Partners: Government of Denmark, Government of South Korea

Moderator: Sarah Franklyn – SDG Watch Europe

Speakers: Laura Bretea - European Commission, Amy Taylor - CIVICUS, Deirdre de Burca - Forus, Sara Brandt - Globalt Fokus, Jaeeun Shin - KCOC, Chris Worman - Connect Humanity, Eric Wibbels - Machine Learning for Peace Project- Dept of Political Science - University of Pennsylvania,  Anne Kahl - Project Lead Tech for Democracy - Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bangmoo LEE, Counsellor, Republic of Korea Mission to the United Nations.

Introduction 

The accelerating process of digitalization taking place around the world at present has impacted fundamentally on civic space in most countries, rapidly transforming the operating environments of civil society organisations, activists, and campaigners.  Progressive governments, civil society and other institutions/ actors engaging with democracy and governance issues are increasingly turning their attention to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by digitalization.   

New multi-stakeholder partnerships and digital initiatives are emerging which are working to ensure that civil society has access to digital technologies and skills, and the right to exercise freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, which are protected under international law, when its members are online.  This side event will provide examples of the ways in which progressive actors can join forces to work for an inclusive, human-rights based, and democratic form of digitalization that will empower and enable people everywhere. 

Some of the questions which will be addressed by pannelists:

• What are the key global trends in terms of digitalization & civil society at present? 
• Can digitalization serve democracy & strengthen civic space?
• When will everyone be digitally connected? 
• How can digital tools be made available to civil society to support its work in creating a more peaceful world? 
• How can people become more better informed and more effective in the digital sphere? 

• Simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish will be available.