Joint letter to the UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence co-chairs on multistakeholder participation

H.E. Ms. Egriselda Lopez, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance 

H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations, Co-Chair of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance 

CC: UN Member States and UN Agencies 

RE: Multistakeholder participation in the United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence 

Dear Excellencies, 

We, the undersigned organizations, actively engage and follow the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Global Digital Compact (GDC) process, including the establishment of the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance (Global Dialogue). We thank the Governments of El Salvador and Estonia for your efforts as Co-Chairs of the Global Dialogue. We particularly welcome the publication of the 1 April 2026 Draft Note on Themes and Structure for the Global Dialogue (Draft Note). The Draft Note provides a good baseline through the clustering of themes for making the Global Dialogue more targeted and enhancing its ability to contribute to concrete progress on AI governance.

We are mindful of the challenges in convening a Dialogue that is both targeted and inclusive, while ensuring substantive exchange to achieve its unique role in the UN ecosystem and lay a credible foundation for continued cooperation. We therefore write to underscore the need for robust, meaningful, and continuous civil society engagement throughout the design, deliberation, and implementation phases of the Global Dialogue. 

The governance of new and emerging technologies, including AI, must include the active and meaningful participation of all stakeholders to ensure an “inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all” (A/RES/79/1 Annex I paras 4, 8(k)). In establishing the Global Dialogue, Member States agreed, by consensus, to “facilitate open, transparent and inclusive discussions on artificial intelligence governance” (A/RES/79/325 para 4). Meaningful participation is both a human right in itself and an essential means to ensure the realization of other human rights, by strengthening accountability, inclusiveness, and the legitimacy of decision-making processes.

A growing body of consensus language across the UN system affirms that meaningful, inclusive, engagement of all stakeholders is essential to achieving legitimate and effective outcomes. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1) underscores that its implementation requires the engagement of “all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership,” and emphasizes “bringing together Governments, the private sector, civil society, the United Nations system, and other actors” to achieve shared objectives (para 39). With regards to AI specifically, the GDC (A/RES/79/1 Annex I) emphasizes, “the need for a balanced, inclusive and risk-based approach to the governance of artificial intelligence” with “the meaningful participation of all stakeholders” (para 50). More recently the WSIS+20 Outcomes Document (A/RES/80/173) reaffirms “the value and principles of multi-stakeholder cooperation and engagement” and recognizes that the collaborative engagement of “Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities, and all other relevant stakeholders, including youth” is vital for the information society (para 3). 

The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science further highlights that, beyond the scientific and technical community, the meaningful engagement of civil society and broader societal actors is essential. In the context of AI governance, perspectives that may be considered non-technical remain critical to ensuring that deliberations are grounded in societal needs, lived experiences, and human rights. This reinforces that civil society's meaningful participation in the Global Dialogue is a necessary procedural principle for inclusive and effective decision-making.

We therefore write to ensure Member States live up to these commitments through implementing the following practical recommendations in the Global Dialogue: 

