Geneva: The WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 officially commenced on Monday, featuring a high-level delegation from Kuwait led by Communications Minister Omar Al-Omar, alongside a broad spectrum of representatives from governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and academia.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the event, running from July 7 to 11 in Geneva, is co-hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Swiss Confederation. It is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, with the collaboration of over 40 UN entities. The summit coincides with the "AI for Good Global Summit 2025," aiming to enhance digital cooperation and tackle emerging technological challenges.
In her opening address, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted the significance of WSIS, remarking, "WSIS has been uniting the world for two decades around a shared vision of an inclusive information society that serves everyone." She emphasized the event's role as a pivotal moment to bolster the multi-stakeholder framework towards a more inclusive and equitable digital future.
The summit presents a distinctive platform to evaluate the achievements and challenges faced by the global digital community over the past two decades since the Geneva Plan of Action's adoption in 2003. It aims to fortify international cooperation in digital technology and sustainable development.
Serving as a comprehensive forum for policy dialogue, the summit offers a critical opportunity for stakeholders to review progress on digital issues, particularly in AI digital transformation and global digital cooperation frameworks. Additionally, the program features the annual WSIS Prizes contest, recognizing outstanding projects and initiatives leveraging information and communication technologies for sustainable development.
The WSIS Forum remains the sole international mechanism mandated by the UN General Assembly to coordinate global efforts in advancing digital technologies for development.