About Youth IGF Nepal
Youth Internet Governance Forum (yIGF) Nepal is a youth initiative that was formally recognized by the UN IGF Secretariat in December 2021. Since its inception, youth IGF Nepal has been actively engaging young people in substantive discussions on internet governance issues. Within a couple of years, youth IGF Nepal successfully organized and contributed on several capacity-building activities, including: 2022 and 2023 editions of Youth IGF Nepal Annual Event, Youth IGF Asia Pacific 2022, Digital Freedom Summit 2022 and 2023, a high-level panel on Internet regulation in Nepal, and workshops on online child safety for school teachers and parents.
In addition to that, our community members have been actively contributing to different regional and global internet governance spaces that includes Asia Pacific Regional IGF, UN IGF, ICANN and many more.
Youth IGF Nepal 2023: A Day of Insight and Engagement
This year, Youth IGF Nepal brought together approximately 70 young representatives from various stakeholder groups for a one-day capacity-building program. The event was guided by the slogan “Empowering youths for Open, Inclusive and Secured Internet”. This 2nd edition of our annual event featured workshops and discussion on topics such as: strengthening youth engagement in internet governance, ensuring internet safety, formulation of youth-centric policies, and promoting secured access to the internet.
Program Schedule:
Opening Plenary
The event commenced with the Opening Plenary, featuring notable guests such as Mr. Pursottam Khanal, Chairman of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, as the Chief Guest, and Mr. Michael Croft, UNESCO Representative to Nepal, as the Keynote Speaker. Their speeches underscored the significance of a secure internet for youth. Special guest Anja Genjo from the UN IGF Secretariat praised the Youth IGF Nepal team for their exemplary work. Other distinguished guests, including Vice-Chair of APSIG Mr. Babu Ram Aryal, Vice-Chair of Asia Pacific Regional IGF Mr. Ashirwad Tripathy and Chair of Nepal IGF Mr. Birendra Kumar Mishra, also shared valuable insights.
Panel Discussions and Workshops
Youth Perspectives Unleashed: Navigating the Presence of Youths in Internet Governance Spaces and Their Role for a Better Digital Future This panel discussion brought together youth speakers from Nepal, India, Myanmar, and Nigeria to share their perspectives on internet governance. Moderated by Bibek Silwal, the session fostered an exchange of ideas on the role of youth in shaping the digital landscape.
How Not to Be a Victim Online Suyash Nepal delivered a compelling presentation on online safety and cybersecurity, equipping participants with knowledge and strategies to navigate the digital world securely.
Youth at the Digital Crossroads: Shaping Policies for an Inclusive Internet Moderated by Adv. Mamta Siwakoti, this session featured experts like Mr. Ismaran Duwadi, Mr. Sandesh Shrestha, Ms. Priyanka Jha, and Mr. Ajaya Siwakoti. The discussion covered digital divide, misinformation, policy weaknesses, and the role of political parties in the digital era.
Youth in the Digital Frontier: Unlocking Opportunities in Global Internet Governance Moderated by Ashirwad Tripathy, this panel included speakers like Prof. Salma Abbasi, Amrita Choudhary, Roshan Pokharel, Veronica Piccolo, and Sarah Lake. The session highlighted the importance of youth participation in global internet governance and the opportunities available through various internet organizations.
Human Rights in the Digital Age: Multi-Stakeholder Roleplay Session Facilitated by Surendra Tiwari, Sadikshya Silwal, Sanjina Kshitri, and Kabita Rai, this session engaged participants in a roleplay exercise to explore the importance of safeguarding human rights in the digital realm.
Closing Ceremony
The event concluded with a leadership handover ceremony. Deepa Bhattarai, the outgoing Chair of Youth IGF Nepal, passed the baton to the incoming Chair, Ananda Gautam. Er. Dipesh Bista, CEO of the e-Governance Commission, graced the ceremony as the closing guest. The contributions of the new Vice President, Surendra Tiwari, were also acknowledged. The ceremony underscored the importance of youth engagement in internet governance and celebrated the efforts of both outgoing and incoming leaders.
The program was a collaborative effort supported by various organizations, including the UN IGF Secretariat, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Internet Society Foundation, Nepal Telecom, Code Himalaya, and many more. Their collective contributions were pivotal in the success of Youth IGF Nepal 2023, empowering youth to actively participate in shaping the future of internet governance.
Read The Event Report Here:
