High-Level Meeting on WSIS+20

The United Nations General Assembly held a two-day high-level meeting on 16-17 December 2025 to conclude the overall review of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), marking the 20-year milestone known as WSIS+20. This meeting brought together Member States and representatives of the broad information society community to take stock of progress since the original summits in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005) and to reaffirm commitments to inclusive, people-centred, development-oriented digital cooperation. The event also reflected the evolving digital landscape – encompassing connectivity, digital inclusion, governance, human rights, and emerging technologies – and underscored the necessity of renewed international cooperation to address persistent gaps and opportunities.

After extensive intergovernmental negotiations and preparatory consultations that involved inputs from governments and WSIS stakeholders, the General Assembly adopted by consensus the WSIS+20 outcome document on 17 December 2025. The document takes stock of progress made in implementing past WSIS commitments while identifying areas in need of continued focus, particularly in bridging digital divides and harnessing digital technologies for sustainable development. Significantly, the outcome affirms the importance of multistakeholder engagement and retains a people-centred vision for digital cooperation that aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

One of the most notable decisions in the outcome was to strengthen the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) by making it a permanent United Nations forum with enhanced participation, broader modalities, and increased support and resources. The document also reaffirmed ongoing mechanisms such as the WSIS Forum and called for improved coherence among digital cooperation processes, while placing digital inclusion, human rights online, multilingualism, and connectivity for underserved communities at the core of WSIS+20 follow-up.

Looking ahead, the WSIS+20 outcome provides a framework for sustained action and cooperation among governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector to advance digital development for all. It emphasizes the need for integrated implementation roadmaps that complement other global digital governance instruments, including the Global Digital Compact, and invites stakeholders to contribute to a renewed, inclusive, and agile digital ecosystem that supports economic growth, social inclusion, and equitable access to technology.