Hotel Swissotel
3rd November 2025
09:00 - 14:00
About us
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was launched as a direct result of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which began under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva in 2003 and continued in Tunis in 2005.
The IGF has been a global event convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations since 2006. It is organized as a platform for multi-stakeholder discussions on Internet governance issues in an open and inclusive manner.
It welcomes representatives from civil society, government, the private sector, the technical community, academia, and the media.
Speakers
Agenda
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Arrival and registration of participants ☕ |
| 09:30 - 09:40 | About BHIGF - vale hvale, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) |
| 09:40 - 10:00 | Keynotes - Siniša Šešum, Head, Antenna Office in Sarajevo, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe - Ambassador Rick Holtzapple, Head of Mission, OSCE in BiH |
| 10:00 - 11:00 | From Talk to Action Case studies on how local IGF and NOG (network operator group) collaboration has already shaped policy and where the needle can be pushed further. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) depend on resilient, scalable, and locally-rooted Internet infrastructure. Local IGFs, NOGs and IXPs connect operators and community partners so technical realities and policy evolve together. Understanding successful collaboration models helps replicate impact across the region. Speakers: - Desiree Milošević, RIPE Cooperation Working Group Chair - Enes Halilović, Association Network Operators Group in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHNOG) - Zoran Perović, Owner and CEO, Serbian Open eXchange (SOX) - Zdravko Jukić, Coordinator at Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries Introduction and moderation by Jan Žorž, Provision |
| 11:00 - 11:05 | Intro to panel: Gender-based violence and journalists experiencing violence - chilling effects and infrastructured of affections - vale hvale, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) |
| 11:05 - 12:15 | Journalism and Safety of Reporters – Online Threats and Harms Addressing online harassment, surveillance, and threats to journalists in the Balkans, with proposals for regional protections. The safety of journalists is a critical component of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, specifically SDG 16.10, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies by ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms. The UN and UNESCO are leading efforts to promote and monitor the safety of journalists by tracking crimes against them, advocating for accountability, training law enforcement, and establishing international norms. Speakers: - Darko Martinčević, Cantonal prosecutor, Contact person at the Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor's Office for cases of attacks on journalists, Cantonal Prosecutor's - Office of the Sarajevo Canton - Maja Sever, President od the European Federation of Journalists and leader of the Trade Union of Croatian Journalists - Sanja Vasković, Journalist, Spin.info - Azem Kurtić, Journalist, BIRN Hub - Anida Sokol, Anida Sokol, National Program Officer for Freedom of Media, OSCE in BiH Moderator: Enes Hodžić, Journalist, BIRN BiH (Detektor) |
| 12:20 - 13:30 | LUNCH for all participants |
| 13:40 - 14:50 | Disinformation in the Balkan Media Space Exploring how misinformation spreads regionally and how IGF dialogue can support fact-checking, media literacy, and responsible platform governance. Misinformation and disinformation pose a significant threat to the SDGs by undermining public trust, hindering partnerships, and slowing progress on key issues like health, democratic processes, climate action etc. These false narratives can polarize societies and divert resources, making it harder to achieve goals related to poverty, gender equality, and clean energy. Addressing this requires a multi-faceted approach, including building media and digital literacy, supporting independent journalism, and using both technology and human oversight to counter harmful content. Speakers: - Irvin Pekmez, Journalist, BIRN BiH (Detektor) - Bojana Kostić, independent researcher, digital rights and platform accountability advocate - Tajana Broz, Faktograf, Croatia - Vesna Radojević, KRIK, Serbia - Predrag Puharić, CEO CSEC, Deputy mayor of the City of Sarajevo Introduction and moderation by Emir Zulejhić, Raskrinkavanje.ba |
| 14:50 - 16:00 | Are We Ready to Regulate the Digital Environment: Institutional Capacities and Challenges of Aligning with EU The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) establishes a comprehensive framework to strengthen transparency, accountability, and user protection in the online environment. Integrating the DSA’s principles into domestic legal and regulatory systems requires more than simple legislative transposition. It calls for an innovative, out-of-box approach and strong institutional capacity. The first step, however, is for decision-makers to recognize the urgency of launching this process and to place the protection of citizens from online harms at the forefront of policy priorities. In addition, the model of digital platform governance introduced by the DSA calls for a structured cross-sector coordination and cooperation in both legislative alignment and subsequent implementation - among stakeholders at the national level as well as within the wider regional context. Speakers: - Nasir Muftić - Assistant professor at the Faculty of Law, UNSA - Amela Odobašić, Assistant Director for Broadcasting, Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina BiH - Vlatko Drmić, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH - Snežana Nikčević, 35mm CG - Maja Čalović, Coalition for Freedom of Expression and Content Moderation in Bosnia and Herzegovina Introduction and moderation by Maida Ćulahović, Policy and Advocacy, CA, Zašto ne? |
BH IGF 2025 Organization
Recognized by
Supported by
Organization comittee