1. Implement formats that effectively protect and promote meaningful multistakeholder participation in the Global Dialogue:
   1. Use the aforementioned guidance of multistakeholder principles, including those outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, GDC, and WSIS+20 Outcome Document;
   2. Build on and strengthen existing best practice from previous UN processes that fostered meaningful multistakeholder engagement such as the WSIS+20 process (A/RES/79/277 paras 1,3 and 6);
   3. Implement the NETmundial+10 Multistakeholder Guidelines emphasising working methods to deliver genuinely improved coordination and information sharing, and also to generate improved outcome deliberation and insight (see also A/RES/80/173 para 94);
   4. Appoint a civil society representative liaison to support the Co-Chairs to facilitate meaningful multistakeholder engagement ahead of, during, and following the Global Dialogue. Consider leveraging the support of this liaison when drafting the Co-Chair Summary Outcome of the Global Dialogue (see e.g. the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the WSIS+20 Informal Multistakeholder Sounding Board);
   5. Structure sessions format that allow civil society and other non-governmental and governmental stakeholders to respond to each other in real time. There should be a minimum of 50% rotating time allocated for non-governmental stakeholders to engage in dialogue with each other and with governments. This could be achieved by making the Thematic Discussion sessions focused in specific pre-identified topics using the consultation input consolidation (see e.g. the UN High Level Political Forum, A/RES/67/290 paras 8(c), 14, 15);
   6. Allocate in an inclusive manner speaking opportunities, side events, and space for engagement with delegates for civil society stakeholders (A/RES/67/290 paras 8(c), 14, 15).
2. Ensure that all stakeholders have the necessary information, resources, skills, and equitable access to meaningfully participate in the Global Dialogue, both virtually and in-person:
   1. Continue to centralise all relevant information for the Global Dialogue on the dedicated online platform and maintain it regularly, and make it available in the widest possible range of languages (see e.g. of concluded UN process WSIS+20 online platform);
   2. Use the dedicated online platform to streamline resources and opportunities to broaden and diversify participation before and after the Global Dialogue to ensure continuation of the work, including information about capacity building resources; global, regional, or national consultations ahead of the Global Dialogue; visa assistance and supporting documentation; financial support for travel and broadband access to participate virtually;
   3. Convene support from government and non-government actors to offer financial and technological assistance for civil society stakeholders who are less able to acquire the necessary technology and connectivity on their own to engage with the Global Dialogue in a sustained manner (see e.g. IGF Trust Fund);
   4. Provide timely notice and share background documents and guiding questions ahead of consultations and the Global Dialogue at least 7 working days in advance;
   5. Promote opportunities for written feedback and written responses, which are transparent and publicly available on the dedicated online platform (see e.g. WSIS+20);
   6. Strengthen intersessional consultations with civil society and other non-governmental stakeholders on the margins of global events, such as global and regional IGF initiatives, RightsCon and the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), while also inviting Member States to conduct national consultations ahead of the Global Dialogue.
3. Ensure any implementation and follow-up of the Global Dialogue is grounded in meaningful multistakeholder engagement:
   1. Produce a Co-Chair Summary that captures balanced input and range of views from stakeholders;
   2. Publish synthesis reports of written and verbal input, explaining how contributions were addressed and clearly indicate areas of consensus, disagreement, or ongoing discussion;
   3. Provide recommendations on how other UN or non-UN bodies could continue working on the consensus building or address the disagreements identified;
   4. Carry outcomes stemming from the Global Dialogue and feed them into existing processes, such as the IGF.
4. Elevate the voices of traditionally excluded groups, such as women, girls, youth, and others persons who may be in vulnerable situations, as well as underrepresented groups, particularly from the Global Majority, in the Global Dialogue:
   1. Convene support from government and non-government actors to offer financial and logistical support for underrepresented communities, particularly from the Global Majority, to participate in Global Dialogue in-person or virtually (see e.g. IGF Trust Fund);
   2. Ensure accessibility globally by implementing consultations ahead of the Global Dialogue that include measures such as accommodating different time zones and working days, publishing key documents in official UN languages, and providing low-bandwidth participation options (A/RES/76/273 and A/RES/56/275);
   3. Promote gender balance and intersectional representation, including by ensuring equitable representation of women across events and consultations part of the Global Dialogue (A/RES/78/182);
   4. Ensure security through measures to prevent, monitor, and redress any reprisals and intimidation for collaboration and participation in the Global Dialogue both online and in-person (A/HRC/RES/60/23);
   5. Promote inclusive and accessible participation by giving due consideration, when selecting host countries and venues, to conditions that enable the safe, non-discriminatory, and barrier-free participation of all stakeholders, including those who may face challenges related to visas, mobility, or immigration policies (A/RES/76/273). 

As evidenced in this letter, these recommendations are firmly grounded in existing UN consensus language and practice. They are not novel demands, but rather calls to faithfully implement commitments already made by Member States. 

We remain committed to supporting the Global Dialogue and stand ready to contribute constructively. By ensuring meaningful multistakeholder and specifically civil society engagement at the outset, the Global Dialogue can set a strong precedent for inclusive global AI governance and deliver outcomes that are both effective and widely supported. 

Please accept, Excellencies, the assurances of our highest consideration. 

Signatories 

1. Global Partners Digital
2. World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)
3. Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
4. CyberPeace Institute
5. Data Privacy Brasil
6. Unwanted Witness
7. Taller de Comunicacion Mujer
8. Jokkolabs Banjul
9. Cooperativa Sulá Batsú
10. Access Now
11. International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)
12. Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
13. ARTICLE 19
14. Thai Netizen Network
15. Zenzeleni Networks NPC
16. European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL)
17. Digital Justice Network
18. Women At The Table
19. Paradigm Initiative
20. Internet Society Bangladesh
21. Technology Media Guild Bangladesh
22. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
23. Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum
24. Derechos Digitales
25. Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
26. Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East & Southern Africa (CIPESA)
27. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
28. Rhizomatica Communications
29. Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad AC
30. Centre for Communication Governance (CCG), National Law University Delhi
31. Research ICT Africa (RIA)
32. IT for Change
33. Global Network Initiative