Ready for the UN World Data Forum?

Geneva, 05 June 2020 - The Swiss Confederation, in cooperation with the United Nations, organized a virtual meeting in preparation to the UN World Data Forum (UNWDF), that will take place in Bern this coming October.

Data sharing discussions are at the center of “evidence-based policy-making and global governance”, stated Ambassador Jean-Pierre Raymond, Head of Innovation and Partnerships at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and it is at the heart of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The COVID-19 crisis, accelerated the importance of international cooperation to develop regulatory frameworks that serve the common good, respects citizens right to privacy, and stimulates innovation.

Until now international cooperation in data sharing has not been central in multilateral, multi-stakeholder fora. More than 30 international declarations on data governance exist but their implementation is lagging.

“What is the missing link? What c…