On June 9, ministers, vice ministers and senior officials from 81 nations converged at the fifth-ever High Level Government Meeting (HLGM), hosted by the government of Rwanda in conjunction with ICANN80. Luxembourg’s Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy was among them.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the international regulator of IP addresses and domain names and plays a key role in establishing internet infrastructure.

The High-Level Government Meetings (HLGM) at ICANN are structured as focused discussion forums designed to facilitate meaningful engagement between government representatives and ICANN's leadership.

HLGMs are hosted every few years by a rotating member of ICANN’s Government Advisory Committee.

This year’s HLGM addressed digital inclusion, particularly in underserved communities. It highlighted the challenges and opportunities related to connectivity in Africa, as well as the impacts of emerging technologies on the Domain Name System (DNS) and ICANN’s future policies.

“This was a remarkable opportunity to engage with global leaders in internet governance, ” reflects Claudine Kariger, Senior ICT Policy Advisor, Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy. “The insights drawn from our discussions will help ensure that the internet of the future is a secure and inclusive space.”

In the context of today’s geopolitical state and AI technology, the WSIS+20 process and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) has the attention of the internet community, increasing the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and dialogue.

ICANN meetings are held in different regions around the world to encourage diverse participation and to make it easier for stakeholders from various parts of the world to attend. This year’s destination, Kigali, Rwanda, is a technology capital and home of Kigali Innovation City, a mixed-use innovation hub currently being developed to foster pan-African talent.

“With its location choice, ICANN80 is helping elevate the voices of African countries in the development of meaningful internet connectivity, ” Kariger continues.

ICANN has relied on a multistakeholder model since its establishment in 1998. Its meetings provide crucial avenues through which to exchange ideas, share best practices, conduct business and advance policies. That model continues to play a crucial role in fostering diverse perspectives and inclusive decision-making—for instance through internationalized domain names, which assure that users of all languages and scripts have equal access to the internet.

“It was inspiring to be part of such an engaging exchange of ideas and insight at the High Level Government Meeting, ” she concludes. “Gatherings like this remind us all what diverse perspectives and inclusive decision-making can look like.”