2024 Submission 51

Timestamp: 2024/03/22 02:22:00 PM

SG: Civil Society / Academia

Submission: Although there is a trending movement towards youth inclusion in the Internet Governance ecosystem, these movements are often disconnected and inaccessible to youth without a mentor in the field. This panel would discuss mechanisms to ensure best practices across youth initiatives and foster meaningful engagement among young people in Internet Governance. It will explore creating an organization devoted to cross-organization discussion on creating mentorship opportunities, bridging the gap between seasoned professionals and youth participants, and empowering young voices to contribute effectively to policy discussions and decision-making processes. Additionally, the panel will address ways to make existing youth-focused initiatives more inclusive and accessible, including providing a detailed and updated list of opportunities tailored to the needs and interests of young participants. Through collaborative efforts and shared insights, the panel aims to cultivate a supportive environment that nurtures the next generation of leaders in Internet Governance and promotes diversity, inclusion, and innovation in the field.

Links: This panel could consist of the following speakers: Natálie Terčová, Vice Facilitator of the Internet Society Youth Standing Group, Siranush Vardanyan, Fellow Manager at ICANN, a representative from the ARIN fellowship program, a representative of the ITU to speak on their Youth Advisory Board and Yong Professionals Program Initiatives, and Emily Taylor, founder of the DNS research federation to present their research on the impact of Youth IGFs globally (https://dnsrf.org/).

This panel seeks to start the conversation regarding youth movement best practices and identify next steps to continuing the conversation.

Suggested speaker: Kathleen Scoggin

Issue Areas: Access and Digital Inclusion