First Meeting WSIS Open Consultations with Stakeholders | WSIS Forum 2026


ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD

Session 104

Wednesday, 21 January 2026 14:00–15:00 (UTC+01:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room L, ITU Montbrillant Building Interactive Session 2 Documents

Meeting 1

This session marks the first meeting of the Open Consultation Process (OCP) for WSIS Forum 2026, providing a unique opportunity for stakeholders to shape the agenda, program, and format of the upcoming Forum.

Participants are invited to engage in open discussions, share ideas, and contribute their perspectives, ensuring that the WSIS Forum continues to reflect the priorities and interests of the global ICT community.

The OCP introduces new calls for action, including contributions to the WSIS Stocktaking, WSIS Prizes, WSIS Photo Contest, and WSIS Special Prizes. This session will brief participants on these open calls and provide a platform to exchange ideas on key themes, innovative approaches, and stakeholder-led initiatives for the Forum.

Co-hosts and co-organizers will share the latest preparations for the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in 2025, followed by an open discussion to listen to stakeholders’ insights and suggestions.

Building on the WSIS+20 resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025, which calls for the WSIS Forum to continue on an annual basis, this session underscores the Forum’s ongoing role as a global platform for inclusive dialogue and collaboration in the field of information and communication technologies.


AGENDA

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks

  • Moderator: Gitanjali Sah, Strategy and Policy Coordinator, ITU
  • Opening Remarks: Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, ITU

2. Remarks by co-organisers

  • UNESCO
  • UNDP
  • UNCTAD

3. Updates on the WSIS Forum 2026

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


Documentation: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/albums/72177720331578572

Panellists
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas Deputy Secretary-General International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

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

Ms. Scarlett Fondeur Gil
Ms. Scarlett Fondeur Gil Economic Affairs Officer United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Mr. Davide Storti
Mr. Davide Storti WSIS Coordinator Digital Policies and Digital Transformation Section United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Remote Panellist

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