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During the 20-Year Review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), Colombia has maintained consistent participation, though without playing a leading role. Its approach has been characterized by institutional continuity and alignment with existing multilateral frameworks, rather than by the promotion of innovative positions or visible leadership in the global debate.
Since July 2025, the Colombian government has publicly expressed its “commitment to designing a fairer, more resilient, and more participatory global digital ecosystem .” This stance has been complemented by the country’s membership in the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) and by the decision of the Directorate of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accept for consideration the WSIS+20 Review Elements Document prepared by the the FOC Advisory Network, according to a response within the framework of our research .
These decisions confirm a trend that had already been identified previously: Colombia prioritizes issues such as connectivity, digital inclusion, online government and, more recently, data infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
How has Colombia’s position in WSIS+20 been built?
The country’s position regarding the WSIS+20 review does not stem from a specific or exceptional process, but rather is based on existing public policies. In particular, the National Development Plan 2022–2026 and the National Digital Strategy 2023–2026 serve as the main frameworks for integrating development, human rights, and internet governance.
Development: connectivity, skills and digital resilience
In terms of development, the Colombian agenda emphasizes universal connectivity, digital education, and strengthening skills for the digital economy. The focus is on closing gaps, especially among vulnerable populations, and promoting the social appropriation of technologies.
Programs like CiberPaz illustrate this approach, combining training and awareness-raising aimed at people in rural areas, women, journalists, and community communicators. Added to this is cybersecurity as an enabling condition for digital development, with initiatives such as the implementation of the Information Security and Privacy Model by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT ).
Human rights: a cross-cutting approach
In the human rights component, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its response to the request for information for the research highlighted as priorities universal, affordable and meaningful access to the internet, as well as the protection of rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, protection of personal data and non-discrimination.
Colombia has consistently emphasized the importance of incorporating gender, cultural diversity, and territorial equity perspectives, and of strengthening language that addresses specific groups: children and adolescents; older persons and persons with disabilities; Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples; marginalized communities; and migrants. It has also highlighted the need to explicitly address issues such as business and human rights, artificial intelligence, digital governance, and the impact of technologies on economic, social, and cultural rights.
Internet governance and multi-stakeholder model
Regarding internet governance, the country’s official position reaffirms its support for the multi-stakeholder model and the need for meaningful participation from governments, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, and academia in the formulation of global digital policies.
However, as is often the case, this aspiration coexists with internal tensions: participation mechanisms are not always uniform across state entities, nor do they guarantee sufficient time or equivalent levels of influence for all stakeholders. Recently, for example, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) issued a draft decree to address the protection of children and adolescents , which was only shared at the very end of the drafting process.
Review modalities: discursive support and practical limits to multi-stakeholder participation
Colombia consistently maintained a position in favor of conducting the WSIS+20 review using a multi-stakeholder approach. It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) extended an invitation just days before the review process concluded and prior to the UN high-level meeting on December 16 and 17, inviting “ businesses, social organizations, academia, the technical community, and public entities to continue participating and contributing ideas .” However, in practice, this support was unevenly expressed. Although the Ministry of ICT made a public call for the participation of non-state actors, this occurred late in the process, just days before the review’s conclusion and the UN high-level meeting. This limited the possibilities for substantive influence, even though established bodies such as the Colombian Internet Governance Roundtable had already been continuously monitoring and providing technical input to the process.
WSIS and GDC: complementarity without shifts in country position
Colombia’s position on the relationship between WSIS+20 and the Global Digital Compact (GDC) remained stable and consistent throughout the process, viewing both frameworks as complementary. In its response to the information request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explicitly stated “the need to harmonize monitoring and follow-up mechanisms, as well as to update the WSIS framework for action in the face of emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, data governance, and digital platforms, without losing the institutional progress achieved over its 20-year history.” No substantive changes in the country’s position are identified; rather, there is a reaffirmation of the importance of preserving WSIS’s institutional progress while integrating GDC priorities in a coordinated manner.
Internet Governance Forum: sustained support for its multi-stakeholder mandate
Colombia has consistently supported the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) as a central space for multi-stakeholder dialogue on digital governance issues. This position is reflected in the adoption of the Freedom Online Coalition’s WSIS+20 Review Elements Document, which reaffirms the IGF’s role in facilitating inclusive discussions and promoting the meaningful participation of all stakeholders. Support for the IGF is not new: it is also expressed in the sustained participation of entities such as the Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC) and the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) in national, regional, and international forums, including the Colombian Internet Governance Forum, the Latin American Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF), and ICANN meetings, reinforcing the vision of the IGF as a pillar of the global digital governance architecture.
Opportunities for national actors to have an impact
Despite these limitations, there have been significant opportunities for the participation of non-governmental actors. The Colombian Internet Governance Roundtable has established itself as the main forum for discussion and monitoring of the WSIS+20 process in the country.
Several institutional state actors participated in the WSIS +20 review process. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the main actor whose functions include defining and presenting the country’s position, this role is complemented by that of the Ministry of ICT and the CRC.
During the process, for example, in July 2025, the CRC’s chief executive officer participated in the Regulators Roundtable and the GovStack during the high-level meeting, in which one of the commissioners also participated .
Representatives from the Ministry of ICT and the CRC also participated in panels at the 2025 Colombian Internet Governance Forum and the Latin American Internet Governance Forum.
From this space, organizations such as Colnodo, the Colombian Chapter of the Internet Society and the CAT Consultative Group submitted comments on the Zero Draft and participated in informal consultations organized by the United Nations in October 2025. These interventions emphasized issues such as connectivity, financing for implementation, alignment with the Global Digital Compact (GDC), intersectional approach and strengthening of the Internet Governance Forum.
What’s next for Colombia after WSIS+20?
In preparation for implementing the WSIS+20 results, the monitoring of information society indicators, led by the CRC, will be key. This data will inform the CRC’s proposed regulatory agenda for 2026-2027 and is expected to align with the commitments made within the framework of the GDC.
Although Colombia has not had a central role in the process, its sustained interest in national discussions, as well as regional and international spaces suggests that the debate will continue, especially through the Ministry of ICT and the Colombian Internet Governance Roundtable.
The priorities expressed by the State reflect a commitment to a digital transformation geared towards sustainable development, equity, and human rights. However, translating these aspirations into effective participatory practices and concrete impacts remains an unfinished task.
For more information on WSIS+20 and to review other countries’ positions, see the special reportl “Looking Back: Tracking National Positions in the WSIS+20 Review“.