The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2023 has arrived, and the air is full of excitement. This annual event celebrates all things related to Internet Governance, digitality, and the limitless possibilities that the Internet offers.
This year’s IGF is hosted in Kyoto by the Japanese Government and will run from day 0 on 8th October to day 4 on 12th October 2023, under the theme: The Internet We Want – Empowering All People. According to the statistics on the IGF 2023 website, the hybrid event has attracted a magnitude of participants from all over the world ( about 5,000 participants from 170 countries)
Being part of this community is an amazing experience. It is an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from around the world and to be part of a movement that is shaping the future of the Internet. As a KICTANet Digital Accessibility team I will be joining this great IGF team live in Kyoto courtesy of the Dynamic Coalition on Accessibility and Disability (DCAD) Fellowship Program funded by Vint Cerf through Google. DCAD as an ITU program has immensely contributed to facilitating the involvement of persons with disabilities in Internet Governance and ensuring ICT accessibility. Principles that align with KICTANet’s guiding principles of ICT policy, stakeholder engagements, advocacy and capacity building.
Welcome to the IGF 2023: It just Begun
Being part of this community is an amazing experience. An excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from around the world & to be part of a movement that is shaping the future of the Internet. #DCAD @ITU @KICTANet pic.twitter.com/nliro5iidO— Nic Nyakundi (@NicNyakundi) October 8, 2023
To ensure I articulate digital inclusion, share learn and indulge in the IGF experience, I look forward to to attending the following sessions that would serve to capacitate my digital inclusion advocacy, as a speaker and attendees
Check them in this link, and mark the date, time, venue, and purpose to join us physically or virtually.
DCAD: Re-envisioning DCAD for the Future Session
The Digital ID summit
Bottom-up AI and the right to be humanly imperfect
DC-IUI Advancing rights-based digital governance through ROAM-X
Overcoming barriers to bridge digital divides
Barriers to Inclusion: Strategies for People with Disability
There are some of the many sessions I will attend and have the chance to connect with leading experts, network with fellow attendees, and dive into the conversation around the IGF thematic tracks.
From the high-level sessions to side events, the IGF village, and even the IGF music night, I believe there is something for everyone.
See you then, and let us create the internet we want.
Nicodemus Nyakundi is an ICT Access and Equality Fellow for Persons with Disabilities at KICTANet. He has a background in IT and advocates for digital inclusivity.
