UN Virtual Worlds Day 2024
Harnessing the metaverse to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
14 June 2024
Geneva, Switzerland
Thank you for joining the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day!
Welcome to the first ‘UN Virtual Worlds Day’ a pioneering event presented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO), the United Nations Futures Lab Network, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Tourism, the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA), the United Nations Innovation Network (UNIN), the United Nations Guatemala, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its interagency initiative Resilience Frontiers, and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD).
This one-day event underscored a significant milestone in technological innovation and its potential to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we delve into the complexities of virtual worlds, this event explored how metaverse and spatial computing can serve as powerful tools for global advancement. The first UN Virtual Worlds Day programme was developed by a dedicated Steering Committee.
Meet the speakers
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Secretary General, ITU
Seizo Onoe
Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
H.E. Mr Younus Al Nasser
Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Data & Statistics Establishment, Digital Dubai
Radia Funna
Futurist and creator of the xHuman theory and Chair of the 1st UN Virtual Worlds Day
Paul Ladd
Director, UNRISD
Sameer Chauhan
Director, United Nations International Computing Centre, UNICC
H.E. Mr Nape Nnauye Minister, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania
Paula Llobet Vilarrasa
Councillor for Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, Valencia, Spain
Neil Trevett
Vice President Developer Ecosystems, NVIDIA & President of the Metaverse Standards Forum
Christina Yan Zhang
CEO, The Metaverse Institute
H.E. Mr Eliud Owalo
Minister, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Kenya
Anamaria Meshkurti
Tech Investor and Strategic Board Member, AMVS Capital
Bertrand Levy
Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, The Sandbox
Yazeed I. Alabdulkarim
Advisor, Research & Innovation, Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE)
Isabelle Hupont
Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Manuel Barreiro
CEO & Founder, Aston Group
Nevine Tewfik
Senior International Relations Expert, Egypt
Madan M. Oberoi
Executive Director of Technology and Innovation, INTERPOL
Co-organized by:
Supported by
UN Virtual Worlds Hub
Virtual worlds, such as the metaverse and spatial computing, stand at the forefront of technological innovation. These digital spaces, emerging from the fusion of physical and virtual realities, hold transformative potential in supporting the work of the United Nations and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing immersive, interactive platforms for collaboration and problem-solving, virtual worlds could be instrumental in addressing global challenges.
Explore the virtual worlds’ impact on UN’s SDGs
Connect with us
With the global convening power of the UN, we bring to our international audience world experts from across government, industry, academia, and civil society.
The Mission
Harness the transformative power of virtual worlds to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Join forces
Elevate your impact by sponsoring the UN Virtual Worlds Day and supporting the UN SDGs throughout the year.
Play your part
Join our platform and play your part in using virtual worlds to achieve the SDGs.
Be a Catalyst for Change: Sponsor the UN Virtual Worlds Day and Champion the UN SDGs!
Through this platform, we showcase groundbreaking initiatives, facilitate collaborations, and provide resources to inspire and empower individuals and organizations to leverage virtual worlds for sustainable development.
Join us on this journey as we explore the digital universe and unlock its potential for a sustainable and inclusive future.
Check out the sponsorship packages here.
Contact us at virtualworlds@itu.int.
