A Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +20 review and the extension of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was approved on the 25 of September 2024 in Strasbourg.

The declaration supporting the extension of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) reaffirms Council of Europe member States’ commitment to securing the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5) for everyone within their jurisdictions, both online and offline.

Internet governance, and more broadly a governance of the digital environment, that respects, protects and promotes human rights, democracy and the rule of law principles, and promotes information integrity, is a priority for the Council of Europe. In addition, to ensuring that the Internet remains open, global, free, interoperable, and accessible, the aim is to guarantee and create conditions for the effective, free and safe exercise of human rights online and for fostering citizens’ participation in the democratic processes. The rights concerned include inter alia freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, children’s rights, the rights to education, respect for private and family life and effective protection against discrimination and hate speech.

The declaration encourages member States to promote the participation of all stakeholders in all processes related to Internet and digital governance at the national, regional and global levels, including the WSIS+20 review process and the high-level political forum 2025, and strengthening the linkages between the WSIS action lines and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This also includes encouraging the setting-up of dedicated national Internet and digital governance forums and considering ways to include the multistakeholder community in consultations relating to Internet and digital policy decision-making processes.