Handover of Chairship and the Appointment of Chair of WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event

27 May 2024 10:25h - 10:30h

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Emilija Stojmenova Duh chairs WSIS Forum 2023, highlighting digital technology’s role in global challenges, as Albert Rösti prepares for WSIS 2024 with a focus on inclusivity and cooperation

At the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2023, Emilija Stojmenova Duh, representing Slovenia, expressed her honour in chairing the event and highlighted the significant discussions and partnerships that emerged from it. She emphasised the role of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, in addressing global challenges and the potential for AI to revolutionise problem-solving. However, she also acknowledged the persistent digital divides and the increasing threats to online safety and cybersecurity. Stojmenova Duh underscored the importance of international cooperation in telecommunications and recalled the success of the Global Forum on Ethics in Artificial Intelligence hosted by Slovenia. She reiterated Slovenia’s commitment to the ITU and the UN system and expressed her best wishes to the incoming chair.

Albert Rösti, upon being appointed the chair of the WSIS 2024, expressed gratitude and outlined Switzerland’s dedication to the WSIS process and to fostering inclusive dialogue and cooperation. He stressed Switzerland’s commitment to leveraging digital technology for all, addressing digital divides, and promoting digital literacy and human rights. Rösti announced the intention to prepare a chair summary to complement the high-level event’s outcome document, aiming for an objective summary of discussions. He thanked the ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD, and other partners for their support in organising the forum and emphasised the need for continued relevance of the WSIS and updated collaboration to meet current and future digital cooperation challenges.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, in response, congratulated Rösti on his chairmanship and expressed eagerness to collaborate during the important week ahead. The session concluded with an invitation for attendees to remain seated for the subsequent proceedings.

The extended summary encapsulates the key messages delivered by the speakers, reflecting the forum’s spirit of collaboration, the recognition of digital technology’s transformative power, and the commitment to inclusive and sustainable development through international cooperation.

Session transcript

Emilija Stojmenova Duh:
Distinguished Secretary General, Excellencies and Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an immense honor and privilege for both myself and my country, Slovenia, to have chaired the Forum of the World Summit on Information Society 2023. As Chair, I had the unique opportunity to witness firsthand the inspiring and thought-provoking discussions, the sharing of exceptional experiences and insights, and most importantly, the creation of new partnerships and collaborations. This truly captures the essence of the WSIS Forum. The Forum stands as a shining example of successful digital collaboration across UN entities, governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community worldwide. Today, we confront unprecedented challenges and changes in the world’s economic, environmental, and social systems. Yet, it is through digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, that we are empowered to devise innovative solutions to address these challenges. AI holds the potential to revolutionize our approach to problem solving, offering new avenues for development, efficiency, and progress. Despite our advancements, unequal access to digital technologies and services persists, with gender, age, and geographical digital divides still prevailing. Online safety, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, is increasingly at risk. Moreover, cyber security threats and cyber crime are on the rise. This information, in particular, possesses a significant threat on our societies. It undermines trust, spreads falsehoods, and can destabilize communities. However, if we shift our perspective, these challenges transform into opportunities for remarkable success. I firmly believe that initiatives like WSIS, the Global Digital Compact, and the Summit of the Future are instrumental in achieving our sustainable development goals. I am committed to continuing my work within the WSIS process. Slovenia has been and will remain an active and proud member of the International Telecommunication Union and the entire UN system. I would like to once more remind you on the amazing success of the Global Forum on Ethics in Artificial Intelligence we have organized in Slovenia in February this year, where we had more than 600 participants worldwide from more than 67 countries. We are dedicated to contributing as much as possible to the promotion of international cooperation in the development of telecommunications technologies and access to networks and services. As Nelson Mandela once said, it always seems impossible until it’s done. I extend my best wishes to the new chair, Mr. Albert Rossi, for much success and fulfillment in chairing the WSIS. Thank you.

