The IGF has been closely interlinked with, and is a central component of, recent UN initiatives aimed at tackling digital issues of global concern and fostering digital cooperation. Below are operative paragraphs highlighting the IGF's role within both the UN Secretary-General's Our Common Agenda report and Roadmap for Digital Cooperation.
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.”