On behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, it is my great pleasure to invite you to the Seventh Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which will be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The seventh meeting of the IGF will be held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, from 6 to 9 November 2012.
As in the past, the annual meeting is open to all entities accredited by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), as well as other institutions and individuals with proven expertise and experience in all matters related to Internet governance. Those who are unable to physically be present in Baku may join us through remote participation.
The overall theme of the IGF 2012, derived from a wide and inclusive consultation process amongst IGF stakeholders since the 2011 meeting, will be ‘Internet Governance for Sustainable Human, Economic and Social Development.’
The meeting in Baku will revolve around the role of Internet governance in promoting various forms of development. The theme also emphasizes the use of Internet governance to provide a supportive environment for sustainable development.
The Open Consultations and IGF Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) meetings that were held on 14-16 February 2012 and 15-17 May 2012 resolved to organise the agenda of the Seventh Meeting of the IGF along the traditional six themes, which are as follows:
- Internet Governance for Development
- Emerging Issues
- Managing Critical Internet Resources
- Security, Openness and Privacy
- Access and Diversity
- Taking Stock and the Way Forward
The IGF has proven to be a place where all stakeholders freely meet and discuss any issue which affects Internet governance public policies leading to a cross fertilization of ideas that stakeholders can take back to their home institutions.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting the Seventh Annual Meeting of the IGF.
We look forward to seeing and hearing from you all in November, either in person or remotely.
(Signed)
Sha Zukang
Under-Secretary-General
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)