<div dir="ltr"><div><p>Dear colleagues and friends,</p>
<p>Like many of you, the RIPE NCC team is heading to the 2025 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) next week, taking place in Lillestrøm, Norway, from <strong>23 to 27 June</strong>. This year’s IGF is especially important, coming just ahead of the <strong>WSIS+20 review</strong>, which will shape the future of the IGF and broader digital governance frameworks.</p>
<p>Under the theme <em>Building Digital Governance Together</em>, the RIPE NCC will participate in a diverse set of sessions that highlight our commitment to open, inclusive, and resilient Internet development. Whether you’re attending in person or joining us online, we hope you’ll take part in these key discussions:</p>
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<ul type="disc" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:12pt 0cm 0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day Zero Welcome Session</b>: <i>Building Digital Governance Together</i> – Hans Petter Holen will join the opening session to set the tone for the IGF's 20th edition.</font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 0 Workshop #161</b>: <a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2025-day-0-event-161-preparing-your-internet-to-power-the-digital-of-tomorrow" target="_blank">Preparing Your Internet to Power the Digital of Tomorrow</a> – Organised by RIPE NCC, this session will bring together regulators, regional Internet bodies, and development organisations to discuss how to strengthen infrastructure readiness.</font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 1 Workshop #96</b>: <a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2025-launch-award-event-96-empower-the-global-internet-standards-testing-community" target="_blank"><i>Empowering the Global Internet Standards Testing Community</i></a> – Alena Muravska will contribute to a discussion on how to reinforce Internet standards deployment globally.</font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 1 Roundtable</b>: <i>Economic Costs of Network-Level Blocking</i> – Hisham Ibrahim will contribute to this critical policy debate co-hosted by Cloudflare and Analysys Mason.</font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 1 NRI Session</b>: <i>Community Networks and Local Connectivity</i> – Chafic Chaya will speak as a representative of the Lebanon IGF and RIPE NCC, sharing insights on community-led connectivity solutions.</font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 2 Open Forum #72</b>: <a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2025-open-forum-72-digital-governance-reimagined-youth-ambitionspolicy-vision" target="_blank"><i>Digital Governance Reimagined – Bridging Youth Ambitions with Policy Vision</i> </a>– Vahan Hovsepyn will speak alongside MEPs, youth leaders, and other stakeholders. The session will explore digital trust, infrastructure resilience, and Europe’s strategic digital sovereignty. </font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 3 Open Forum</b>: <a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2025-open-forum-24-open-forum-on-digital-cooperation-in-the-arab-region" target="_blank"><i>Digital Cooperation in the Arab Region</i></a> – Chafic Chaya joins other regional experts to advance the Arab perspective on WSIS+20, digital cooperation, and the GDC.</font></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 12pt;color:black;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Day 3 Main Session</b>: <a href="https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2025-the-impact-of-the-igf-in-the-information-society" target="_blank">Impact of the IGF in the Information Society</a> – Hans Petter Holen will take part in the main stage session exploring the IGF’s long-term relevance and its future amid the WSIS+20 review. </font></li></ul></li>
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<p>We invite and encourage you to participate in these sessions, whether in person or online, and to bring the MENOG community’s voice to these important global discussions.</p>
<p>Our team looks forward to connecting with many of you during the forum. And if you're attending onsite, be sure to visit the NRO booth; we would love to see you there!</p>
<p>Best regards,<br>
Chafic Chaya<br><br></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"></div></div></div>