As the global community prepares to mark 20 years since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), this two-day virtual series aims to center Asia-Pacific youth voices in shaping the future of digital development and cooperation. This event is organized by NetMission.Asia, a youth-led initiative, with the support of the DotAsia Organisation.
The APAC Youth: WSIS+20 Series will create a dedicated space for youth from the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on Cambodia, India, and the Philippines, to:
- Reflect on WSIS+20 outcomes and key digital policy issues.
- Engage with multistakeholder experts from across sectors.
- Collaboratively shape an APAC Youth Statement to input into WSIS+20 processes
- Explore how youth can lead in creating inclusive, secure, and sustainable digital futures.
With expert-led discussions, interactive Q&A, and collaborative drafting sessions, this initiative is youth-led, regionally grounded, and globally relevant. Join us to learn, co-create, and raise your voice in the digital policy space!
Event Details
Dates: July 2-3, 2025
Time: 13:00 UTC – 15:00 UTC (2 hours per day)
Day 1 – July 2 (Wed)
- WSIS+20 Overview
- From Innovation to Inclusion: A Regional Vision for Human-AI Synergy
- Cybersecure or Cyber-sorry? Building Trust in the Digital Age
Day 2 – July 3 (Thurs)
- WSIS+20 Action Lines & Outcomes
- From Click to Career: ICTs and the Future of Employment
- Youth Statement Drafting & Roundtable
- Way Forward: Youth in Internet Governance
📅 Register by Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Program Details
Day 1 — July 2, 2025
- WSIS+20 Overview
- From Innovation to Inclusion: A Regional Vision for Human-AI Synergy
- Description: As AI continues to transform societies, the challenge lies in ensuring it complements human creativity, ethics, and values, especially in diverse regional contexts. This session explores how Asia-Pacific countries are leveraging AI for inclusive and sustainable development, with a focus on human-AI collaboration. It highlights the importance of ethical innovation and responsible governance in shaping AI that works for all.
- Policy Questions:
- How can countries with limited digital infrastructure use AI to reduce development gaps without worsening existing inequalities?
- What ethical frameworks or regional agreements are needed to ensure AI serves all communities fairly and inclusively?
- Cybersecure or Cyber-sorry? Building Trust in the Digital Age
- Description: Over the past two decades, the concept of cybersecurity has transformed from a niche technical concern into a core pillar of digital governance, economic resilience, and human rights. Since WSIS first spotlighted the importance of building a people-centered and secure information society, we’ve witnessed dramatic shifts, from firewalls and antivirus software to today’s complex concerns about surveillance, algorithmic bias, and digital trust. This session explores how trust in digital systems has evolved and what it means to be “cybersecure” in 2025, not just in terms of infrastructure, but in how systems treat users. We’ll look at how young people across the Asia-Pacific region are navigating and challenging systems that demand their trust, yet often fail to earn it. From digital identity programs to data-sharing platforms and AI-powered services, the landscape has grown more powerful, but also more opaque. How have our expectations around privacy, transparency, and accountability changed since WSIS 2005? What should cybersecurity look like in an era where identity, safety, and inclusion are deeply intertwined? And how can young people help shape systems that are not only secure but also worthy of trust?
- Questions:
- In a world where trust is currency, how can we stay cybersecure without becoming cyber-sorry?
- What lessons from the last 20 years of digital policy can inform how we build identity systems for the next 20?
Day 2 — July 3, 2025
- WSIS+20 Action Lines & Outcomes
- From Click to Career: ICTs and the Future of Employment
- Description: As the digital economy grows, so does the demand for new skills and inclusive pathways to employment. But how do we ensure that all young people, regardless of background, are equipped to thrive in the ICT-driven job market? This session brings together voices from youth, education, and development sectors to explore how we can bridge the digital skills gap through inclusive, forward-looking strategies. From grassroots upskilling programs to regional policy frameworks, we’ll explore how Asia-Pacific communities can co-create a future where every click leads to a real career. Participants will contribute ideas to shape youth-informed policy recommendations on education, access, and empowerment in the future of work.
- Questions:
- How can public-private partnerships and civil society organizations work together to ensure that upskilling opportunities are accessible to all youth, especially those in underserved or rural communities?
- What kinds of policies or support systems are needed to make ICT career pathways more inclusive and adaptable, especially for young women, marginalized groups, and first-time job seekers?
- Youth Statement Drafting & Roundtable
- Way Forward: Youth in Internet Governance
Event Agenda
| Day 1 — July 2, 2025 | |
| Time (UTC) | Session |
| 13:00 – 13:10 (10 mins) | Welcome & IntroductionSpeaker: Bea Guevarra |
| 13:10 – 13:20 (10 mins) | Overview of WSIS+20Speaker: William Lee |
| 13:30 – 14:15 (45 mins) | From Innovation to Inclusion: A Regional Vision for Human-AI Synergy Speaker: Soklay Heng (Cambodia) | AI Research & Lecturer Speaker: Jenna Fung (Canada) | DotAsia & NetMission.Asia |
| 14:15 – 14:55 (40 mins) | Cybersecure or Cyber-sorry? Building Trust in the Digital Age Speaker: Dr. Aris E. Ignacio (Philippines) | Vice Chair, APRALO Speaker: Mr. THY Try (Cambodia) | Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief of Open Development Cambodia (ODC) |
| 14:55 – 15:00 (5 mins) | Closing Remarks + HousekeepingSpeaker: Bea Guevarra |
| Day 2 — July 3, 2025 | |
| Time (UTC) | Session |
| 13:00 – 13:10 (10 mins) | Welcome & IntroductionSpeaker: Aviral Kaintura |
| 13:10 – 13:20 (10 mins) | WSIS+20 Outcomes and Action LinesSpeaker: Jennifer Chung |
| 13:20 – 14:00 (40 mins) | From Click to Career: ICTs and the Future of Employment Speaker: Ty Sok (Cambodia) | National Coordinator, APNIC FoundationSpeaker: Kenneth Pamintuan (Philippines) | (Academe & Youth Sector) Speaker: Una Wang (Singapore) Agenda:15 mins (5 mins each) – Speakers 12 mins (2 Policy Questions) 2-3 Breakout Groups 10 mins – Wrap up 3 mins – Closing |
| 14:00 – 14:40 (40 mins) | Youth Statement Co-Creation RoundtableActivities: Miro City |
| 14:40 – 14:50 (10 mins) | Way Forward: How Can Youth Get Involved in IG?Speaker: Bea Guevarra, Digital Content Lead @NetMission |
| 14:50 – 15:00 (10 mins) | Final RemarksSpeaker: Jenna Fung Q&A, Group Photo, Google Form for e-certificate |