These messages emerged from the IGF 2020 Youth Summit that has gathered over 300 participants. The messages were subject to public consultations from 6 to 16 November. The current draft, as of 17 November is available below:
- Meaningful access to the Internet has become the Sine Qua Non of human development. The COVID-19 pandemic was a life lesson to all: Without the Internet, young people won’t be able to adequately work, educate themselves, communicate, access information and engage in society. In times of confinement and forced physical distance, the Internet was the main tool to help us to stay connected and carry on with our lives. Inequalities in access, affordability and digital literacy became more apparent in this global crisis.
- Digital divide is the side effect of digital transformation of our everyday life during the pandemic. Mobile data is the easiest way to enable most people in the world to access the Internet, but a good quality broadband Internet connection and reliable devices are essential to effectively bridge the digital divide and inclusion. It is important that markets are sensitised to ensure affordable Internet packages for all and encourage Internet Service Providers to reach underserved communities, as well as governments to set favourable/advantageous public policy frameworks to set community networks and alternative ways of connectivity.
- People do not need to wait to be directed, but they can direct and shape digitization. For example, community networks have proved to be a sustainable way of connecting the unconnected through decentralised, locally owned and managed infrastructure. The national, regional and youth IGF (NRIs) could bring to the attention of decision-makers the good practices existing across the NRIs ecosystem.
- In some parts of the world, women, girls, gender-diverse people, people with disabilities, elderly population, youth, people in rural and remote areas, indigenous people, refugees and migrants, are on the margins of the connected world and digital policy-related processes. It is of utmost importance that a multistakeholder effort is directed toward meaningful digital inclusion of these vulnerable groups.
- It is essential to have collaboration among non-government and government sectors to set policy and legal frameworks to guarantee respect for rights online and offline in order to improve our societies.
- Traditional education systems are outdated! Effective digital education entails more than a mere basic use of computer devices and applications. Our educational systems should include courses on digital literacy, cybersafety, digital innovation and coding. Teachers should be part of these continuous educational updates. Schools and academic institutions could cooperate with experts across disciplines for massive modernisation of school curricula, capacity development and for upskilling of teachers and students.
- The education systems are poorly using the advantages of digital tools to deliver education to students, both in terms of platforms and methodologies. Online education can support the traditional onsite teaching and learning methods, to ensure students at all stages of their education have equal quality of access to education, well-balanced with healthy lifestyles, such as physical activity, good eating routine, social activities and gaining knowledge on traditional subjects.
- Governments, private tech companies, start-ups, think-tanks, academic and research institutions and all other stakeholders should invest in providing educational training and capacity building opportunities for youths by making available and accessible open educational resources (OER) and massive online open courses (MOOCs).
- National, regional and global discussion and Internet governance decision-making processes need to create channels for youth participation. Youth should not be speaking among themselves only, but also with those who can implement final policies. The mechanism should be a fair and open platform that brings different stakeholders together to work for a better Internet for all people. What’s more important is to embrace youth’s creativity and energy with the experiences and power of all people to make positive changes in our communities collectively.
- Youth need to have representation in the policy-making processes. We call upon the United Nations Internet Governance Forum to establish a regular communication channel between young and senior stakeholders in its deliberations.