First Ever Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Erbil

[Anthea]

Launch of IGF puts Kurdistan
on global digital landscape

Kurdistan hosted its first-ever Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Erbil on Sunday, bringing together officials, digital experts and global organizations to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving digital age

Opening the event, Kurdistan Government (KRG) Transport and Communications Minister, Ano Jawhar Abdoka, said, “Today, we are not merely launching a conference. We are opening a new chapter for the Kurdistan Region’s digital future - a future that is open, secure, innovative and globally connected.”

Held under the theme “Empowering the Digital Future” and sponsored by Rudaw Media Network, the forum gathered government representatives, major technology companies, academics and digital policy specialists.

Abdoka emphasized that hosting the IGF marks a turning point for the Region’s digital engagement. “By hosting IGF Kurdistan for the first time today... the Kurdistan Region officially steps into the global digital dialogue - not merely as an observer, but as an active contributor,” he said.

The forum is organized as part of IGF Kurdistan, a nonprofit initiative formally recognized by the UN IGF Secretariat. The organization describes its mission as providing a neutral space for debate on emerging technologies and ensuring that the Kurdistan Region is represented in global discussions on digital governance.

It aims to "promote dialogue on emerging technologies and digital economy, positioning the Kurdistan Region as a hub for digital innovation in Iraq and the Middle East."

The forum is organized as part of IGF Kurdistan, a nonprofit initiative formally recognized by the United Nations IGF Secretariat.

On its official website, the organization says its mission is to provide a neutral space for debate on emerging technologies and ensure the Kurdistan Region is represented in global discussions on digital governance. Its stated aim is to “promote dialogue on emerging technologies and the digital economy, positioning the Kurdistan Region as a hub for digital innovation in Iraq and the Middle East.”

Inclusion in digital growth

In his speech, Abdoka urged Baghdad to ensure the Kurdistan Region is fully integrated into nationwide digital development plans, noting that the KRG has already “sent official letters to the federal ministry of communications, requesting that Kurdistan be included in the fourth 5G license.”

He further stressed that "5G services are not limited to a single company in Iraq, but that Iraq remains an open, free market where all companies can provide 5G services."

Meanwhile, Sascha Graumann, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative in Iraq, underscored that “digital systems must serve all Iraqis, not just the digital literate or urban populations.” He further stressed that "digitalization must include safeguards against misuse, corruption and the exploitation of data."

Meanwhile, Anja Guengo, Programme Management Officer at the UN IGF, highlighted Iraq’s growing engagement with digital governance. She noted that Iraq hosted its national IGF in Baghdad in August, “demonstrating a growing commitment to inclusive governance and digital development.”

Addressing the forum virtually, Guengo added that holding a regional IGF in Kurdistan Region builds on this progress, showing that "engagement is expanding not only at the national level, but across regions and communities within the country."

From infrastructure to digital rights

The forum featured five panels tackling key aspects of internet governance in the Kurdistan Region.

The first panel focused on the current landscape and future outlook of internet governance. Jamal Ahmed Hussein, Director General of Post and Communications at the KRG’s transport and communications ministry, said, “Eighty percent of the Region is covered with very good infrastructure, including reliable and secure fiber networks.”

The second examined building safe digital spaces and the protection of women and children.

Colonel Safeen Tahir, director of the KRG’s department for combating violence against women and families, warned that “present social media platforms, instead of being used properly, have unfortunately contributed to family divisions. They have become part of the problem, causing fear among women and children.”

Tahir added that modern technologies were introduced without “proper awareness,” making online spaces “unsafe” for vulnerable groups, though government institutions have worked to mitigate risks.

The third panel explored the role of internet governance in the digital economy and infrastructure, while the fourth panel addressed policy influence on the internet and emerging technologies.

Finally, the last panel reviewed protecting digital rights in the age of rapid technological change, closing the forum with discussions on user rights, privacy, and regulatory frameworks.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/301120254