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This document builds on the Five-Point Plan for an Inclusive WSIS+20 Review – endorsed by 114 organisations and 57 individual experts – to offer practical recommendations to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and meaningful stakeholder engagement in the WSIS+20 review process.
As engaged stakeholders in the WSIS+20 review process, we, the undersigned, submit these further recommendations:
1. Appoint a non-governmental stakeholder liaison within UN DESA to support the co-facilitators and the President of the General Assembly to facilitate stakeholder engagement.
2. Ensure the dedicated online platform centralising all relevant information is set up immediately and maintained regularly throughout the process.
3. Use the dedicated online platform to streamline resources and opportunities to broaden and diversify participation, including information about capacity building resources; national or regional consultations; visa assistance and supporting documentation; financial support for travel and broadband access to participate virtually.
4. Collect input on each iteration of the draft Outcome Document, including via:
a. Written submissions (with at least 7 working day notice and submission period), using multilingual submission templates with reasonable word limits;
b. Consultations, as outlined in points 5(a)–(e).
5. Design consultations to enable full and equal participation of stakeholders through:
a. Providing timely notice and sharing background documents and guiding questions at least 7 working days in advance.
b. Selecting accessible locations, supporting hybrid participation and offering synchronised meetings at multiple locations.
c. Accommodating diverse time zones, non-standard working days, and offering low-bandwidth participation options.
d. Applying equitable speaking arrangements, such as alternating or rotating speaking slots and ensuring balanced time allocation.
e. Structuring interactive dialogue formats that allow non-governmental and governmental stakeholders to respond to each other in real time.
6. Publish synthesis reports of inputs on each iteration of the draft Outcome Document, summarising written and verbal input, explaining how contributions were addressed and clearly indicating areas of consensus, disagreement, or ongoing discussion.*
7. Ensure opportunities for meaningful non-governmental stakeholder participation in the intergovernmental negotiations by:
a. Enabling stakeholders to, at a minimum, observe all meetings – preparatory or otherwise – in-person and via live-stream on UN Web TV.
b. Providing opportunities for stakeholder interventions through dedicated speaking slots.**
8. Ensure non-governmental stakeholders have a meaningful role in the High Level Meeting by:
a. Publishing accreditation procedures at least three months in advance.
b. Broadening eligibility criteria beyond WSIS+10 to include participants of national, regional, and global IGFs.
c. Allocating speaking opportunities, side events, and space for engagement with delegates.
* See e.g. the consultation process for the UNESCO Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.
** See e.g. the rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council, the ITU and the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime.
List of endorsing organisations:
- Access Now
- ARTICLE 19
- Asociación de Tecnología, Educación, Desarrollo, Investigación, Comunicación (TEDIC)
- Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
- Association of Freelance Journalists (AFJ)
- au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA)
- Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
- BlueLink.net
- Body & Data
- CENTR – Council of European National Top-Level Domain Registries
- Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
- Cooperativa Sulá Batsú (CR)
- CyberPeace Institute
- Data Privacy Brasil
- DENIC eG
- Derechos Digitales
- Digital Empowerment Foundation
- DotAsia Organisation
- European Center for Not-For-Profit Law (ECNL)
- Fantsuam Foundation
- Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
- Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
- Global Network Initiative (GNI)
- Global Partners Digital (GPD)
- Globe TechnoPolitics Forum (GTPF)
- GreenNet
- International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)
- Internet Society (ISOC)
- Internet Society, Nigeria Chapter (ISOC-NG)
- Jokkolabs Banjul
- LaLibre.net Tecnologías Comunitarias
- Media Awareness and Justice Initiative
- Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
- Pollicy
- Public Interest Registry (PIR)
- Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad A.C. (REDES A.C.)
- Rhizomatica
- Sulá Batsú
- Tech Global Institute (TGI)
- Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
- World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)
List of endorsing individuals:
- Bruna Martins dos Santos, Former IGF MAG Member and Policy and Advocacy Manager at WITNESS
- Concettina Cassa, IGF MAG member
- Dr. Hosein F. Badran, Principal Advisor, Badran Digital Consulting, Canada
- Dr. Konstantinos Komaitis, Resident Senior Fellow, Global Internet Governance Lead, Democracy and Tech Initiative, Atlantic Council
- Dr. Pari Esfandiari, President, Global TechnoPolitics Forum
- Dr. William J. Drake, Director of International Studies, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, Columbia Business School
- Engr. Kunle Olorundare, President/CEO, Jacobian-Sam Care Foundation
- Osama Manzar, Founder Director, Digital Empowerment Foundation
- Winnie Kamau, Vice Chair Africa IGF MAG
- Wolfgang Kleinwächter, Professor Emeritus, University Aarhus