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G3ict

G3ict Engagement in the GDC Process

Global Digital Compact (GDC)

Overview

The Global Digital Compact (GDC) is an intergovernmentally negotiated framework adopted by UN Member States in 2024 as an annex to the Pact for the Future. It outlines shared principles for an open, safe, secure, and inclusive digital future, covering areas such as digital inclusion, data governance, connectivity, and the responsible development of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The GDC builds on a series of UN initiatives. In 2020, Member States adopted a political declaration marking the UN’s 75th anniversary. The UN Secretary‑General’s Our Common Agenda (2021) followed, proposing ways to strengthen international cooperation on global challenges. One of these proposals was the Summit of the Future, held during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2024. The Summit’s outcome document, the Pact for the Future, provides a broad roadmap for future collaboration on issues including technology, digital governance, and sustainable development. The GDC serves as one of its key annexes and was developed through a multi‑stakeholder process involving governments, the UN system, private‑sector organizations, civil society, academia, and youth representatives.

Focus Areas of the GDC

The GDC identifies shared principles related to:

  • Connectivity
  • Data governance
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Human rights online
  • Digital public infrastructure

Consultative and Multi‑Stakeholder Process

The GDC was shaped through a broad consultative effort aligned with the UN Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. Key mechanisms included:

  • Eight thematic roundtables on Universal Connectivity, Digital Public Goods, Digital Inclusion, Digital Capacity Building, Digital Human Rights, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Trust and Security, and Global Digital Cooperation
  • Input from the UN High‑Level Advisory Body on AI, established in 2023 to provide expert perspectives on opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence

G3ict DASH Council’s Role in the GDC Process

As part of its mandate to monitor and contribute to global digital‑governance processes, the DASH Council engaged throughout the development of the GDC. DASH Advisors provided technical and data‑driven input from the “zero draft” through the final text and, through G3ict’s sustained engagement during negotiations, helped ensure that accessibility provisions for persons with disabilities were included in the version adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024. DASH Advisors also contributed input to the AI Advisory Body Interim Report.

Accessibility‑Related Provisions Included in the Final GDC Text

The final GDC includes several provisions relevant to digital accessibility, including:

  • Affirming the rights of persons with disabilities within its core principles and referencing international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (8.c, 23.a).
  • Calling for disaggregated data by disability status (13.d).
  • Committing by 2030 to increase the availability, accessibility, and affordability of digital platforms, services, software, educational curricula, and accessible user interfaces for persons with disabilities (13.b).
  • Targeting capacity‑building and digital‑skills initiatives for persons with disabilities (13.c).
  • Promoting open standards and interoperability to support the use of digital public goods across platforms (17.b), and encouraging robust standards for safe, secure, and trustworthy online environments (20).
  • Upholding international human rights law throughout the life cycle of digital and emerging technologies (22).
  • Encouraging technology companies to involve persons of all abilities in product development (32.a).
  • Calling on social media platforms to establish safe, secure, and accessible reporting mechanisms, including options adapted for children and persons with disabilities (32.d).
  • Setting expectations for safe, trustworthy, and ethical AI, consistent with international human rights law (52, 59).

Timeline

  • November 2020 - G3ict is invited to join the Digital Inclusion Round Table (led by Government of Mexico, Canada, UNWF), List_of_roundtables_key_constituents.pdf.
  • February 2021 - G3ict helps secure the inclusion of a definition of digital accessibility for persons with disabilities in an early GDC output document, aligned with established accessibility principles of the CRPD. Definition_Digital-Inclusion.pdf (un.org)
  • January 2023 - G3ict meets in New York with Mr. Fayaz King, Special Adviser in the UN Office of Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology.
  • March 2023 - G3ict submits a written contribution to the GDC online consultations emphasizing the importance of digital inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities and older persons, supported by data from 137 countries through the DARE Index and Country Dashboard.
  • May 2023 - G3ict participates in informal consultations, including thematic deep dives (Digital Human Rights, AI).
  • 14 June 2023 - G3ict convenes a meeting hosted by Microsoft's UN Affairs Office in New York during the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16). Guest speaker: Mr. Fayaz King, Special Adviser, UN Office of S-G Envoy on Technology, with representatives from industry and advocacy organizations, including the World Blind Union.
  • 11 October 2023 - G3ict holds private consultations with organizations of persons with disabilities at the G3ict 2023 M-Enabling Summit.
  • 13 December 2023 - G3ict participates in the virtual consultation convened by the Summit of the Future Co-Facilitators (Permanent Representatives of Germany and Namibia to the United Nations-New York) for input into the "zero draft" of the “Pact for the Future.”
  • 31 December 2023 - G3ict submits a written contribution to the "zero draft" of the “Pact for the Future.”
  • 10 January 2024 - G3ict meets with Ambassador Amandeep Gill, the UN Secretary-General Envoy on Technology, to discuss opportunities for continued engagement in the GDC process.
  • 13 February 2024 - G3ict delivers a statement during an informal virtual consultation with Non-State Stakeholders convened by the GDC Co-Facilitators (Permanent Representatives of Sweden and Zambia to the United Nations-New York).
  • 8 March 2024 - G3ict submits a written contribution to the "zero draft" of the GDC.
  • 31 March 2024 - G3ict submits a written contribution to the UN AI Advisory Body Interim Report.
  • 24 April 2024 - G3ict participates in a GDC Stakeholders consultation.
  • 9-10 May 2024 - G3ict takes part in the Conference of UN Civil Society (Nairobi, Kenya) contributing to preparations for the Summit of the Future.
  • 19 May 2024 - Editorial Suggestions Prepared by the G3ict Work Group to Include Disability Rights and Digital Accessibility as per Art. 9 of the CRPD in the UN Global Digital Compact: rev1 (draft V.1) of 15 May 2024.
  • 10-13 June 2024 - G3ict and partners co-host a series of Side Events on the GDC and the Summit of the Future at the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP17) at UN Headquarters.
  • 20-21 September 2024 - G3ict participates in the Summit of the Future (SOF) Action Days, UN HQ, New York.
  • 22-23 September 2024 - As an ECOSOC-accredited organization, G3ict takes part in the Summit of the Future.
  • 15 October 2024 - G3ict endorses the Global Digital Compact at the 12th M-Enabling Summit.
  • 2-3 April 2025 - G3ict and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) presents a Joint-Commitment on the GDC at the Global Disability Summit, Berlin, Germany
  • 11 June 2025 - G3ict presents at the COSP18 Second Round Table on AI at UN Headquarters
  • 16 June 2025 - G3ict delivers a statement on behalf of the DASH Work Group during the GDC Stakeholders Town Hall organized by UN ODET.
  • 22-23 September 2025 - G3ict takes part in UN General Assembly–related events convened by the ITU (Digital @UNGA 2025) and UN ODET (UN Digital Cooperation Day)
  • 24 October 2025 - G3ict participates in the virtual GDC Stakeholders Town Hall organized by UN ODET. Intervention by Marc Workman (CEO, World Blind Union on behalf of G3ict-DASH)
  • 15-17 December 2025 - G3ict takes part in the Digital @UNGA 2025 (WISIS+20 Edition), and in the WSIS+20 Review High-Level Meeting, convened by the ITU. WSIS+20 Outcome document.


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