Bangladesh Backs Digital Equity at UN’s WSIS+20 Review Forum
Bangladesh has taken a strong stance in favor of digital justice at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) stakeholder consultation for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) review. The consultation, held on June 9 at the UN Headquarters in New York, brought together stakeholders from East and South Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), represented Bangladesh at the virtual meeting. The session was co-chaired by Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ikitela Lokali, and Albania’s Permanent Representative, Suela Janina.
Rahman highlighted Bangladesh’s progress in implementing WSIS Action Lines (C1-C11) and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), emphasizing the need for inclusion and accountability in the WSIS+20 framework.
"The objectives of the World Summit on the Information Society remain unfulfilled," Rahman stated. "A robust and permanent WSIS forum is essential to address long-term and emerging digital challenges through localization, annual implementation, and review."
He proposed integrating WSIS, IGF, and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) processes under the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) framework, stressing the importance of multi-stakeholder participation.
In his concluding remarks, Rahman endorsed the "Digital Justice, Now!" call by the Global Digital Justice Forum and reiterated support for the five-point action plan by Global Partners Digital (GPD), the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
"We believe immediate, coordinated action is necessary to ensure an inclusive and accountable WSIS framework," he added.
By presenting Bangladesh’s position at this critical platform, Rahman reinforced the country’s commitment to digital inclusion, equitable ICT policies, and effective multilateral engagement.
The consultation took place from June 1-9, with participation from stakeholders across East and South Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
