No One Left Behind: Bridging the Digital Gap through Shared Commitment at IGF 2025

From Rights to Reality: What Inclusion Demands

In my keynote, I spoke about how inclusion is about more than access. The ability to participate fully in digital life depends on three tightly linked factors:

• Connectivity – affordable infrastructure and devices
• Accessibility – universal design and assistive technologies
• Digital skills – not just for users, but for the designers and developers of the systems we use every day

As we discussed in the session, one in six people globally lives with a disability. If we want a society where everyone can reach their potential – in education, work, and civic life – we must ensure digital environments are designed to be inclusive from the start. This isn’t just ethically right. It’s also smart policy – and good business. Including the 15% who are currently digitally excluded isn’t just about fixing a gap; it’s about unlocking global potential.

Shared Lessons from North and South

Our session highlighted how different parts of the world are tackling inclusion in different – and sometimes surprisingly aligned – ways. We heard how the European Union’s accessibility regulation and standards have become a reference point not just across Europe, but also for countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Kenya, which recently adopted a national ICT accessibility standard.

In Africa, we see how mobile-first strategies, combined with a youthful population and early adoption of digital standards, offer enormous potential to leap ahead – avoiding many of the design pitfalls experienced in the Global North.

Bridging the Gap – together

So how do we move forward?

One of the most powerful tools we have is a shared framework — one that acknowledges the interconnectedness of individual and societal barriers. The Gap Model we presented offers a way to structure our efforts:

Each of these gaps must be addressed in parallel – and globally. As several panelists noted, it’s not just about country-by-country solutions; we need global cooperation to ensure harmonised standards, shared learning, and regulatory alignment.

Key Takeaways from the Session

1. Digital inclusion must be recognised and protected as a fundamental human right.
2. Standardisation matters. Common frameworks for accessibility and regulation enable interoperability, trust, and usability across borders.
3. Designing for inclusion starts with mindset. Competence among developers and service providers is as crucial as digital skills among users.

Three Calls to Action

1. Align standards and regulation globally. Let’s build on the positive momentum between EU, US, and partner countries to harmonise rules that serve people.
2. Invest in inclusive competence. Digital literacy matters, but so does the competence of those designing systems. We must build both.
3. Listen to and include the Global South. Innovation often flourishes where challenges are most pressing – and inclusive practices are embedded early.

Gratitude – and Momentum

I’m deeply grateful to all those who participated in this panel – including our thoughtful moderator, Fredrik Matheson, and inspiring voices like Irene Mbari-Kirika, Inmaculada Porrero, Maja Brynteson, Yu Ping Chan and Dan Sjöblom.

Their insights were a powerful reminder that while our contexts differ, our commitment is shared. If we want a digital future that works for everyone, we must co-create it – across sectors, across regions, and with respect for everyone’s dignity and rights.

Let’s keep going – together.