ITU and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD
The World Summit on the Information Society WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 will take place from 7 to 11 July 2025 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, co-hosted by the ITU and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD. The event is strengthened by the collaborative engagement of other United Nations entities with the mandate of implementing the WSIS Action Lines.
The WSIS is an existing multistakeholder United Nations (UN) process on digital governance and cooperation with a vision of fostering people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information and knowledge societies.
Find below a detailed list of our sessions and register for WSIS+20 2025 to join us!
8 July 2025
Defending Our Voice:
Global South Participation in Digital Governance
9:00-9:45 AM CEST
Venue: Room F, Palexpo
Organizers: Derechos Digitales
Our Deputy Director, Nandini Chami, will speak at this session, which addresses how civil society, particularly from the Global South, can meaningfully participate in global digital governance and sustain that engagement amidst growing financial and political constraints.
Speakers:
- Nandini Chami, IT for Change
- Michel Oliveira de Souza, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Bia Barbosa, Comitê Gestor da Internet no Brasil
- Paloma Lara Castro, Derechos Digitales
- Kemly Camacho, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) (Moderator)
Learn more about the session here.
Centering People and Planet in the WSIS+20 and Beyond
9:00-10:00 AM CEST
Venue: Room K, Palexpo
Organizers: Global Digital Justice Forum, IT for Change, Association for Progressive Communications
At this session, the Global Digital Justice Forum will put forward the 4-point call for action, as outlined in the Digital Justice Now! campaign. Speaking at the event, our Executive Director Anita Gurumurthy, will highlight the key demands that emphasize the voices of civil society organizations and people’s movements.
Speakers:
- Anriette Esterhuysen Senior advisor on global and regional internet governance Association for Progressive Communications (Global)
- Liping Zhang Chief, Science, Technology and Innovation for Development Section UNCTAD
- H.E. Mr. Amb. Thomas Schneider, Director of International Affairs Swiss Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
- William Lee, Assistant Director Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (Australia)
- Mallory Knodel Executive Director and Founder, Social Web Foundation (United States)
- Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director, IT for Change, India
Learn more about the session here.
Indigenous Digital Infrastructures and Emerging Technologies: Challenges, Capacities and Commons
12:00-12:45 PM CEST
Venue: Room F, Palexpo
Organizers: Redes AC, Rhizomatica and APC
This session will focus on Indigenous digital infrastructures and digital commons as essential elements of inclusive, community-driven, and sustainable digital development. Our Executive Director, Anita Gurumurthy, will speak at this event.
Speakers:
- Dr. Carlos F. Baca Feldman, Learning and Mentorship Lead at the LocNet Initiative Association for Progressive Communications and Rhizomatica Moderator
- Alessandra Lustrati, Head of Digital Development Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom
- Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director IT for Change
- Adrian Wan, Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager Internet Society
- Mariana López, Lima Political Advocacy Coordinator Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad AC
Learn more about the session here.
9 July
Knowledge Café: WSIS+20 Consultation—Strengthening Multistakeholderism
12:15-14:00 PM CEST
Venue: Room L, Palexpo
Organizers: ITU
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process has been multi-stakeholder since its inception, fostering a collaborative approach to shaping the global information society.
Our Executive Director, Anita Gurumurthy, will participate in this session that brings together governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, international organizations, and technical communities.
Learn more about the session here.
10 July
Developing capacities for Bottom-up AI in the Global South: What Role for the International Community?
Venue: Room L, Palexpo
Organizers: DiploFoundation, Permanent Mission of Kenya, Microsoft, IT for Change
This session will take the form of a scenario-based exercise where participants will propose a blueprint for a national AI capacity development, detailing how a fictional country can accelerate AI adoption. Our Executive Director, Anita Gurumurthy, will facilitate a breakout group presentation in this session.
Speakers:
- Ashutosh Chadha, Senior Director, UN Affairs and International Organizations, Microsoft
- Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director, IT for Change
- Yvonne Kivuti, Counsellor Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN in Geneva
- Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director, Diplo Foundation (Moderator)
Learn more about the session here.