[IGFmaglist] IGF NEWSLETTER MARCH 2026

IGF Secretariat igf at un.org
Thu Mar 19 11:25:01 EDT 2026 

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🌐IGF Monthly Newsletter
March 2026
Your monthly update on IGF news, activities, and upcoming events.
Dear IGF Community,
Welcome to this month’s newsletter! Below you’ll find updates on new publications, IGF Secretariat’s activities, NRI highlights, intersessional work, capacity development, and upcoming events.
📚 New Publications

UN appoints Joseph Gordon-Levitt as first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance

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We are thrilled to announce that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor, filmmaker and founder of HitRecord, has been appointed the first United Nations Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance. In his new role -- affiliated with the IGF and designated by UN DESA -- Mr. Gordon-Levitt will help advance a people-centred approach to digital governance and connect global policy discussions with everyday experience.

Read the press release HERE<https://www.un.org/en/desa/un-appoints-joseph-gordon-levitt-as-global-advocate>, and watch his interview HERE<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSyrVdNgKRo>.
🗂 Secretariat Updates

New interns at the IGF Secretariat

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The IGF Secretariat is pleased to introduce our brilliant new interns, Moumen Fennira (Tunisia), and Krisna Diastama (Indonesia). Moumen and Krisna are already making great contributions, from technical website updates to improving visual quality of outputs—all driven by a passion to strengthening the IGF’s multistakeholder approach.

AI Impact Summit in New Delhi

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At the Summit, the IGF Secretariat engaged in a discussion on the future of AI and responsible innovation in a multistakeholder panel on “Building a Trusted and Resilient AI Infrastructure Ecosystem”.

the Secretariat also met with the new cohort of the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) International Digital Policy Fellows for an engaging exchange on Internet and digital governance.

RIPE NCC’s Annual Roundtable

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On 3 March, the IGF Secretariat participated in the RIPE NCC annual roundtable in Brussels, contributing to discussions on the WSIS+20 Resolution and the role of multistakeholder cooperation in shaping the Internet’s future. The exchange underscored the importance of collaboration between the technical community and all other stakeholders to advance open standards, strengthen Internet resilience and security, and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

ICANN85 in Mumbai

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On 9 March, the IGF Secretariat was pleased to participate at the ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai. One of the important discussions took place during the “WSIS+20 Lessons Learned & Next Steps” panel, where Chengetai Masango, Head of the IGF Secretariat, contributed inputs on the continued importance of open, inclusive, and community-driven dialogue across the global digital cooperation landscape.

State Secretary Mr. Markus Richter visits IGF Secretariat in Geneva

[cid:image006.jpg at 01DCB7BC.ED4BBA50]Thank you to State Secretary Markus Richter and the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung team for your continued partnership and support of the IGF’s mission!

We discussed the constructive cooperation over the years and the shared dedication to keeping the IGF a stable, inclusive, bottom-up platform for addressing key digital policy challenges.


Freedom Online Coalition Diplomatic Network Kick-off Meeting

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Last week, the IGF Secretariat took part in the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Geneva Diplomatic Network Kick-off Meeting, bringing together FOC Members, the Advisory Network, and key Geneva-based stakeholders.

The meeting featured a rich dialogue on the 2026 Programme of Action and strategic engagement opportunities ahead of several international initiatives hosted in Geneva and other parts of the world.

IGF 2026 Fellowship Programme
The IGF Secretariat invites applications for the 2026 IGF Fellowship Programme, offering professionals from developing countries the opportunity to contribute to global Internet governance while gaining hands-on experience within the IGF Secretariat at the United Nations Office in Geneva.


  *   Deadline: 31 March 2026
  *   Read more and apply HERE<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-fellowship-programme>

IGF 2026 Thematic Input and Intersessional Work Proposals

  *   All thematic input for IGF 2026 can be found HERE<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/igf-2026-proposed-issues>.
  *   All proposals for IGF 2026 intersessional work can be found HERE<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-intersessional-work-proposals>.

🌍 Intersessional Work, National & Regional Initiatives (NRIs), and Capacity Development

National & Regional Initiatives (NRIs)
The NRIs network is developing visual materials to raise awareness of their work across countries and regions, including within local UN offices. These will highlight the value of NRIs in advancing inclusive, multistakeholder digital governance, with finalization planned for 30 March.

Briefing on Internet Governance and the IGF
Last week, the IGF Secretariat briefed the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) International Digital Policy Fellows on Internet governance, the IGF’s evolution, and its new permanent mandate. The session sparked engaging discussions on global digital policy.

The Fellowship, an initiative of the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, supports youth engagement and leadership in shaping our shared digital future.

IGF Co-organizes Session at ECOSOC Youth Forum April 2026
The IGF Secretariat is co-organizing a session on SDG 9 at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026 (14 April, UNHQ), highlighting youth’s role in shaping innovation, digital infrastructure, and governance.

IGF youth contributed through consultations, inputs, and speaker nominations—ensuring strong representation and meaningful engagement in the dialogue. Read more about ECOSOC Youth Forum HERE<https://ecosoc.un.org/en/what-we-do/ecosoc-youth-forum/about-youth-forum/ecosoc-youth-forum-2026>.

