technologies, UN IGF
ING, INC, DC-ET, UN IGF, WPF, TWN

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room E
Health data is among the most economically and politically valuable data a population produces. Most national health digitization programs are built on infrastructure that sends that data to foreign cloud providers and foreign jurisdictions, where it…
429
High-Level Dialogue Parliamentarian: Parliamentary Dialogue on Digital Governance LIVE
Inter-Parliamentary Union, International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Development Programme, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
IPU, ITU, CPA, UNDP

10:15 – 11:15 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room B
The Parliamentary Dialogue on Digital Governance is a high-level panel convened at the WSIS Forum 2026 by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and…
601
UN Leaders Dialogue
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

10:30 – 11:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room C
The UN Leaders Dialogue @ WSIS brings together leaders from across the United Nations system for a strategic and forward‑looking exchange on the future of global digital cooperation. Grounded in the long‑standing WSIS process and energized by the…
291
WSIS Action Line C3 Access to information and knowledge
UNESCO
UNESCO

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room K
294
WSIS Action Line C5 Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs
ITU
ITU

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room F
Satellite communications, positioning, navigation and timing services, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring systems are now deeply embedded in global ICT infrastructure. Improving confidence and security in these space-related ICTs is a…
316
Ethical, Human-Centric, and Inclusive Development: Integrating Right, Truth, Justice and Consultations Principles in ICT Governance for a Sustainable Future.
Internal Resources Division, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh
IRD_MoF_BD

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room E
This session explores a unique and innovative governance framework that integrates ethical, human-centric, and inclusive principles of digital transformation with foundational Right jurisprudence values—Right, Truth, Justice and…
438
WSIS Prizes Champions' Ceremony
WSIS
WSIS

11:00 – 12:30 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room C
136
Developing strategies for AI literacy in action
TikTok
TikTok

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room Alpha
With AI changing the way we understand what is real or not, a deeper understanding of AI and misinformation is needed across countries and demographics. In 2025, TikTok launched an AI Literacy Fund and supported organisations to produce and…
282
The Next Byte – Shaping Human-Centred Internet Governance
IGF Secretariat/UNDESA
IGF Secretariat/UNDESA

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room G
UN General Assembly Resolution 80/173, adopted in December 2025, reviewed the progress made in implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) over the past 20 years. It reaffirmed the WSIS framework's relevance and…
430
ITU Contribution to the WSIS Implementation of the WSIS Outcomes
Chair and Vice-Chairs of the ITU Council Working Group on WSIS&SDG
Chair and Vice-Chairs of the ITU Council…

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room L
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has played a central role in supporting and implementing the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcomes, in close collaboration with UN partners and stakeholders, contributing to the…
436
Building Trust and Protection for Essential Digital Services
ICRC
ICRC

11:15 – 12:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room B
As essential services increasingly rely on digital infrastructure, ensuring that protected humanitarian, medical, and cultural services can be reliably identified online has become an important challenge. This session will explore the Digital Emblem…
440
Knowledge Café: WSIS+20 Follow-up towards 2035 WSIS-GDC Coherence
ITU
ITU

12:00 – 13:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room Alpha
The Knowledge Café provides an informal and interactive space to reflect on the enduring importance of the WSIS process as a central, trusted, and uniquely multistakeholder platform for global digital cooperation. Reaffirmed by the recent UN General…
Light meals will be offered to attendees during the session Knowledge Café
522
Knowledge Café
Nigeria
Nigeria

12:15 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Room A
Light meals will be offered to attendees during the session Silver Partner Knowledge Café
476
High Level Dialogue: Strengthening the Resilience of Telecommunication Submarine Cables
ITU/Portugal/Nigeria
ITU/Portugal/Nigeria

13:00 – 14:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room E
Over 99% of global Internet traffic is carried by submarine telecommunications cables forming the critical backbone of international digital communications. As global dependency on digital services deepens across all sectors of the economy, these…
486
Women Leading the Digital Future - Shaping Policy Together
International Telecommunication Union, Women Leadership in the Public ICT Sector
ITU, WLICT

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room B
This session explores how to strengthen women’s leadership in digital policymaking to ensure more inclusive and gender-responsive digital transformation. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in ICT careers and decision-making roles,…
134
Creative Intelligence: Art in the Age of AI
Swiss Association of Women and Empowerment
Swiss Association of Women and Empowerment

