IT for Change is excited to organize and participate in a power-packed lineup of sessions at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025. The 20th annual meeting of the IGF will be hosted by the Government of Norway in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025.
Find below a detailed list of our sessions and register for IGF 2025 to join us!
Day 0| Monday, 23 June
Making the WSIS+20 moment deliver digital rights and justice—A civil society brainstorming session
Time: 09.00 - 10.00
Venue: Workshop Room 1
Organizers:
The Global Digital Justice Forum (GDJF), represented by members Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and IT for Change; the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS (GDRC-WSIS), represented by members the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), Global Partners Digital (GPD), APC and ARTICLE 19; the Dynamic Coalition on Platform Responsibility; the Digital Constitutionalism Network; and the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Rights and Principles
This session will provide a space for civil society to brainstorm on how to reclaim the WSIS vision of the ‘people-centred, inclusive, development-oriented’ information society in the contemporary conjuncture. It will enable a joint reflection on what civil society organizations seek from the WSIS+20 review outcomes, with respect to furthering meaningful progress on the digital rights and structural justice agenda.
Representing the GDJF, our Deputy Director, Nandini Chami, will share the key demands from the Digital Justice Now call to action developed by the Coalition and endorsed by over 70+ CSOS and individuals from across the globe.
Speakers: Shumaila Hussain Shahani, Policy and Advocacy Lead, Tech Global Institute, Civil Society (APAC); Ellie McDonald, Policy and Advocacy Lead, Global Partners Digital, Civil Society (WEOG); Dr. Konstantinos Komaitis/Resident Senior Fellow, Global Governance & Democracy Lead, Tech & Democracy Initiative, The Atlantic Council (WEOG); Bruna Martins dos Santos, Global Campaigns Manager, Digital Action (GRULAC)
Learn more about the session here.
Day 1| Tuesday, 24 June
New Technologies and the Impact on Human Rights
Time: 15:30 - 17:00
Venue: Plenary Hall
Our Executive Director, Anita Gurumurthy, will speak at this session, which examines the need to apply the precautionary principle to all technological innovations before solutions, services, and applications are made available to the end users.
The session will aim to explore pertinent questions such as ‘How can the use of existing international human rights standards be improved as a mechanism to address human rights violations in the digital environment when designing and deploying new technologies?’ It aims to unravel how policymakers can develop and implement timely and effective responses to rapidly evolving and socially impactful technologies.
Speakers:
- Anita Gurumurthy, IT For Change
- Rodrigo Goñi, Member of Parliament, Uruguay
- Pierre Bonis, Director General of Afnic
- Peggy Hicks, Director, Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR)
- Julian Theseira, Centre for AI and Digital Policy
Moderators:
Allison Gilwald, ICT Research Africa
Pablo Hinojosa, Independent
Learn more about the session here.
Day 2| Wednesday, 25 June
Building Bridges for WSIS Plus: A Multistakeholder Dialogue
Time:14:15 to 15:30
Venue: Workshop Room 5, Hall C
Organizers:
Swiss government, Federal Office of Communications OFCOM
Isabelle Lois, OFCOM, Government, WEOG
As the WSIS+20 Review negotiations are approaching, this Open Forum will serve as a platform to bring together diverse stakeholders to discuss how to strengthen and update the WSIS framework into a "WSIS Plus." Our Executive Director, Anita Gurumurthy, will be speaking at this session, which will focus on fostering inclusive, multistakeholder dialogue to ensure that the WSIS+20 Review process delivers a framework that is responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.
The Open Forum will provide a space for stakeholders to share their perspectives, identify key priorities together, and propose actionable recommendations for a strengthened WSIS Plus framework.
Speakers:
- Anita Gurumurthy
- Jorge Cancio / Isabelle Lois
- Min Jiang
- Juan Fernandez
- Flavio Wagner
- Maria Fernanda Garza
Onsite Moderator:
Isabelle Lois (Swiss OFCOM)
Online Moderator:
Isabelle Lois (Swiss OFCOM)
Rapporteur:
Isabelle Lois
Learn more about the session here.
Day 3| Thursday, 26 June
Local AI: Policy Pathways for Sustainable Digital Economies
Time: 12:00 - 13:00
Venue: Conference Hall, Hall B
Organizers:
IT for Change, UNCTAD
Co-organized by IT for Change and UNCTAD, this session explores what kind of AI ecosystem powers small-is-beautiful digital economies. Speakers will focus on the role of Local AI in driving a just and sustainable digital transition, in line with the Global Digital Compact’s call for inclusive digital cooperation. Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director, IT for Change, will outline key dimensions of Local AI: energy-efficient computing, equitable data governance, algorithmic choices that advance epistemic justice, and macroeconomic strategies that foster diverse, community-driven innovation. This will be followed by expert inputs on challenges that impede local AI innovation as well as policy pathways to promote local AI innovation.
Speakers:
Wai Sit Si Thou, UNCTAD, Global organization (on-site) Anita Gurumurthy, IT for Change, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific (on-site) Valeria Betancourt, APC, Civil society, LATAM (on-site) Renata Avila, Open Knowledge Foundation, civil society, LATAM (on-site) Daniel Uribe, Lead Programme Officer of the Sustainable Development and Climate Change (SDCC) Programme of the South Centre, Intergovernmental organisation (online).
Read more about the session here.