Switzerland hosts discussions on the global digital future
Biel/Bienne, 20.06.2017 - Under the banner "Shape Your Digital Future!", the twelfth United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will take place next December in Geneva. As the world's largest neutral discussion platform on digitisation questions, open to all interested parties, the IGF represents a unique opportunity to discuss current themes and challenges with participants from all interest groups. As the host country, Switzerland is positioning itself at the centre of the digital debate.
From 18 to 21 December 2017 this year's IGF, under the banner "Shape your digital future!", will devote itself to the challenges of digitisation, which today is permeating and fundamentally changing all social, political and economic domains. Among other things, the agenda includes questions relating to cyber security, the data economy, sustainable development, human rights on the internet and the influence of digitisation on our economy, our media landscape and our political system. In the Palace of Nations, the seat of the United Nations in Geneva, representatives from the worlds of politics, science, business and civil society will discuss these questions interactively.
OFCOM coordinates the Swiss commitment
OFCOM, as the responsible public agency, represents Switzerland both in the preparatory process for this conference and at the IGF itself. It provides the Deputy Chairman of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group – the body which is responsible for the design of the programme. One specific goal is to strengthen the IGF as the world's most important discussion platform for digital topics and to exploit to the maximum the potential of the international city of Geneva, by breaking down silo mentalities and mobilising stakeholders in all sectors - which has not been possible anywhere else to this extent for some time.
Participation in the IGF is open to all interested persons. The IGF in Geneva is also a unique opportunity for all interested parties from Swiss politics, businesses, civil society and science to learn from the experience of others and at the same time to shape the global debate on digitisation. OFCOM is inviting all interested Swiss parties to participate actively in the preparatory process and in the debates at the IGF, and to contribute Swiss concerns, experience and values. Further information is available on the event websites (see links below)
The Internet Governance Forum
The IGF is one of the most important outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, which was held in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005. Switzerland has been supporting the IGF since 2006 with ideas and funding and has contributed substantially to its development. OFCOM represents Switzerland in the IGF and also in the regional and national spin-offs which have developed since 2006.
Address for enquiries
Federal Office of Communications OFCOM
Press service, +41 58 460 55 50, media@bakom.admin.ch
Publisher
Federal Office of Communications
http://www.ofcom.admin.ch
