By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Commission on Science and Technology for Development concluded its latest
session in Geneva with the adoption of two major resolutions focused on digital
governance and innovation for development.
Held
under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the
meeting brought together governments, international organisations, private
sector actors, and civil society to deliberate on key issues at the
intersection of science, technology, and development.
During
the session, representatives from Federal Office of Communications played an
active role in facilitating discussions. Isabelle Lois, serving as Vice-Chair
of the Commission, moderated negotiations reviewing progress on the
implementation of outcomes from the World Summit on the Information Society.
Switzerland’s delegation, including Jorge Cancio Melia and Milla Merazzi,
contributed to these deliberations.
Parallel
discussions also focused on advancing a resolution on science, technology, and
innovation (STI), with Swiss representative Céliane Pochon participating in
negotiations aimed at strengthening coherence in global STI processes.
The
adoption of the resolutions on WSIS and STI on April 24, 2026, marked the
culmination of a week of negotiations and side events. The outcomes are
expected to inform high-level policy guidance to ECOSOC and the United Nations
General Assembly, particularly in the context of the WSIS+20 review process.
The
meeting reinforced the importance of inclusive, multistakeholder engagement and
human rights-based approaches in shaping global digital governance frameworks.
