An Open, Free, and Secure Digital Future for All

AHM Bazlur Rahman | Executive Coordinator |

Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering, & Amplifying Unified Voices on
Global Digital Compact & Summit of the Future 2024
ceo@bnnrc.net | +8801711881647
About BNNRC and BIGF
Experiences in UN Process: 2000 – 2024
Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC) has
promoted the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) action
line and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) localization process in
Bangladesh.

It is associated with the UN Department of Global Communications and the

Observer Organization with the UNFCCC. BNNRC has won several
awards, including the UN WSIS Prize 2016 and recognition as the
Champion in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023. BNNRC has been
granted Consultative Status with the UN's Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) since 2005. https://www.bnnrc.net

Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) in conjunction with the

UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) This domestic, independent
forum has engaged civil society, organizations, government, corporate
sectors, technical sectors, media, and academia to create partnerships,
coalitions, and dialogues that demonstrate best practices and help us to
move the policy forward since 2006. https://www.bangladeshigf.org
In September 2020, on the commemoration of
the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United
Nations, member states adopted a political
declaration, Guided by the Charter, on how
they are going to ensure the future they
want and the United Nations they need.

Consequently, in September 2021, the UN

Secretary-General published his report entitled
Our Common Agenda, which proposes a
Global Digital Compact to “outline shared
principles for an open, free and secure digital
future for all.

The proposed Global Digital Compact will be

adopted at the Summit of the Future in
September 2024.
The UN Secretary-
General, António
Guterres, has said,
“Looking to the
future, two seismic
shifts will shape
the 21st century:
the climate crisis
and digital
transformation.”
 The purpose of the Global
Digital Compact is to establish
an inclusive global framework,
essential for multi-stakeholder
action required to overcome
digital, data and innovation
divides.
The Common Agenda proposes a Global Digital
Compact to be agreed upon at the Summit of the The compact is expected to
Future in September 2024
outline principles, objectives and
Governments, the United Nations system, the private actions for advancing an open,
sector (including tech companies), civil society, grass- free, secure and human-centered
roots organizations, academia, and individuals,
digital future for all, one that is
including youth.
anchored in universal human
rights and that enables the
attainment of the Sustainable
Development Goals.
Related ongoing UN
processes, initiatives
Open-ended Working Group (OEWG)
on security of and in the use of
information and communications
technologies, UN Office for
Disarmament Affairs 1998

World Summit on the Information

Society (WSIS) Forum since (2003 &
2005) 2006

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) since

2006

Office of the Secretary-General's

Envoy on Technology
An open process of consultations is to identify
common ground in terms of principles and
proposed actions relating to the following seven
thematic areas identified in Our Common
Agenda.

• Connect all people to the Internet,

including all schools
• Avoid internet fragmentation
• Protect data
• Apply human rights online
• Accountability for discrimination and
misleading content
• Regulation of artificial intelligence
• Digital commons as a global public
good
Bangladesh Initiative for
Connecting, Empowering &
Amplifying Unified Voices on
Global Digital Compact &
Summit of the Future 2024

OBJECTIVES:
1. To sensitize & engage
Government and multi-
stakeholders about GDC and
Summit of the Future 2024
2. To identify the role of
Government & multi-
stakeholder
3. Create a shared vision of the
challenges, priorities & way
forward for Bangladesh.
Global Initiative:
The Indian and German Governments & Office
of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on
Technology:
Regional consultations for Asia, New Delhi,
India on the 21 and 22 March 2023

The Mexico and German Governments & Office

of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on
Technology:
Regional consultations American region, Mexico
on the 15-16 February 2023

The Kenya and German Governments & Office

of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on
Technology
Regional Consultations for the African region,
Nairobi, Kenya 5-6 December 2022
The commitment of the Bangladesh
Government:
HPM Sheikh Hasina, the Hon’ble Prime
Minister of the People's Republic of
Bangladesh, showed a keen interest in
supporting this process.

She mentioned, “We deeply appreciate the

UN Secretary-General’s initiative to
convene the Summit of the Future”
2024. We hope this process will
complement our efforts to attain the 2030
Agenda.”

She added, regarding the Global Compact,

“We hope this Global Digital Compact
will have clear guidelines for the
international community on the
responsible and productive use of digital
and frontier technologies."
Our Common
Agenda Policy Briefs
by theme

At the invitation of Member States,

the Secretary-General has already
issued 11 Policy Briefs to provide
more detail on specific proposals
contained in Our Common Agenda
and to support them in their
deliberations as they prepare for
the Summit of the Future.

These briefs will include an analysis

of the proposal’s impact on
implementing the Sustainable
Development Goals. They will be
informed by the United Nations
Charter and the Universal Declaration
on Human Rights, with gender
equality as a cross-cutting theme.
Digital Rights in the GDC Policy Brief
Vision, purpose, and scope
A Global Digital Compact would articulate a shared vision
of an open, free, secure, and human-centered digital
future.

Eight Objectives:
a. Digital Connectivity & Capacity-building
b. Digital cooperation to accelerate progress on the
sustainable development goals
c. Upholding human rights
d. An inclusive, open, secure & shared internet
e. Digital trust and security
f. Data protection and empowerment
g. Agile governance of AI and other emerging
technologies
h. Global Digital Commons
Digital Rights in the Global Digital Compact
Zero Draft

Five Objectives
1. Close the digital divides and accelerate
progress across the Sustainable Development
Goals;
2. Expand opportunities for inclusion in the
digital economy;
3. Foster an inclusive, open, safe, and secure
digital space;
4. Advance equitable international data
governance;
5. Govern emerging technologies, including
Artificial Intelligence, for humanity.
Description of the intervention
January 2021 – April 2024

Endorsements from Ministries, Departments &

Commission

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ICT Division,
Posts and Telecommunications Division, Ministry of
Posts, Telecommunications & Information
Technology

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory

Commission (BTRC)
Meeting with the Parliamentarians & Multi-stakeholder
Consultation Supported by UNDP Bangladesh
1. Publish Our Common Agenda
(OCA)
2. Parliamentarians Handbook on
Global Digital Compact
3. Participate in the Asia
Regional Global Digital
Compact meeting.
4. Participate in Informal
consultations with
Stakeholders and Member
States.
5. Inter-Ministerial Meetings and
Inter-Ministerial Committee.

Application for Special
Accreditation to the Summit of
the Future!
To participate in the Summit, the
following categories of relevant
organizations that are not in
consultative status with ECOSOC
must express interest and apply for
special accreditation:
1. Non-governmental organizations
2. Civil society organizations
3. Academic institutions
4. Private sector
If you do not already have an Indico
account, please create one before
proceeding with your application.
Please find the user guide on creating
the account here.
https://indico.un.org/event/1010324/
Way forward:

• Organize 11 thematic
Consultations
• Develop a position paper
• Development of the Post Summit
of the Future & GDC Plan of Action
(Pact for the Future)
• Participate in the Summit of the
Future with the multi-stakeholder
• Organize Inter-Ministerial Meeting