The IGF has been closely interlinked with, and recognized as an important multistakeholder platform within, major recent UN initiatives addressing digital governance and strengthening global digital cooperation, including the Global Digital Compact, the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda report, and the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. Below are operative paragraphs highlighting the IGF's role across these frameworks.
"28. We acknowledge the importance of the Internet Governance Forum as the primary multi-stakeholder platform for discussion of Internet governance issues."
"29. We commit to: (b) Support the Internet Governance Forum, including through continued efforts to increase diverse participation from Governments and other stakeholders from developing countries and the provision of voluntary funding also to this end (SDGs 9 and 10);"
"68. We will build on the processes and forums emanating from the World Summit on the Information Society, in particular the Internet Governance Forum and its national and regional initiatives, as well as the WSIS Forum, to advance implementation of this Compact. We look forward to the WSIS+20 review in 2025 and invite it to identify how these processes and forum."
"74. The cross-cutting nature of digital technologies and the multiplicity of actors involved in digital cooperation require synergies and aligned follow-up. We commit to review the Compact to assess progress against its objectives and to identify emerging opportunities and challenges for global digital cooperation. We decide to convene a high-level meeting entitled 'High-level review of the Global Digital Compact', to take place during the eighty-second session of the General Assembly, based on a progress report by the Secretary-General and with the input and meaningful participation of all stakeholders, including the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Internet Governance Forum and World Summit on the Information Society action line facilitators. [...]"
Our Common Agenda: Report of the Secretary-General (2021)
“93. It is time to protect the online space and strengthen its governance. I would urge the Internet Governance Forum to adapt, innovate and reform to support effective governance of the digital commons and keep pace with rapid, real-world developments. Furthermore, building on the recommendations of the road map for digital cooperation (see A/74/821), the United Nations, Governments, the private sector and civil society could come together as a multi-stakeholder digital technology track in preparation for a Summit of the Future to agree on a Global Digital Compact. This would outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all. Complex digital issues that could be addressed may include: reaffirming the fundamental commitment to connecting the unconnected; avoiding fragmentation of the Internet; providing people with options as to how their data is used; application of human rights online; and promoting a trustworthy Internet by introducing accountability criteria for discrimination and misleading content. More broadly, the Compact could also promote regulation of artificial intelligence to ensure that this is aligned with shared global values.”
Report of the Secretary-General: Roadmap for Digital Cooperation (2020)
“To address gaps in global digital cooperation, the Panel suggested three potential models: a strengthened and enhanced Internet Governance Forum Plus, a distributed co-governance architecture and a digital commons architecture.”
“While discussions on the different digital architecture models proposed by the Panel are ongoing amongst stakeholders, the following ideas have emerged with a view to making the Internet Governance Forum more responsive and relevant to current digital issues. These include:
(a) Creating a strategic and empowered multistakeholder high-level body, building on the experience of the existing multi-stakeholder advisory group, which would address urgent issues, coordinate follow-up action on Forum discussions and relay proposed policy approaches and recommendations from the Forum to the appropriate normative and decision-making forums;
(b) Having a more focused agenda for the Forum based on a limited number of strategic policy issues;
(c) Establishing a high-level segment and ministerial or parliamentarian tracks, ensuring more actionable outcomes;
(d) Forging stronger links among the global Forum and its regional, national, sub-regional and youth initiatives;
(e) Better integrating programme and intersessional policy development work to support other priority areas outlined in the present report;
(f) Addressing the long-term sustainability of the Forum and the resources necessary for increased participation, through an innovative and viable fundraising strategy, as promoted by the round table;
(g) Enhancing the visibility of the Forum, including through a stronger corporate identity and improved reporting to other United Nations entities.
While consultations on digital architecture models will continue in the coming months, I support these measures to enhance the Forum and intend to implement them as appropriate.”
