Digital Justice, now: A Call to Action for WSIS+20 & beyond

A H M Bazlur Rahman, CEO, BNNRC_11zon

Statement delivered by AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) at the Informal Interactive WSIS stakeholder consultation on the review of implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+ 20) organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Public Institutions on 9 June 2025 8 pm EST for stakeholders from East and South Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.

H.E. Philemon Yang, President of the General Assembly | Co-Facilitators | H.E. Ms. Suela Janina, Permanent Representative of Albania |H.E. Mr. Ekitela Lokaale, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya Your Excellency,

We are grateful for the opportunity to address you all in this Informal Interactive WSIS stakeholder consultation on the review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20).

Your Excellency,

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) and the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) have advocated for the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Line C1-C11 and the IGF agenda in Bangladesh since 2006.

Your Excellency,

1. The essential objectives of the WSIS mandate have yet to be fully realized, as outlined in the Geneva Plan of Action and the Tunis Agenda for Action.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a further strengthened WSIS Forum to discuss long-standing and emerging issues, contributing to the identification of possible ways to address and the process of localization of WSIS, as well as annual monitoring, implementation, and review at the country level.

What is urgently needed is a permanent, reinforced, and even more inclusive WSIS and IGF, with sustainable funding at both the secretariat and country levels.

Your Excellency,

Integrated WSIS, IGF, and GDC process at the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system at the country level.

2. Currently, the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system at the country level unites all UN entities to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of operations through improved coordination and coherence.

We would greatly appreciate your consideration to include the annual monitoring, implementation, and review of WSIS at the country level, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), and engagement with multi-stakeholders in a manner that suits the country's specific needs.

I conclude, Your Excellency.

3. We express our strong support for "Digital Justice, now! A Call to Action for WSIS+20 and beyond," articulated by the Global Digital Justice Forum, Five-Point Plan for an Inclusive WSIS+20 Review, initiated by Global Partners Digital (GPD), and Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) regarding the WSIS+20 review process.