Government and IGO Engagement
WSIS+20 Outreach Network
The World Summit on the Information Society: 20-year review (WSIS+20) Outreach Network brings together like-minded stakeholders to facilitate coordinated efforts leading up to the WSIS+20 negotiations in 2025.
The WSIS+20 Outreach Network aims to provide rationale to the U.N. Member States, all stakeholders, and the general public for why the WSIS+20 Review Process should result in (among other goals) preserving the current multistakeholder model of Internet governance and extending the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) mandate.
Goals
The WSIS+20 Outreach Network will inform its members, as well as all relevant stakeholders, about latest developments in Internet governance and will:
- Engage in discussions on how to preserve and continue to evolve the multistakeholder model of Internet governance for the good of all Internet users.
- Provide space for stakeholders to share information on what they are doing to keep the Internet open, secure, and interoperable.
- Promote the IGF as a platform for all stakeholders – governments, technical community, civil society, businesses, academia, individual users, and others – to come together on equal footing to discuss issues related to the Internet.
- Bring together the collective voices of its members to safeguard the distinctive role of the technical community.
Why Now?
Fostering meaningful connections is more crucial than ever. Explore our outreach network to understand why now is the time to engage, collaborate, and leverage the collective expertise of members dedicated to making a positive impact globally.
The U.N. General Assembly Resolution 56/183 (21 December 2001) endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases. The first phase took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase took place in Tunis, from 16 to 18 November 2005. The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake. This phase ended with the acceptance of The Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action. The objective of the second phase was to put Geneva's Plan of Action into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the Geneva and Tunis documents. It ended with the Tunis Commitment and Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. In 2015 at the United Nations there was a review of the WSIS, called WSIS+10 Review which resulted in the publication of the WSIS+10 Outcome Document. The technical community participated in the discussions at the WSIS in both phases, and provided diplomats at the U.N. with technical information about the functioning of the Internet through seminars and briefings, organized by ICANN in 2014 and 2015. It is expected that the WSIS+20 Review will again discuss issues that touch on ICANN’s mission in particular, and more generally - on issues related to the technical functioning of the Internet. |
The WSIS+20 Outreach Network aims to support facilitating and leveraging the power of collective collaboration to effectively address challenges to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. Members can actively participate by sharing news and information about events of interest, how to participate, key messages, etc. During the Geopolitical session at ICANN79, ICANN’s Government and Intergovernmental Organizations Team provided a slide presentation on the WSIS+20 Outreach Network; among the topics covered was an explanation of what the network is not: It is not a new structure within ICANN, or a new working group, and it will not produce common statements or positions. Critical for the successful outcome of the WSIS+20 effort will be showcasing the positive outcomes of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance and actively engaging with all governments that will be negotiating the WSIS+20 outcome document. |
We invite interested individuals and organizations from around the world to join in this effort. The mailing list facilitates communication and information exchange about WSIS+20. Subscribers are invited to actively participate, collaborate, share resources, and advocate in upholding the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. |
WSIS+20 Review Process - Information for the Broader ICANN Community U.N. Secretary General Policy Report: Considerations for the ICANN Community The Global Digital Compact: A Top-Down Attempt to Minimize the Role of the Technical Community The Global Digital Compact: Lessons Learned from the Submissions of the Multistakeholder Internet Community Why We Need Multistakeholder Internet Governance Net Effects: An Evidence-Led Exploration of IGF Impact WSIS+20 Outreach Network: Interactive Sessions on the Global Digital Compact Zero Draft |