UK IGF presents : Perspectives on WSIS+20

The UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +20 is the 20-year review of a two-phase UN process held in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005, which aimed to build a people-centred, inclusive and  development-oriented information society. As well as setting a vision for digital development through its Action Lines, the WSIS process formalised the framework for Internet governance and led to the creation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).   

The WSIS+20 Review – which takes place this year – is a key moment to take stock of what the WSIS process has delivered over the last 20 years, where there is further to go, and how the process might evolve in the future. Just as multi-stakeholder cooperation is crucial to having real world impact, so too is a WSIS+20 review that garners diverse stakeholder perspectives.  

The UK IGF hosted an online session entitled “Perspectives on WSIS+20” on Wednesday 30^th April.

Joining the session were:  

• David Souter, Independent Expert on Digital Society and lead consultant for the UN Commission on Science, Tech for Development’s report looking at the implementation of WSIS outcomes over the last 20 years  

• Paul Blaker, Head of ITU and Internet Governance at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology  

• Alessandra Lustrati, Head of the Digital Development Cluster at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office  

• Ellie McDonald, Policy and Advocacy Lead at Global Partners Digital  

• Nick Wenban-Smith, General Counsel and Head of Stakeholder Relations at Nominet  

• Dr Erica Morat, Director, United Nations & International Organisations at Microsoft

View the recording of the session: