The 2017 edition of the Stockholm Internet Forum (SIF) will take place in the Swedish capital on May 16 to 18, 2017 and will explore the over-arching theme of “Access and Power”
One major key issue is however the empowering benefits of Internet accessibility – targeting political, economic and social aspects of power. The organisers added that a major focus of the SIF2017 will continue to be on community building and learning, making sure that the competence of participating individuals and organizations is used at its most.
The Forum aims to bring together policy makers, civil society representatives, activists, business representatives and technical community representatives. SIF focuses on the global south and half of the participants come from low-and middle-income countries, often from places where internet access is restricted and efforts to promote both internet freedom and human rights can be dangerous.
The forum also aims to build on the Swedish feminist foreign policy and will thus ensure a strong focus on gender equality issues so as to provide a better understanding of power relations and explore solutions to societal inequalities.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) a government agency of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host the Forum.
Stockholm Internet Forum (SIF) is an international forum for in-depth dialogue and discussions on how a free, open and secure internet promotes human rights and development worldwide. SIF has been held annually since 2012 funded by the Swedish Government and SIF17, the fifth forum in the series will take place in Stockholm.