Albert Rösti:
Thank you so much, Excellency. So, ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment where we confirm our chair for WSIS 2024. Sorry. And it is my great pleasure to invite His Excellency back to the podium when he now becomes the chair of the WSIS 2024. Excellency, congratulations and back to you. Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Secretary General, Your Excellency from Slovenia. Thank you for your kind words. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it’s with a great honor and gratitude that I stand before you today as the newly appointed chair of the WSIS plus 20 forum high-level event on behalf of the Swiss Confederation. This prestigious role not only reflects Switzerland’s commitment to the WSIS process since the first summit in 2003, it also underscores our dedication to fostering meaningful and inclusive multilateral and multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation. Switzerland is committed to leveraging the power of digital for the benefit of all, whether it’s bringing the digital divides, promoting digital literacy or advancing human rights as well as cybersecurity. Switzerland stands ready to collaborate with partners worldwide to address the complex issues at the intersection of technology and society. Together, we must ensure that the digital promises are accessible to all, leaving no one behind. This means empowering marginalized communities, promoting digital rights and harnessing the potential of emerging technologies in the implementation of the strategic digital goals. The council working group on WSIS and SDGs invited the chair of the WSIS plus 20 forum high-level event to prepare a chair summary to complement the outcome document of this high-level event. Rest assured that we will do our best to summarize the discussions as objectively as possible. We intend to produce the factual summary, not a negotiated document. That will be present at the end of the week. In closing, I would like to again express my sincere gratitude to the ITU, Excellency Secretary General, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD and all other partners for their invaluable support in organizing this forum. Let us demonstrate the continued relevance of WSIS and further update our collaboration in a veritable WSIS plus in order to render it fit for purpose to address the present and future challenges of digital cooperation. Thank you and all the best.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin:
Thank you so much, Your Excellency, and congratulations on your chairmanship. We look forward to working with you throughout this very important week. And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I would ask you to stay seated because we’re going to move straight into

Speakers

Albert Rösti

Speech speed

131 words per minute

Speech length

403 words

Speech time

185 secs

Arguments

Switzerland’s commitment to the WSIS process

Supporting facts:

Switzerland has been committed to the WSIS process since the first summit in 2003

Swiss intention to foster inclusive dialogue and cooperation

Topics: WSIS process, Digital cooperation

Promoting accessibility of digital promises to all

Supporting facts:

Switzerland’s dedication to bringing digital divides

Switzerland’s advocacy for empowering marginalized communities and promoting digital rights

Topics: Digital divide, Digital rights, Digital literacy

Switzerland’s dedication towards leveraging digital power

Supporting facts:

Commitment to advancing human rights and cybersecurity

Switzerland’s encouragement of using digital for the benefit of all

Topics: Digital transformation, Cybersecurity, Human rights

Intention to summarize the WSIS forum discussions objectively

Supporting facts:

Swiss role in producing factual summary for WSIS plus 20 forum

Topics: Multi-stakeholder dialogue, Digital cooperation

Report

Switzerland has steadfastly positioned itself as a committed and influential player in the international digital domain, particularly through its active involvement in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process since 2003. Consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 17, Switzerland has diligently promoted inclusive dialogue and multilateral, and multi-stakeholder digital cooperation to address challenges and seize opportunities in the digital era.

The nation’s engagement encompasses strategies aimed at reducing disparities (aligned with SDG 10) and promoting quality education (SDG 4) by actively working against the digital divide and advocating for digital rights and literacy. Switzerland’s initiatives seek to bridge the accessibility gap in digital technology and empower marginalised groups, ensuring the benefits of digitalisation are shared by all.

Furthermore, Switzerland acknowledges the transformative effects of digitalisation in fostering innovation in industry and infrastructure (SDG 9) and in the establishment of peaceful, just, and strong institutions (SDG 16). It is resolute in its pursuit of advancing human rights within cyberspace and acknowledges the fundamental role of cybersecurity in citizen protection.