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room G
Can artificial intelligence become a creative partner? How can digital characters help bring knowledge, culture, and ideas to life? Join us for an inspiring exploration of the intersection between art, storytelling, and emerging technologies.…
461
Co‑Designing Inclusive and Safe Smart Cities: Public Engagement, Security, and Gender‑Responsive Urban Innovation
Womenvai, SwissEngineering Geneva, University of Bari Aldo Moro and partners (an inclusive Smart Cities Panel)
Womenvai, UNIBA, CUT, WFEO, EDWIIN, FC, SG

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room L
The rapid evolution of digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), digital public infrastructures, and data-driven governance, is transforming cities worldwide. While these innovations offer significant…
363
Are we concerned about the development of Superintelligent AI?
Global AI Governance Alliance and Transnational Working Group on AI-World Federalist Movement/IGP
GAIGANow and TWG on AI

13:00 – 13:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room F
The session will start with a presentation of the results of a new survey of over 300,000 people in over 100 countries regarding their views on super intelligent AI. The session will then move on to explore the implications of the survey, what…
462
WSIS Action Lines Facilitators Meeting
WSIS
WSIS

14:00 – 15:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room C
Since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) established its Action Lines, stakeholders have worked collectively to harness digital technologies in support of sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Today, in a…
531
High-Level Track Facilitators Summary and Certificates
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

15:00 – 16:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room C
This session will provide a platform for the High-Level Track Facilitators to present summaries of their respective Leaders TalkX sessions, highlighting key discussions, outcomes, and emerging priorities from the WSIS Forum 2026. The presentations…
533
Closing Ceremony and Chair’s WSIS Forum 2026 Summary
WSIS/ITU
WSIS/ITU

16:00 – 17:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical session with remote participation Room C

Past Sessions


511
Ambassadors Roundtable
ITU
ITU

07:45 – 09:00 (UTC+02:00) Room X
Ambassadors only
457
Final IAB Meeting on Submarine Cable Resilience (Closed Meeting)
ITU/International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC)
ITU/International Cable Protection Committee…

08:00 – 10:00 (UTC+02:00) Room B
On invitation only
Over 99% of global Internet traffic is carried by submarine telecommunications cables forming the critical backbone of international digital communications. As global dependency on digital services deepens across all sectors of the economy, these…
243
Inclusion Without Safety Is Not Empowerment: Automation Is Scaling Harm Faster Than We Can Respond
Away from Keyboard Inc, Soroptimist International, Women 4 STEM
AFK, W4S, SI, NCWV, AGEC

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room L
Efforts to expand access to technology are accelerating. More women and girls are being encouraged to participate, build skills, and enter emerging fields. But safety is not keeping pace. This session challenges a common assumption: that inclusion…
428
Building fit-for purpose networks: Emergency Telecommunications in Action
ITU/GSMA
ITU/GSMA

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G
231
Open Source and AI for Sustainable Development: Digital Infrastructure, Open Data, and Multistakeholder Cooperation
CAST UN Consultative Committee on Open Source Innovation (CCOSI); Open Source Technology Committee, China Institute of Communications
CCOSI; CIC

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room K
This session will explore how open source and AI can jointly serve as practical enablers of sustainable development across sectors through open digital infrastructure, interoperable data systems, high-quality and shareable datasets, and collaborative…
268
Ethical and interoperable data and AI governance for health, crisis response, and digital public infrastructure
GCPA; SIDCER; AI4GHR; HGP2; CAI3R-science; EOSC-Future/RDA AIDV; AOSP
Good Clinical Practice Alliance (GCPA);…

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room E
The WSIS+20 review and resolution A/RES/80/173 call for a move from principles to implementation in the governance of data and artificial intelligence. This session asks how that move can be delivered where the stakes are highest, in health,…
241
Making AI Safe in the Real World: From Governance Principles to Operational Tools
Council of Europe
Council of Europe

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room F
The global conversation on AI governance has produced an unprecedented volume of principles, declarations and frameworks. Yet the central challenge for governments, international organisations and development finance institutions is no longer…
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