Parliamentary Track
Outcome documents published | 3rd Parliamentary Summit
The 3rd Parliamentary Summit (Córdoba, 2025) brought together legislators and stakeholders to advance a shared vision for a digital future that is inclusive, ethical, sovereign, and grounded in human rights.

Read more and access the summary and outcome documents HERE<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/parliamentary-summit-shaping-digital-futures-in-the-southern-cone-ai-innovation-data-and>.

Parliamentary Summit | Montevideo, Uruguay, March 2026
The Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay, in collaboration with the Internet Governance Forum Parliamentary Track, will host the 4th Regional Parliamentary Summit: “Anticipating the Digital Future: Strengthening Parliamentary Governance and Democratic Innovation.”


  *   24 March 2026
  *   Montevideo, Uruguay & online

Read more and register HERE<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/parliamentary-summit-anticipating-the-digital-future-strengthening-parliamentary-governance>.


  *   Visit the IGF 2026 Parliamentary Track page<https://intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-parliamentary-track>.
  *   Subscribe to the Parliamentary Track mailing list<https://mail.intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/parliamentarians_intgovforum.org>.

Judiciary Engagement
The Internet Governance Forum is collaborating with the AI Committee of the Judicial Council of the City of Buenos Aires to deliver a workshop on 26 March in Buenos Aires. The session is part of the ongoing AI training program on the Guidelines for the use of AI, including Generative AI in judicial work, approved at the end of 2025.


  *   Visit the IGF 2026 Judiciary Engagement page<https://intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-judiciary-engagement>
  *   Subscribe to the Judiciary Engagement mailing list<https://mail.intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/judiciary_intgovforum.org>

IGF Session at Geneva Cyber Week May 2026
At Geneva Cyber Week 2026 (4–8 May, Geneva), the IGF will host a 60-minute roundtable under its Best Practice Forum on Cybersecurity, focusing on securing Internet access and protecting core Internet resources in contexts of conflict and crises.

Building on 2025 work, the session will examine gaps in emergency response, legal and policy considerations, and the need for coordinated, pre-crisis cooperation to strengthen Internet resilience. Read more about Geneva Cyber Week HERE<https://genevacyberweek.com/en>.

Dynamic Coalitions
Preparing the DNS for the Post-Quantum Cryptography Transition | 18 March
This week, the IGF DC on Internet Standards, Security and Safety (DC-IS3C), in collaboration with Afnic and the IGF Secretariat, hosted its second webinar on post-quantum cryptography (PQC), focusing on the DNS transition and the broader challenge of securing digital infrastructure, data, and services in the era of quantum computing.

AI – Environment as an Ethical Dimension | 27 March, 12:30 UTC
The IGF DC on Environment, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Centre for Science and Environment, will host an upcoming webinar exploring the environmental dimensions of artificial intelligence. The session will bring together global leaders to examine the sustainability challenges of AI—from energy demands to data infrastructure—and discuss how to shape a more responsible digital future.


  *   27 March 2026, 12:30 UTC.
  *   Read more and register HERE<https://intgovforum.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__5B-8LiyTvWxXprSLFvELw#/registration>.

Preparing RPKI for the Post-Quantum Cryptography Transition | 2 April, 12:00 UTC
A key challenge for ICT organizations is preparing for the post-quantum era in a timely and coordinated way; as quantum computing advances, protecting critical data becomes increasingly urgent. In this final webinar, DC-IS3C and Afnic focus on securing the Internet’s routing layer, outlining key actions, challenges, and solutions for the transition to post-quantum cryptography.


  *   2 April 2026, 12:00 UTC
  *   Read more and register HERE<https://intgovforum.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hp1HQB8TRXebF-2Xuj3H2A#/registration>.
📅 Upcoming Events
Date
Event
Location
January 2026
23 March 2026
Virtual MAG Meeting XV
Online
24 March 2026
4th Regional Parliamentary Summit<https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/parliamentary-summit-anticipating-the-digital-future-strengthening-parliamentary-governance>
Montevideo, Uruguay & Online
27 March 2026
Webinar: DC on Environment<https://intgovforum.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__5B-8LiyTvWxXprSLFvELw#/registration>
Online
30 March 2026
NRIs Meeting III
Online
2 April 2026
Webinar: DC-IS3C<https://intgovforum.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hp1HQB8TRXebF-2Xuj3H2A#/registration>
Online
Connect with us
[LinkedIn]<https://www.linkedin.com/company/internet-governance-forum-igf/>    [X] <https://x.com/intgovforum>     [cid:image012.png at 01DCB56A.5C37BDB0] <https://bsky.app/profile/intgovforum.bsky.social>     [Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/IntGovForum>     [Flickr] <https://www.instagram.com/intgovforum/>     [YouTube] <https://www.youtube.com/@igf/videos>     [TikTok] <https://www.tiktok.com/@intgovforum>
Visit our website: www.intgovforum.org<http://www.intgovforum.org/>



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