IGF 2020 to be held online
[UPDATE] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fifteenth meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be held online. The IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) together with the IGF Secretariat and UN DESA have begun preparations and consultations on how best to carry out this virtual IGF annual meeting. We will keep you updated on the progress. The Government of Poland will now host the IGF 2021 Annual Meeting in Katowice in the 4th quarter of next year and the Governments of Ethiopia and Japan will be hosting the IGF annual meetings in 2022 and 2023, respectively, pending organizational arrangement.
The Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted online under the overarching theme: Internet United. The programme continues to develop around the four main thematic tracks: (1) Data; (2) Environment; (3) Inclusion; (4) Trust.
“Internet United” is a motto of the approaching IGF. However, it is not just another empty slogan but a real obligation and challenge for the whole Internet society, involving representatives of governments, the private sector, academia, civil societies and technical organizations. As we are all human beings, the Internet is united through us. It is the human spirit that drives the global network. Our dreams, ideas and actions make the network is constantly in motion.
In this respect, the multistakeholder approach gives all of us a chance to openly present the broad perspective and in due course enable mutual understanding between different positions of participants on the future of Internet debate. Surely, we agree upon far more issues than differ about – we perceive shared values as a foundation for mutual trust and consensus. Bringing together all interested stakeholders, Poland is hosting the next year’s global Internet Governance Forum. Since we are doing this for the first time, – it is a great honour for our whole Internet community and the reason to be proud. In cooperation with the UN Secretariat we invite all those for whom the Internet and its future are very important to join us during the 15th IGF. The Internet is our global, public resource, which we can influence and benefit from as long as we stay united globally.