Republic of Moldova is attending the 20th edition of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025) in Norway

Between June 23–27, 2025, the 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025) took place in Lillestrøm, Norway, a landmark global event in the field of digital governance, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the Government of Norway.

Recognized as the world’s most inclusive platform for dialogue on digital policy, the Forum brought together over 9,000 participants (both onsite and online) from around the globe — including parliamentarians and government officials, civil society experts, representatives of the private sector, intergovernmental and international organizations, the technical community, and youth — to explore future digital challenges and opportunities and to strengthen international cooperation on internet governance.

Held under the overarching theme “Building Digital Governance Together” the Forum featured a five-day agenda comprising over 260 sessions. Structured around four thematic topics — digital trust and resilience; sustainable and responsible innovation; universal access and digital rights; and digital cooperation — the event addressed issues such as restoring trust in digital systems, adapting to an era shaped by artificial intelligence, evolving social media platforms, and the widespread threat of disinformation and malicious online content.

The Republic of Moldova was represented at IGF 2025 by delegates from the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the General Police Inspectorate, and civil society organizations. The national delegation engaged in valuable bilateral discussions with Norwegian institutions actively involved in online safety and user rights protection. Moldova’s participation provided a meaningful opportunity to exchange knowledge and adopt best practices from other countries in areas such as online child protection, combating cybercrime, and leveraging technology to enhance public services.

The Forum also served as a timely platform for constructive dialogue on digital rights — a priority area for the Republic of Moldova in the current geopolitical and technological context.

Moldovan delegates took part in several networking sessions with counterparts from other countries, working together on concrete policy solutions to bridge the digital divide, safeguard human rights online, and promote inclusive innovation. They also shared concerns about the erosion of digital trust caused by the rapid spread of disinformation and harmful content online.

Elena Botezatu, Executive Director of the International Center “La Strada” and member of the Moldovan delegation, noted: “The Republic of Moldova’s participation at IGF 2025 demonstrates that we are an active part of the global effort for open and inclusive digital governance. Being there, and knowing we are part of such a high-level platform, we were eager to contribute national perspectives while also learning from the experiences of other countries facing similar challenges. Digital challenges are global in nature, and that is why we are seeking global solutions — together with others who, like us, care deeply about the present and future of internet users. IGF 2025 offered us direct access to international best practices in online safety, child protection, digital inclusion, and other pressing issues. We also had productive bilateral meetings with Norwegian partners, which inspired us to consider practical adaptations for our own national policies and initiatives. We returned from Lillestrøm with the vision of a digital Moldova where safety, human rights, and innovation coexist in harmony — and we are determined to make that vision a reality.”

This anniversary edition of the Internet Governance Forum also coincided with the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), a process led by the United Nations General Assembly aimed at assessing global progress in building a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society, while enhancing global cooperation, coordination, and digital accountability.

Strategically, IGF 2025 also supported the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, adopted by UN Member States in 2024, which calls for open and inclusive digital governance frameworks.

The Republic of Moldova’s participation in this forum reflects the country’s commitment to aligning its national digital policies with international standards, while reinforcing cooperation with external partners to create a safe and inclusive digital space for all its citizens.

The participation of the Moldovan delegation was organized by the International Center “La Strada”, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with support from the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău.