WELCOME TO KATOWICEPOLANDTHE HEART OF GLOBAL

DEBATE ON THE FUTURE
OF THE INTERNET

The organisation of the 16th UN Internet Governance Forum – IGF 2021
was entrusted to the Chancellery of the Prime Ministerand the United Nations
Find out more: www.igf2021.pl IGF2021 (@igf_2021)
 igf2021@mc.gov.pl

16th UN Internet Governance Forum – IGF 2021
Katowice, 6 – 10 December 2021

POLAND – THE HEART OF GLOBAL DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET
We have been trying to get this opportunity for several
years, and we finally succeeded! The UN has appreciated ourefforts in the international arena, and the 16th UN Internet
Governance Forum – IGF 2021 will take place in Poland.
It will be attended by thousands of eminent guests – ministers
and heads of international organisations, representativesof businesses, including the largest and best-known Internetcompanies, as well as NGO activists and academics,theoreticians and practitioners. On 6 - 10 December 2021,
the entire international Internet community will gather in one
place, in Poland.

”

Organising such a prestigious event is not only a great honour, but also a proof that Polandis becoming an increasingly important player in the global efforts to ensure an open and united Internet.
See you in Katowice in December 2021!
Mateusz Morawiecki

Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland”

IGF 2021 – WHERE DECISIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET ARE MADE

IGF 2021 in Katowice is a great opportunity for parliamentarians from around the world
to meet and give attention to the needs of Internet users. We will discuss, among others,
legislative solutions responding to the challenges of the digital world.
Together, we can shape the future.
Elżbieta WitekMarshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland”

The digital transformation we are living today knows no borders. Everywhere, we see thesame questions: how will digital tools change our lives? Can we trust digital technologies?
Questions that need a collective, united response. This is why the discussions in Katowice areso important: more than just shaping the governance of Internet, they are about shaping the world
we wish to live in.

During the COVID–19 crisis, the Internet proved to be helpful
in organising our lives to the extent that we would neverforesee before. This has only confirmed its enormous value toall of us. We are functioning in a digital world where we needfreedom, openness and security.

We want the Polish Internet community to be actively involvedin this event. During the UN Internet Governance Forum –IGF 2021, every participant will have an opportunity to
express their opinion on the future of the Internet. You also
can influence this debate!

”

Katowice – a city and a hub of innovation and new technologies – will be the place where the key
decisions concerning the future of the Internet – its development and further operation – will be made.
Many seem to think that these issues do not concern them, but they could not be morewrong. The issues discussed in Katowice will concern all users of the Internet.
Janusz Cieszyński

Secretary of State for Digital Affairs at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister,
Government Plenipotentiary for Cybersecurity

Margrethe Vestager

Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age

INTERNET UNITEDThe UN Internet Governance Forum – IGF 2021 will be a placeof debate about the future of Internet platforms. The headline
and the theme of this year’s conference is Internet United –this is where global issues and best practices concerning thedigital space will be discussed.

The IGF has been organised annually since 2006. To date,it has been held in Germany, France, Switzerland, Mexico,Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Lithuania, Egypt,
India and Greece. It’s time for Poland!

”

We need an Internet Governance Forum that is responsive, relevant and impactful. We need it to bea place where governments, companies, technical experts and civil society from all parts of the worldcome together, share ideas, debate solutions and agree on common standards and principles.
António Guterres

UN Secretary-General”

More than ever, we need to harness the Internet to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development – leaving no one behind or offline. We need to extend global partnership tobridge the digital divides. And we need to continue advancing digital transformation for people, peace,planet and prosperity. Meeting under the theme Internet United, IGF 2021 is where these issues will be
addressed, actions taken and initiatives launched.
Liu Zhenmin
UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social AffairsEVERYBODY IS INVITED
What will make this year’s IGF stand out from its previous
editions is the involvement of young Internet users indebates and decision-making. In Katowice, they will have anopportunity to speak up and be heard.
We want the IGF 2021 to be an important event for the
representatives of youth from all over the world - people
who largely make up the global Internet community. Thatis why the Youth IGF Summit will be one of the events
accompanying the main IGF 2021.
Admission to the IGF 2021 will be free of charge. Anyone iswelcome to attend, ask questions and bring up their issues
in debates.
Stay up to date – www.igf2021.pl”

The global pandemic has accelerated the process of digitalisation of individual areas of economic,
political and social life. Naturally, this process requires adequate funding and the involvementof the younger generation. These are strategic elements of growth – and the topics we will be talking
about in connection with the theme of this year’s IGF 2021 – Internet United.
Krzysztof SzubertHigh Representative of the Prime Minister for European Digital Policy,
Republic of Poland Plenipotentiary for UN IGF 2021