Norway
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
As we conclude the 20th meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you.
On behalf of the United Nations, I offer my profound gratitude to our host, the Government of Norway — for your warm hospitality and leadership.
By welcoming us to Lillestrøm, you marked a historic milestone — the 20th anniversary of the IGF, and the first ever in Scandinavia.
What makes this truly remarkable is that you delivered this entire process in under six months, a feat no IGF host has ever faced before.
Your exceptional dedication has set a powerful example of commitment to inclusive dialogue and multistakeholder cooperation.
Over the past week, under the theme “Building Digital Governance Together”, more than 6,000 participants engaged in over 165 sessions, tackling today’s most pressing digital challenges and opportunities.
The collaborative spirit of the IGF was clearly amplified and augmented here in Lillestrøm.
The messages emerging from this forum are clear and bold, reflecting our shared aspirations and commitments:
1) The WSIS+20 review is our pivotal opportunity to shape a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable digital future. We must seize it.
2) Data governance rooted in human rights is essential for AI that advances both innovation and fundamental freedoms. We must uphold it.
3) Ensuring safe and secure deployment of digital technologies is a shared responsibility—and a critical priority—for the global multistakeholder community. We must deliver it.
I invite you to consult the IGF Messages from Norway for further calls to action.
Indeed, WSIS+20 is the momentum to reflect on how far we have come since Geneva and Tunis, and to envision digital governance beyond 2025.
As we look toward the UN General Assembly’s review of the IGF mandate this December, we have a critical opportunity to reaffirm and re-energize IGF’s role as the global home for inclusive dialogue and digital policies.
I urge all stakeholders to remain proactively engaged.
The future of the IGF depends on your leadership, energy, and commitment.
Let us carry the momentum from Lillestrøm forward to ensure a successful outcome for WSIS+20 — one that secures an open, safe and inclusive digital future for all.
To everyone who participated, onsite or online,
thank you for your vision and contributions.
You made IGF 2025 a resounding success.
I look forward to our continued cooperation in the months and years ahead.
Safe travels to all.
Thank you. Tusen Takk.