Statement for the 2026 Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum Forum

At a time of profound uncertainty and rapid technological change, civil society must be values‑driven and courageous. Science, technology, and innovation will shape our collective future — but only ethical governance will determine whether that future is just, inclusive, and sustainable.

CoNGO’s General Assembly unanimously affirmed that ICT and AI must serve human dignity, human rights, and the common good — not exclusion, exploitation, or unchecked power.

ICT and AI must be treated as global public goods, governed through inclusive, multistakeholder processes, and designed to close digital divides, particularly for the Global South, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.

CoNGO calls for robust, rights‑based regulation of AI, aligned with UNESCO’s AI Ethics Recommendation, the Global Digital Compact, and UN commitments on trustworthy and responsible innovation. Algorithmic systems must be transparent, accountable, and free from bias. Speed and efficiency can never outweigh justice, care, and long‑term public value.

Civil society’s role is essential — holding institutions accountable, embedding gender justice and ecological sustainability into digital systems, and ensuring technology strengthens both digital security and human security.

The future must be human‑centered — by design, by governance, and by choice.