14 November 2015: Participants at the tenth Internet Governance Forum (IGF) recognized the contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the internet to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Forum stressed that ICT and the internet can contribute to all 17 SDGs, but lack of trust in the internet and concerns about cybercrime could adversely impact their achievement.

The UN convenes the IGF annually through the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), with the aim of fostering common understanding on how to maximize internet opportunities and address challenges. The 10th IGF, which convened under the theme, ‘Evolution of Internet Governance: Empowering Sustainable Development,’ took place in Joao Passoa, Brazil, from 10-13 November 2015.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored the role of ICT and the internet in empowering action toward the 2030 Agenda, in a statement delivered by UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development Lenni Montiel, who opened the Forum. Ban called for exploring the use of new and non-traditional sources of data to support a data revolution for the SDGs and for ensuring access to ICTs and the internet for people living in poverty and other marginalized peoples. In a video message, President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff declared her support for extending the IGF’s mandate to enable the sustainable and inclusive development of the internet.

Participants recommended that UN agencies and departments, such as DESA, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), help feed IGF outputs into work that synchronizes individual SDGs with action lines from the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). SDG 9 includes a target to “significantly increase access to ICT and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.”

Over 4,000 online participants from 116 countries joined the 2,400 on-site attendees at the Forum. Sessions addressed sub-themes on: Cybersecurity and Trust; Internet Economy; Inclusiveness and Diversity; Openness; Enhancing Multi-stakeholder Cooperation; Internet and Human Rights; Critical Internet Resources and Emerging Issues. Over 150 thematic workshops and other sessions convened throughout the IGF, many of which are expected to produce their own outcome reports.

The Forum considered the relationship between human rights and freedoms and their connection to the promotion of development, with participants stressing the need to respect human rights and anonymity and the importance of privacy, security and transparency as complementary, not compromising, elements. The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy in the digital age contributed to the discussions on human rights, privacy and the digital age.

Participants also discussed progress made on the WSIS outcomes. Their discussions are expected to inform the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) High-level Meeting on the overall review of the implementation of WSIS outcomes in December 2015. The Meeting will also decide on a renewal of the IGF’s mandate, an extension supported by many IGF participants. [UN Press Release, 14 November] [UN Press Release, 10 November] [IGF Chair’s Summary] [IGF Website]