Members of parliament, civil society and academia call for rights-based digital platform governance in South Asia

The final day focused on translating dialogue into action. Participants reviewed the development of both toolkits, identified opportunities for policy uptake and academic integration, and discussed pathways for collaboration through the I4T Knowledge Network .

Dr. Kundan Aryal, Head of Department at the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communications of Tribhuvan University, underscored the importance of embedding the Internet for Trust principles into journalism curricula, broadening institutional anchors for sustainable digital governance education across the region.

Closing the event, Jaco du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal stated: " The conversations held here in Kathmandu contribute to a broader global movement toward an internet that is open, safe, inclusive, and grounded in human rights. The progress we have made together demonstrates that South Asia is not only engaging in this global conversation, it is helping to shape it."

UNESCO, as the United Nations' leading agency promoting freedom of expression worldwide, remains committed to supporting Member States and regional partners in strengthening rights-based, transparent, and inclusive digital governance. Through the implementation of its Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, UNESCO continues to provide technical expertise, capacity-building, and policy guidance to protect freedom of expression, access to information, and information integrity in the digital age.