Session
Global Digital Governance & Cooperation
Multistakeholderism
Role of IGF
Internet Society Youth Standing Group
Veronica Piccolo, ISOC Youth Standing Group, Technical Community, WEOG Juliana Novaes, University of Leeds, Academia, GRULAC Umut Pajaro Velasquez, ISOC Gender Standing Group, Civil Society, GRULAC Mohammad Ali Jauar, ISOC Youth Standing Group, Technical Community, APAC Pedro Lana, ISOC Brasil, Technical Community, GRULAC
Juliana Novaes, University of Leeds, Academia, GRULAC
Pyrate Ruby Passell, junior high school student, civil society, APAC
Nadia Tjahja, EuroDIG, Civil Society, WEOG
Anja Gengo, IGF secretariat, International Organisation, WEOG
Jenna Fung, Asia Pacific Youth IGF, Civil society, APAC
Veronica Piccolo
Mohammad Ali Jauar
Umut Pajaro Velasquez
Book presentation followed by a discussion.
This session aims to discuss the evolution of youth engagement in Internet governance and the IGF, as well as to celebrate through the launch of a book all people and organisations who made thatpossible. The session will present the new edition of the Youth Atlas, a book that tells the story of and gives visibility to young people involved in Internet governance. This year, the book brings together young veterans and newcomers to discuss how multistakehlderism has evolved with the participation of the youth community and what are the challenges ahead. Both the session and the book are a tribute to the commitment and hard work of young people in our field and their ability to set up global partnerships. The book also bears witness to how the continuing engagement of younger generations helps to preserve the multistakeholder dialogue and to build a more resilient Internet Governance community. Indeed, many young students who entered the IG space a few years ago are now young professionals who continue to engage on behalf of their organisations and bring a unique experience in part gained through their engagement at an early stage. The book features contributions of key senior stakeholders including Vint Cerf (Google), Anja Gengo (IGF Secretariat), Debora Escalera (ICANN), Alejanda Prieto (ISOC) and many others. The book launch will be a one-hour session with one of the Atlas committee members presenting the book, statistics and our findings on youth engagement, as well as key observations on its evolution since the first edition of the Youth Atlas (2019). This will be followed by a panel discussion with key contributors and a formal handover of a copy of the book to the speakers, as well as the distribution of free hard copies to participants onsite and the virtual copy of the book online.
The appointed moderator will engage both the onsite and online audience. To achieve this, the moderator intends to incorporate interactive elements throughout the event, such as live polls, Q&A sessions, and audience participation activities. Additionally, an online facilitator will ensure that the virtual audience is fully integrated into the event. The Youth Atlas book will also be distributed both online and onsite. With these measures in place, the moderator aims to create a dynamic and engaging experience for all attendees, regardless of their location.
Report
The Youth Atlas highlights the importance of youth participation in the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and highlights the need for collecting data and statistics to showcase the active engagement of young people worldwide. It also discusses the collaborative efforts of volunteers to give visibility to youth initiatives and the significance of maintaining the involvement of young individuals within the IGF ecosystem.
The IGF Berlin in 2019, where the first edition was released, is a pivotal time as a mechanism for youth to join high-level discussions and decision-making processes and the importance of meaningful youth participation in internet governance spaces.
Give Visibility: Provide visibility to the experiences and contributions of young people within the IGF ecosystem, especially more indigenous, people with disabilities or underrepresented communities. Highlighting their involvement and initiatives on a global scale.
Work for Youth by Youth. Nothing without youth: The importance of youth participation and collaboration within the IGF. It calls for youth to actively engage, learn, and work collectively to create influence and drive positive change within the IGF.
The launch of the Youth Atlas 2.0 is a big moment for recognizing the input of young people around the world. This new version shows how dedicated they are to shaping the digital world for a better tomorrow.
The Youth Atlas 2.0 is not just a storybook, but a compendium of valuable insights from young people around the world. Their experiences and histories are intertwined to create a tapestry that serves as a tribute to their involvement in various fields. They are the minds that shape our digital world now and in the future.
The guide explores important topics, such as data and statistics. The Youth Atlas 2.0 is a valuable resource of data and statistics, offering insights into the young population's contributions, achievements, and potential in the digital domain.
This edition examines the experiences of youth who participated in the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) or fellowship programs, showcasing their transformation from newcomers to more veteran participants.
The text also includes information on programs and initiatives for young people. The Youth Atlas 2.0 highlights how crucial youth-oriented programs and initiatives are by showcasing numerous ways that young people actively engage in the IGF ecosystem.
Dedicated volunteers who invested their time and energy into this collaborative effort orchestrated it. The objective is to increase the visibility of youth involvement and motivate additional young individuals to join in youth initiatives.
This project stands as a testament to international cooperation. This project is the result of many people working together to support a global initiative. It highlights the importance of active participation in the IGF, rather than just watching from the sidelines. Through this project, we aim to shape discussions and decisions, making a valuable contribution to the broader conversation. One of the special characteristics of the book is it transmedia nature of the book that provides insights into the views of young people on Internet Governance through video interviews accessible via QR code.
The Youth Track became a pivotal point in 2019 during the IGF Berlin, as it gave young people a voice and integrated their perspectives into the conversation. The collaboration among young people eager to contribute to important conversations and decision-making has been very valuable. It can be difficult to find and connect with similar individuals worldwide, but the committed youth coordinators have made the process much simpler and easier to follow. As an example, since 2021, the Youth Summit has now been a platform for seniors and youth to talk and empower the younger generation on regional IGFs and the IGF itself. This amplifies young voices as partners, creating a hopeful and confident sentiment as long as youth empowerment is prioritized.
Another result of these Youth processes is the new Teen Dynamic Coalition which was formed by collaborating with youth in 2023 after one of the outcomes of the Youth Summit 2022 in Addis Ababa, demonstrating the power of collective efforts.
What constitutes meaningful participation in the IGF remains a pressing question. It's not just sitting at the table. It's shaping the structure and content of the digital world. Joining in isn't a one-time thing, it's a continuous process that involves learning and contribution. NRIs play a critical role in getting started.
The message at the heart of it all is clear – the IGF must serve the interests of youth by working for them. It's a team effort, sharing knowledge and working together to have a say in the IGF. Including more voices, like those from indigenous populations, marginalized communities, people with disabilities, is crucial to creating a digital future that is fair and inclusive.
The Youth Atlas 2.0 shows us how important it is to listen to young people. They deserve recognition for their commitment, dedication, and contributions to making the digital era a better place.