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Internet Governance Forum

IGF logoThe Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is an annual event organised under the auspices of the United Nations and mandated by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) as an open and inclusive forum for multistakeholder Internet policy dialogue. It is not a decision-making body, but provides an opportunity for the various Internet stakeholder groups to share information and coordinate their activities.

The first IGF was held in 2006 in Athens, Greece, and it has been held annually since that time in cities around the world. Its initial five-year mandate was renewed in 2011 for a further five years, and then again in 2015 (as part of the WSIS+10 process) for another 10 years.

The RIPE NCC and the IGF

The RIPE NCC has contributed to each of the IGF events, working with the other RIRs under the umbrella of the Number Resource Organization (NRO). These contributions have included organising workshops, speaking on panels and contributing to discussions on a range of Internet governance topics. Further details on these contributions are available on the NRO website:

The RIRs and their communities have also contributed actively to the discussions regarding the creation and evolution of the IGF, most recently as part of the CSTD Working Group on the IGF.

Regional and National Internet Governance Initiatives

The RIPE NCC supports the development of regional and national Internet governance discussions, based on the same open, multistakeholder approach as the global IGF. These events are a means to ensure broader participation of all stakeholders and to examine specific regional and national perspectives on Internet governance issues.

European Dialogue on Internet Dialogue (EuroDIG)

The European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) is a platform for discussing and sharing European perspectives on Internet governance. It has taken place annually since 2008, and hosts discussions on issues of regional significance, as well as feeding into the global discussions that take place at the Internet Governance Forum

In 2014, the RIPE NCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become a EuroDIG Institutional Partner for a term of three years. During the period, the RIPE NCC will contribute to planning and coordination of the EuroDIG process and events.  

IGF Related News

EuroDIG 2015: RIPE NCC Report

EuroDIG, the European Dialogue on Internet Governance, held its seventh annual meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria on 4-5 June 2015, attracting around 500 participants for two days of wide-ranging Internet governance discussions.

RIPE NCC Report on IGF 2014

The ninth annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) concluded on Friday, 5 September, in Istanbul, Turkey. The five days of wide-ranging Internet governance discussions attracted nearly 2,500 on-site participants, with more than 1,000 more online.

RIPE NCC Report on the 2013 IGF

The eighth Internet Governance Forum (IGF) took place in Bali, Indonesia from 22-25 October 2013. The event brought together more than 1,500 people from 111 countries to discuss the future of Internet governance under this year’s theme of “Building Bridges – Enhancing Multi-stakeholder Cooperation for Growth and Sustainable Development.”

RIPE NCC Awards Youth Fellowships to Internet Governance Forum

As part of an ongoing effort to increase youth participation in the global dialogue about Internet governance, the RIPE NCC offers fellowships that allow young people from the RIPE NCC service region to attend regional Internet Governance Forums (IGFs). Thanks to these fellowships, Thijl Klerkx (19) from the Netherlands and Ana Kakalashvili (20) from Georgia attended the second Arab IGF, which took place this week in Algeria.

NRO to Lead Key Internet Infrastructure Discussions at 2011 IGF