Agenda | WSIS Forum 2026

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).

Webcast

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

Interactive Sessions

Monday 6 July

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…

Supporting Partner Interactive Session

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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.…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive 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…

Interactive Session

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…

Innovation Partner Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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

Interactive Session

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Supporting Partner Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

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…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Innovation Partner Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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.…

Interactive Session

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…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Supporting Partner Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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.…

Interactive Session

Tuesday 7 July

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Accessibility Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive 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…

Interactive Session

285

AI and Virtual Worlds

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and ITU, Global Initiative on AI and Virtual Worlds – Discovering the Citiverse

UAB, ITU

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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.…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

Wednesday 8 July

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…

Innovation Partner Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Youth Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

Thursday 9 July

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Supporting Partner Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Women and Girls in Digital Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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

Interactive Session

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”,…

Interactive Session

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.…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

Friday 10 July

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…

Interactive Session

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,…

Interactive Session

428

Building fit-for purpose networks: Emergency Telecommunications in Action

ITU/GSMA

ITU/GSMA

09:00 – 09:45 (UTC+02:00) Room G

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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…

Interactive Session

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

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) 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…

Interactive Session

246

Building Digital Trust: The Role of International Standards in Inclusive Digital Transformation

The British Standards Institution

The British Standards Institution

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) 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…

Interactive Session

245

Safe at Scale: Translating the UN Automated Driving Systems (ADS) Regulation into Global Action

The Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University

I-AIIG

10:00 – 10:45 (UTC+02:00) 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…

Interactive Session

282

The Next Byte – Shaping Human-Centred Internet Governance

IGF Secretariat/UNDESA

IGF Secretariat/UNDESA

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) 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…

Internet Governance Forum Interactive Session

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) 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…

Interactive Session

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) 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…

Interactive Session

136

Developing strategies for AI literacy in action

TikTok

TikTok

11:00 – 11:45 (UTC+02:00) 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…

Interactive Session

436

Building Trust and Protection for Essential Digital Services

ICRC

ICRC

11:15 – 12:00 (UTC+02:00) 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…

Interactive Session

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) 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,…

Interactive Session

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) 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.…

Interactive Session

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) 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…

Interactive Session

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) 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…

Interactive Session

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