IGF2021

On Wednesday, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister held a press conference on the organisation of the UN Internet Governance Forum - IGF 2021 and the participation of young people from Poland and the world. It was attended by Krzysztof Szubert, Polish Plenipotentiary for the UN IGF 2021, and Piotr Mazurek, Secretary of State, Government Plenipotentiary for Youth Policy.

- Young people are undoubtedly connected to technology, both in social, economic and climate terms. Thanks to such initiatives as the IGF, young people have the opportunity to participate in global debates with interesting guests on issues important for the future of the young generation - said Minister Piotr Mazurek.

From 6 to 10 December - so exactly in 32 days - Katowice will host the UN IGF 2021. Poland will then become the capital of the global discussion on the future of the Internet.

We invite you not only to participate in this event, but also to take part in over 300 (!) other activities planned throughout the duration of the Internet Governance Forum! Check out the high-level sessions with representatives of countries and international organisations, as well as the parliamentary session. It will be will be also a unique, unrepeatable opportunity to ask questions and held discussions.

We expect several thousand guests from all over the world to come to the Katowice International Congress Centre, ministers of digitisation from all over the world, business representatives from different continents, NGO activists and academics. The whole international Internet community will meet in December in one place - in Poland.

The UN Internet Governance Forum in Poland comes at a unique time. It will be the first opportunity - after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic - to discuss in such a group the future of the Internet and its role for citizens.

- The fact that Poland is hosting such a prestigious event is also a reflection of the Polish government's consistent path towards a free, indivisible and shared internet, added Krzysztof Szubert, Poland's Plenipotentiary for the UN IGF 2021.

The UN IGF 2021 will be the place to debate about the future of Internet platforms. The slogan of this year's conference is Internet United, which means a free, indivisible, open Internet. In Katowice, global themes and best practices related to digital space will be discussed.

We already know the programme of the main phase of the IGF (7-10 December) and the so-called zero day (6 December). In total, this is over 300 different activities, including workshops, open discussion forums, group sessions and networking sessions. It also includes high-level sessions with representatives of countries and international organisations, as well as a parliamentary session.

One of the events accompanying IGF 2021 will be the Youth IGF Summit.

- What will make this year's IGF different from the previous editions, is the involvement of young Internet users in discussions and decision making. In Katowice we will find the place and time to listen to them, stressed the Government Plenipotentiary for Youth Policy, Piotr Mazurek. - We want the Forum to be an important event for young people, who to a large extent create the global Internet environment - he added.

One success is already behind us. In the run-up to the UN IGF 2021, we held together with Minister Piotr Mazurek a conference ‘Ethics in Technology’ - an online event aimed at young people. The event was attended by 8500 people! We hope for a similar success also during the UN IGF in Katowice.

This year's IGF Youth Summit 2021 will also be attended by high-level representatives from Poland and the UN, among others - it will be a great opportunity to ask questions and share insights, comments and a vision for a common internet.

The IGF Youth Summit is not the only opportunity for young people to have their say on issues related to the future of the Internet. On 6 December, as part of the so-called youth path, on the agenda we have several panels, debates, meetings on various and interesting digital topics. These include digital education, climate change and the role of digitisation, cybersecurity and online privacy.

We invite young people to participate free of charge. Registration lasts until 1 December.

We invite you to participate in the event either onsite and online.

Admission to the 16th UN Internet Governance Forum - IGF 2021 is free. Anyone can attend, ask questions and contribute to the discussion. All you need to do is register.

The Internet Governance Forum is also open to entrepreneurs, representatives of NGOs, academia, science, IT companies, start-ups, journalists and all those who are interested in issues related to new technologies.

More information on the IGF 2021 website: gov.pl/igf2021.