The first-ever Maldives Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has successfully concluded. The forum was held from June 16-17 and a total of 13 sessions were held with participants from different sectors.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the forum, Chief Judicial Administrator Aishath Rizna urged individuals to narrow the gap in the use of technology and reduce the divisions caused by it. She said that decisions taken with the participation of all stakeholders in the formulation of laws and regulations will be implemented in an environmentally friendly manner. She also said that technology is being used in providing digitalised services in the judicial system. In addition, she said that internet service should be available to every citizen at a reasonable price so that no one is excluded.
During the two-day forum, issues raised by participants included the need for more innovative internet service providers in the Maldives, increasing technology products nationally, using technology in services, and promoting the technology sector. In addition, the importance of enabling eight manufacturers to use the Dhivehi language database, and planning how to strengthen the investment in Internet infrastructure and optimise its benefits for the country were also issues raised during the forum.
The forum was attended by Dhiraagu, Ooredoo Maldives, Oxiqa, Jawab Private Limited, Association for Democracy in the Maldives, Blind and Visually Impaired Association of the Maldives (BVISM), Women in Fuvahmulah, Women in Tech Maldives, Noonu Atoll Council, National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT), Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM), and Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services.
The IGF is a global platform that facilitates discussion and policymaking on issues related to the governance of the Internet. The United Nations (UN) has been holding the forum in different countries around the world since 2006. The forum is a platform that aims to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss and exchange ideas on crucial Internet governance issues. The initiative gathers diverse participants, including government representatives, civil society organisations, the private sector, technical communities, and academia. The goal of the forum is to foster collaboration, idea-sharing, and problem-solving in response to the rapidly changing digital landscape. This year's theme for the forum included ensuring cybersecurity and resilience, bridging the digital divide, emerging technologies, combating misinformation and promoting freedom of expression, strengthening data governance and ownership, and fostering innovation in the digital economy.