The Swiss agenda for digital transformation promotes the use of the digital realm as a force for societal benefits, reflecting the ethos that technology should enhance the common good. In its prominent role in international cooperation and digital diplomacy, Switzerland has not only taken on leadership positions at notable forums, such as the WSIS but has also embedded a commitment to multilateral and multi-stakeholder dialogue within its core digital agenda, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives inform digital policies and practices.

Switzerland places a strong focus on digital inclusion and the empowerment of marginalised communities, specifically targeting SDG 10 for reduced inequality and SDG 5 for gender equality. It holds the belief that access to technology and digital literacy are key drivers for achieving broader social equity.

Additionally, Switzerland recognises the significance of tackling complex technological issues with intersecting societal implications, demonstrating a readiness to engage in collaborations on these matters. In line with this, it actively supports cybersecurity measures and the safeguarding of human rights in the digital age, maintaining that technological advancement should not compromise individual well-being or freedoms.

Switzerland’s dedication to transparency and accountability is manifested in its prioritisation of objective and factual reporting of events such as the WSIS Plus 20 forum. The country’s intention to provide an unbiased summary of the discussions, instead of a consensus-driven document, underlines its commitment to openness and honest communication in the digital realm.

In summary, Switzerland’s substantial efforts in fostering digital cooperation and setting standards in responsible digitalisation are multi-layered, driven by goals of equality, education, innovation, and human rights preservation. It exhibits a nuanced understanding of the intricate nature of digital challenges and a steadfast determination to deploy digital advancements for the collective benefit of the global community.

Switzerland’s digital agenda offers a model of principled and inclusive digitalisation, potentially providing a template for international best practices in the digital age.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Speech speed

173 words per minute

Speech length

46 words

Speech time

16 secs

Emilija Stojmenova Duh

Speech speed

124 words per minute

Speech length

430 words

Speech time

208 secs

Report

The honourable Slovenian Chair expressed considerable pride and saw it as a significant distinction to have led the 2023 World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum, viewing this accomplishment as a testament not only to personal efforts but also to Slovenia’s proactive role in global digital affairs.

The success of the forum was attributed to the exceptional discussions, shared innovations, and the formation of new alliances, hallmarks of the forum that represent a convergence of stakeholders, including UN agencies, government bodies, entrepreneurs, civil society, academia, and international technology experts.

The address highlighted the transformative potential of digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), in addressing the complex economic, environmental, and social challenges of our era. AI is perceived as a critical lever for devising more efficient ways to tackle global issues and support developmental progress and technological advancements.

The Slovenian representative acknowledged the ongoing challenges of the digital age, such as ensuring universal access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The speaker pointed out persistent divisions marked by gender, age, and geography leading to unequal access to digital resources and services.

Along with these digital divides, the increasing risks to online safety for populations such as children and the elderly, as well as heightened cybersecurity threats and cybercrime, represent significant societal concerns. The spread of misinformation was specifically noted for its ability to undermine public trust, spread falsehoods, and destabilise communities.

Maintaining an optimistic stance, the Chair suggested that these critical issues could be transformed into opportunities for achieving milestones in digital cooperation, with adequate engagement. The Slovenian Chair advocated for international initiatives like WSIS, the Global Digital Compact, and the Summit of the Future as foundational to making strides towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Reflecting on Slovenia’s consistent engagement with the global community, the Chair reminisced about the successful hosting of the recent Global Forum on Ethics in Artificial Intelligence in Slovenia, which garnered significant international engagement and emphasised the nation’s commitment to fostering worldwide cooperation in the development of communication technologies and network access.

The conclusion of the speech served as both a challenge and a beacon of hope, invoking Nelson Mandela’s wisdom that the seemingly impossible can be achieved through unified efforts. In this inspiring vein, the Chair extended best wishes to Mr.

Albert Rossi, the incoming Chair, for a fruitful and impactful tenure at the helm of the WSIS, signalling the continuation of the Forum’s critical mission in shaping our collective digital future.