Excellencies,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start by welcoming all participants to this Open Forum, including those who are joining virtually.
It is very important that we have an open exchange on digital transformation efforts happening across the UN System, together in one room, open to remote participation.
The format and agility of the Internet Governance Forum provides the perfect platform for such dialogue.
Why is it important for us to have a UN-focused digital discussion?
We know that the world is facing serious challenges on multiple fronts, from climate and health, to conflict and economic hardship.
UN entities are engaged in all of these fronts, using their expertise and drawing on digital technologies to counter the impact of these crises.
In our own every-day experience we are seeing digital transformation in action.
As a global organization, we should share the best practices we have adopted along the way, in accelerating the SDGs.
At the same time, we have an important role to play in addressing the digital divides.
2.7 billion remain unconnected and being connected is not enough.
It is critical that the vulnerable groups are empowered to meaningfully use digital technologies.
To deliver the promise of digital technologies, we must, urgently overcome the connectivity divide, the affordability divide, and the content divide.
There must be synergy and coherence in the way that the UN family addresses this complex digital dilemma.
Closer cooperation among UN organizations will be key to preparing the deliberations on the Global Digital Compact during the Summit of the Future in 2024.
As a stakeholder that works with governments, the private sector, technical community, and civil society, we should be ready to speak with one UN voice, drawing on a long record of catalytic work in partnership with multiple stakeholders.
Collectively, we have developed standards, norms and principles around digital application that will act as valuable input to the Global Digital Compact.
Within the IGF alone, which is already a multistakeholder process, there are clear principles for maintaining an open, interoperable Internet; sound recommendations for safety, security and accountability online; as well as consistent calls for protecting the rights of everyone, vulnerable persons in particular, in the digital public square.
These converge with the work of ITU, the Office of Higher Commissioner for Human Rights, UNESCO, among others.
And our colleagues in the Economic Commission for Africa and other Regional Commissions are addressing similar challenges in their respective regional contexts.
At this IGF, we have addressed themes that align with the proposed components of the Compact, including in the areas of connectivity, rights, data governance, Internet fragmentation and mis- and dis-information.
By sending these early signals that stakeholder communities, including the UN community, can identify ways forward on these issues, we are setting the Compact on the right course. As we move towards the Summit of the Future, we must continue our UN system dialogue, and widen the UN digital circle. It is through increasing points of contact that we can be most responsive to emerging technologies and fast-paced governance challenges.
I look forward to our future dialogues.