bulletins: global digital compact

• The second revision of the GDC was published on 26 June. Compared to the previous version, it includes changes in wording, deletions, or additions in almost every paragraph.
• It is stronger than Rev-1, and focuses on promoting international cooperation in digital technologies, with the goal of building “an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, and secure digital future for all.” However, the “leave no one behind” principle is nearly absent. 
• In this document, Member States reaffirm their commitment to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action, and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. The ITU and the Internet Forum’s work are also considered as relevant references. 
• The GDC Rev-2 retains the commitment to develop targets, indicators, and metrics for universal meaningful, and affordable connectivity included in Rev-1, building a basis for its implementation follow-up mechanism.
• Get all the changes between the Rev. 1 and Rev. 2 of the GDC in the following ICH Bulletin!

• The third thematic deep dive or informal consultation on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) was held on 24 April 2023 at the Trusteeship Council Chamber. “The deep dives aim to share knowledge and views, as well as allow for contributions on a wide range of digital issues”. The Permanent Representative (PR) of Rwanda – H.E. Mr. Claver Gatete and PR of Sweden – H.E. Ms. Anna Karin Eneström are Co-Facilitators of the intergovernmental process negotiating the GDC.

• The fourth thematic deep dive on the GDC on Human Rights Online was held on 8 May 2023. At the beginning of the deep dive, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Najat Maalla, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, set the stage for the deep dive. Member State (MS), Intergovernmental agencies, private sector, and civil society representatives made their interventions after the briefings.

• The first thematic deep dive or informal consultations on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) was held on 27 March 2023 at the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The meeting started with a presentation from the Secretary-General (SG) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin followed by briefings from Mr. Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, representing civil society, and Mr. Karim Lesina, Executive Vice- President of Millicom, representing industry. Member State (MS) interventions followed the presentations after which civil society representatives made their interventions.
• The second thematic deep dive on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) was held on 13 April 2023 at the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The meeting started with briefings from Mr. Vint Cerf, Internet pioneer; Ms. Helani Galpaya, CEO at LIRNEasia; and Ms. Tripti Sinha, Chair of ICANN. Member State (MS) and civil society representatives made their interventions after the briefings.

• The brief proposes the development of a Global Digital Compact that would set out the principles, objectives, and actions for advancing an open, free, secure, and human-centered digital future, one that is anchored in universal human rights and that enables the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. It outlines areas in which the need for multi-stakeholder digital cooperation is urgent and sets out how a Global Digital Compact can help to realize the commitment in the declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations (General Assembly resolution 75/1) to “shaping a shared vision on digital cooperation” by providing an inclusive global framework.