Video Message
Nairobi, Kenya
Members of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group, Distinguished Participants,
It is a pleasure to address you at the first Open Consultations and MAG Meeting for IGF 2026.
I extend my deep appreciation to the MAG, the Government of Kenya, and the broader IGF community, for your continued leadership and commitment.
Last year, following the WSIS+20 review, Member States established the IGF as a permanent UN forum. This is a powerful endorsement of the IGF's unique multistakeholder model.
As you shape the 2026 IGF and beyond, I urge you to center the core priorities identified in the WSIS+20 review, including:
? strengthening dialogue on emerging digital technologies and their governance implications;
? harnessing artificial intelligence globally within an internationally agreed framework of guardrails;
? enhancing international cooperation to close digital divides; and
? addressing the societal impact of digital technologies, including online safety, data governance, and digital inclusion.
As we enter this new permanent phase, the IGF must serve as a critical bridge across UN processes and the wider digital cooperation and governance ecosystem. The recent Expert Group Meeting highlighted new opportunities and responsibilities in this regard.
To succeed, we must broaden participation from underrepresented stakeholders and deepen government engagement, particularly from least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states.
As preparations advance, I encourage you to reflect perspectives from all regions, especially Africa's dynamic digital landscape.
Finally, the continued contributions of IGF intersessional work and our National, Regional, Subregional and Youth IGF Initiatives remain vital, grounding our global discussions in diverse, local realities.
I wish you a highly productive meeting.
Thank you.