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Background on the UN Summit of the Future

Following the political declaration adopted at the occasion of the United Nations’ 75th Anniversary in September 2020, the UN Secretary-General released his report Our Common Agenda in September 2021. The Common Agenda proposes the holding of the Summit of the Future to take place during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, scheduled for 22-23 September 2024. The output document to be adopted at the Summit of the Future titled: "Pact for the Future" will likely serve as a blueprint for future international cooperation in technology matters.

  • A Global Digital Compact to be approved at the Summit of the Future

An annex to the "Pact for the Future," the Global Digital Compact (GDC) is to be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future in September 2024 through a technology track involving all stakeholders: governments, the United Nations system, the private sector (including tech companies), civil society, grass-roots organizations, academia, and individuals, including youth.

  • The Global Digital Compact mission and key areas

The Global Digital Compact (GDC) is expected to “outline shared principles for an open, free, and secure digital future for all”. The "Common Agenda" Report suggests issues that it might cover, including digital connectivity, avoiding Internet fragmentation, providing people with options as to how their data is used, application of human rights online, and promoting a trustworthy Internet by introducing accountability criteria for discrimination and misleading content. Find out more here. (Opens to a PDF)

  • Consultative process, multi-stakeholders

The UN Secretary-General-driven “Common Agenda” represents a roadmap towards the Summit of the Future, where consultative bodies have been set up to work on the development of the “Pact for the Future” and its annexes, including: