WSIS+20 marks a pivotal moment to shape the next chapter of our digital future.
As the global community reflects on 20 years since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the decisions made in this process will impact how we govern the Internet, digital access, and online rights for years to come.
In a region as dynamic and diverse as Asia Pacific, it’s vital that young people—who are at the forefront of the digital age—have a real say in what comes next. The coming weeks are especially crucial, with key deadlines approaching in the UN General Assembly’s WSIS+20 review. As the Zero Draft takes shape, it is critical that youth perspectives inform the process—not as an afterthought, but as a foundational element—well before the September 15 submission deadline.
What You’ll Find on This Page
Here’s where you can learn more about how youth in Asia Pacific are stepping up to shape the WSIS+20 process—through consultations, collaborative drafting, and global engagement. You’ll also find key resources to help you understand the context, and clear ways to get involved.
Key resources to Understand WSIS+20
Before contributing, it’s helpful to understand the history, structure, and current developments of WSIS+20. These essential resources provide the background needed to make informed and impactful contributions:
- WSIS+20 Latest News: Official UN source for updates and developments on the WSIS+20 overall review by the General Assembly. 🔗
- WSIS+20 Modalities (March 2025): Adopted modalities outlining how the UN General Assembly will conduct the WSIS+20 overall review. 🔗
- WSIS+20 CSTD Report (April 2025): Background paper prepared by the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) to inform WSIS+20 discussions. 🔗
- WSIS+20 Preparatory Process Roadmap (May 2025): An indicative timeline and roadmap outlining key milestones leading up to the WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting. 🔗
- WSIS+20 Elements Paper (20 June 2025): Draft elements for consideration in the outcome of the WSIS+20 review process. 🔗
The APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement
The APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement is our collective voice—a live, evolving document reflecting the priorities, ideas, and vision of youth across the region. It forms the foundation of our contributions to the WSIS+20 process. We plan to develop Draft 0, Draft 1, and a Final Version according to the timeline below.
| APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement (Draft 0) 📄 View Draft 0 | Published on July 28, 2025 |
| APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement (Draft 1) 📄 View Draft 1 | Published on October 10, 2025 |
| APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement (Final) 📄 Declaration on Meaningful Youth Participation | Published on November 5, 2025 |
This statement will be used in:
| ✅ Written Input to the Elements Paper Our submission | All written inputs | Submitted on July 25, 2025 |
| ✅ Our participation at the Follow-up WSIS+20 Informal Stakeholder Consultation Session Speaker list | Webinar recording | Webinar transcript | Intervention summary | Completed on July 29, 2025 |
| ✅ Sharing insights from our written input for the Elements Paper at the 4th IGF MAG WG-Strategy Webinar Session recording | Session summary | Completed on August 28, 2025 |
| ✅ Written input to the Zero Draft Joint letter from nearly 70 youth leaders (written submission) | News update | All written submissions to the Zero Draft | Submitted on September 30, 2025 |
| ✅ Bilateral meeting with WSIS+20 IMSB members after submitting our Joint Letter as a written input to the Zero Draft | Completed on October 6, 2025 |
| ✅ Our participation at the Informal Interactive WSIS stakeholder consultations on the Zero-Draft Speaker list | Webinar recording (Session 1) (Session 2) | Webinar transcript (Session 1) (Session 2) | Intervention summary | Completed on October 13 & 14, 2025 |
| ✅ Our participation at the WSIS+20 stakeholder consultations on Rev1 Speaker list | Webinar recording | Webinar transcript | Intervention summary | Completed on November 14, 2025 |
| ✅ Our participation at the IMSB Office Hours | Completed on November 19, 2025 |
| ✅ Our participation at the IMSB-led WSIS+20 Virtual Stakeholder Consultation on Rev2 Written intervention | Intervention summary | Completed on December 8, 2025 |
Who’s Shaping the APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement?
This live document is being shaped by youth voices from across the region, including:
| Individual youth contributor through direct input into the Youth Statement | ✅ July to October, 2025 |
| APAC Youth WSIS+20 Webinar Series *Program Details | Event Report | ✅ July 2-3, 2025 (online) |
| APIGA 2025 Pre-Event Webinar | ✅ July 31 (online) *For APIGA 2025 participants only |
| APIGA 2025: Sessions for Youth Statement Exercise *Program Details | ✅ August 18-22 (Busan, South Korea) *For APIGA 2025 participants only |
| Individual youth contributor to the Commenting Period for APAC Youth on Zero Draft The Commenting Period for APAC Youth on Zero Draft, facilitated by volunteers from NetMission.Asia, was held from September 3 to 15, 2025. During this time, APAC Youth are invited to add their specific language suggestions for our Zero Draft submission in this commenting platform. | ✅ September 3-15, 2025 (online) |
| Attendees of the Live Discussion & Editing Session for APAC Youth on the written submission for Zero Draft The APAC Youth community is invited to come together to discuss and refine the language of our draft submission before we send in our inputs. | ✅ September 24, 2025 (13:00-14:00 UTC) (online) *Register here: http://aji.asia/apacyouthwsis20 |
| Asia Pacific Youth IGF Program details | Event report | ✅ October 11, 2025 |
Updates: APAC Youth Engagement at WSIS+20
- APAC Youth Voices and Contributions to the WSIS+20 Review Process – Rev 2 and the Outcome Document (December 19, 2025)
- APAC Youth Leaders Call for Sustained Recognition and Structural Participation at WSIS+20 Rev 1 Consultations (November 22, 2025)
- Asia Pacific Youth IGF 2025 Report and Call to Action (November 21, 2025)
- Asia Pacific Youth IGF 2025 Releases Declaration on Meaningful Youth Participation (November 4, 2025)
- APAC Youth Leaders Urge Recognition as Equal Partners at WSIS+20 Consultations (October 14, 2025)
- Joint Letter from Nearly 70 APAC Youth Leaders Urging Structural Inclusion in WSIS+20 Outcomes (September 30, 2025)
- NetMission Youth Leaders Call for Stronger Youth Recognition in WSIS+20 at IGF MAG Strategy Webinar (September 8, 2025)
- NetMission Youth Leaders Call for Youth-Inclusive Action at WSIS+20 Informal Consultation (July 30, 2025)
Other Reading Materials
- WSIS Action Line Roadmaps – ITU
- Everything you need to know about the WSIS+20 Review (updated) – Global Partners Digital
- APC policy explainer: The WSIS+20 process – APC
- WSIS+20 Process – DW
- World Summit for the Information Society 20-Year Review (WSIS+20) – Internet Society
- APrIGF WSIS+20 Working Group – APrIGF
- WSIS+20 Outreach Network – ICANN
(Last updated on 2025-12-19)