Asia Pacific Youth IGF 2025 Kathmandu

Youth as Co-Governors: Empowering Youth for Digital Equity and Innovation

Asia Pacific Youth IGF 2025

Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum (yIGF.Asia) is an annual meeting and open platform, recognized by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), to empower young leaders aged between 18 and 35 to participate in Internet governance discussions. The forum was first initiated by NetMission.Asia in 2010 and continues to be held annually in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF).

This year, yIGF.Asia will take place as a one-day hybrid event on Saturday, October 11, 2025, held in conjunction with APrIGF 2025 in Kathmandu. Under the theme “Youth as Co-Governors: Empowering Youth for Digital Equity and Innovation,” this edition marks a bold step forward in centering youth as active shapers of our digital future.
Participants will engage in dynamic discussions with young leaders and regional experts, and collaborate in teams to develop a youth statement to be presented during APrIGF week.

As digital governance continues to evolve, it’s critical to recognize youth not merely as beneficiaries, but as co-creators and decision-makers in building inclusive, safe, and forward-thinking digital ecosystems. yIGF 2025 seeks to foster genuine intergenerational collaboration—equipping young voices with the knowledge, tools, and agency to influence digital policy and infrastructure. With digital equity at its core, the programme will explore systemic access barriers, emerging digital rights, and the urgent need for algorithmic fairness—while unpacking how AI and regulatory developments impact youth inclusion, autonomy, and participation.

Join us to amplify youth leadership, advance collaborative policymaking, and shape a digital world rooted in equity and shared progress.

Program Details

Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 09:00-18:00 Local Time (03:15-12:15 UTC Time)
Format: Hybrid
Venue:

Online

ZOOM

Local Hub (Manila)

Southville International School and Colleges, Las Piñas City, Metro Manila

Local Hub (Islamabad)

Riphah International University, Islamabad

Registration Deadline

  • yIGF Accommodation Support: July 25, 2025 (CLOSED)
  • Local Hub Participants (Manila & Islamabad): October 8, 2025 (Extended!)
  • Remote Participants: October 8, 2025

Key Features

Meetup with industry experts

Designing Equal Futures: Youth, AI, and the Path to Digital Inclusion

Internet governance works best when everyone has a voice. In this session, you’ll get to meet experts from government, civil society, tech, academia, and more. It’s a chance to see how different stakeholders tackle issues and make decisions in the policy-making process.

Panel Discussion

Power, Platforms, and Participation: Reclaiming Our Digital Selves

We host panel discussions to bring experts from policy and industry to share the latest insights and real-world experiences. These sessions give participants the chance to learn directly from leaders shaping the digital future.

APAC Youth WSIS+20 Statement

Participants will take part in a Live Discussion & Editing session to shape the APAC Youth WSIS+20 Youth Statement. This collective statement lays the groundwork for youth-led initiatives across our region to influence the WSIS+20 review process. The statement will be included in our event report, submitted to and published on the official UN Internet Governance Forum site, and serve as a reference for yIGF attendees contributing to the APrIGF Synthesis Document.

APAC youth leaders dialogue 

Co-Creating Safe Digital Future Through Intergenerational Action

This session provides a space for youth leaders and representatives from different initiatives and yIGFs across the Asia Pacific to come together, co-create, and plan strategies for youth engagement. The goal is to foster ongoing conversations, keep the community connected, and help the next generation stay informed about Internet governance in the region.

Call for Local Hub

Contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in hosting a local hub for the event in your city.

Youth Network

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Organizer & Supporting Organization

Local Hub Partners

Session Co-organizers

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