Two weeks ago, on Dec 17, the United Nations have adopted the WSIS+20 Outcome Document, marking twenty years since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The document reaffirms the global commitment to an open, inclusive, secure, and people-centered digital environment, while emphasizing the importance of the multistakeholder approach to internet governance.
One of the most significant outcomes of the WSIS+20 review is that the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has been granted a permanent mandate within the United Nations system. This decision confirms IGF’s long-term role as a key global platform for dialogue among governments, the technical community, academia, the private sector, and civil society on Internet and digital policy issues.
While the document strongly highlights the need to bridge the digital divide, particularly between developed and least developed countries, no concrete agreements were reached on financial assistance to support digital inclusion efforts. Key questions related to funding digital infrastructure, access to the internet, and the development of digital skills remain unresolved.
In this context, it is anticipated that the UN Secretary-General may establish a dedicated working group on financing, tasked with exploring potential funding mechanisms and identifying sustainable solutions to support digital development and close the digital divide.
Gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence, recognizing the role of UN Women, as well as promoting access for persons with disabilities and the protection of children, is recognized as a basis for a more inclusive information society, and the document also includes clear language on the protection of human rights online.
The adoption of the WSIS+20 Outcome Document represents an important milestone for global digital cooperation, while also underscoring that financing digital inclusion will remain a central issue in future international discussions.
The Internet Society of Serbia Chapter leadership team, as a representative of the technical community, has for years contributed to many regional and subregional IGF activities, which are now recognized in the Outcome Document, such as igf.rs, seedig.net, as well as work in Intgovforum.org and the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group. We look forward to continued cooperation with stakeholders during the implementation of the WSIS document.
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