Stakeholders of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be examining issues of Global Internet security, access and development in the forthcoming annual forum to be held in Nairobi.
The six annual meeting will see over 1500 delegates from governments, private sector, civil society, international organisations, internet community and the media debate on ways that internet can change lives through innovations.
With this years theme being,“The Internet as a catalyst for change: access, development, freedoms and innovation.” delegates will focus on global Internet governance issues with particular relevance to development, and how Internet governance can be integrated into development approaches, at the national and international levels.
This will include diffusion and use IPv6 (Critical Internet resources) and how innovative policies for Access and Diversity to bring to reality the potential of internet.
Issues of Security, Openness and Privacy will be looked upon through the various workshops set for the four days. Filtering, the impacts of actions taken to cut access to the Internet for individuals, groups or entire countries will also be debated in line with last year’s discussion on protecting freedom of expression and innovation. The Forum is expected to examine the role of traditional and new media, and professional and citizen journalists, in the Internet 3.0 world.
The United Nations Assistant Secretary General, Thomas Stelzer, who will be presiding over the session, said that the IGF will create an all inclusive dialogue, providing the stakeholders a plartform to share challenges and understanding on maximizing the potential of internet use.
“Through information exchange, best practices are shared, risks and challenges are addressed and a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities is bolstered – which is valuable for all players involved.” said Stelzer.
The four day forum that be will run from 27th to 30th of September this year at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, is aimed at fostering internet sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development in both developed and developing countriers.
Earlier on similar annual meetings were held in Athens, Greece, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Hyderabad, India, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and Vilnius, Lithuania.
