20th Caribbean Internet Governance Forum

August 21, 2024 - August 24, 2024
Venue: Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Guyana

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

DATEEVENT
Wednesday 21st August
09:00 – 10:00
Welcome and Introduction
Wednesday 21st August
10:00 – 12:00
Capacity Building Session
Wednesday 21st August
13:00 – 17:00
3rd Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum
Wednesday 21st August
17:00 – 19:00
RECEPTION
Thursday 22nd August
09:00 – 10:00
Opening Ceremony
Thursday 22nd August
10:00 – 12:00
CIGF 20 (Reviewing CIGF Vision and Mission
Thursday 22nd August
13:00 – 15:00
National, Regional & Global IG Contexts
Thursday 22nd August
15:00 – 17:00
Panel Discussions
Thursday 22nd August
09:00 – 17:00
CTU/ARIN/LACNIC/ICANN POLICY FORUM
Friday 23rd August
09:00 – 10:00
Workshop Session
Friday 23rd August
10:00 – 12:00
Report & Synthesis from workshop session and Open Forum
Friday 23rd August
13:00 – 17:00
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM

The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) is a regional, non-hierarchical, multi-stakeholder forum initiated by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in 2005 to coordinate a regional approach to Internet Governance (IG), initially focussed on the proceedings of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).  The CIGF has since met annually and has delivered significant and pioneering benefits to the region including formulation of a Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework; the proliferation of Internet exchange points (IXPs); capacity building in IG Principles and best practices; and growth in Caribbean influence in international IG fora. The CIGF is the longest running Internet Governance Forum in the world. 

This year the 20th CIGF will return to Guyana, where it was launched in 2005. It will be staged in-person but with remote participation via online videoconferencing under the auspices of the CTU and the Government of Guyana. In addition to reviewing achievements over the years, the Forum will address various facets of Internet Governance of current import to the Caribbean including UN initiatives to adopt a Global Digital Compact in September 2024 and undertake a 20-year review of WSIS-initiated activities in 2025 (WSIS+20 Review); enhancing the reach, resiliency and sustainability of critical digital infrastructure in the Caribbean; fostering adoption and growth of our digital economies in a trusted and secure manner; and harnessing the benefits of emergent technologies (e.g. AI) while minimising attendant risks. The 3rd Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum (3rd CYIGF) will also be hosted during the time of the 20

Objectives

  • Consider Internet governance policies and initiatives for priority attention to facilitate accelerated digital transformation
  • Review and finalise Issue 4.0 of the Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework documenting the regional vision, priorities and approaches for sustainably building and/or strengthening consensus and action on IG issues in the Caribbean
  • Elicit the voices and develop the capacity of Caribbean youth in Internet governance by facilitating the 3rd Caribbean Youth Internet Governance Forum
  • Build national and regional capacity and systems in IG to enable, support, strengthen and sustain effective Caribbean participation and representation at regional and global Internet Governance fora

Target Audience

  • Government policy makers and IT Managers
  • Internet users
  • Academia
  • Civil society
  • Internet service providers and Telecommunications operators
  • International organisations
  • ICT Regulators
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