event

UPU at WSIS Forum 2026

 

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is organizing and contributing to a series of sessions at the WSIS Forum 2026. Through discussions on digital inclusion, e-government, e-commerce and cybersecurity, the UPU and its partners will showcase how postal networks support inclusive digital transformation and sustainable development worldwide.

 

Jul
06

Monday, 6 July to Friday, 10 July 2026
On-site in Geneva, Switzerland and remote participation

UPU organized events

Session 299 – The Action Line C7 on E-business Beyond WSIS+20

Organized by the International Trade Centre, UPU and UN Trade and Development
 

  • Monday, 6 July 2026 09:00–09:45 (CEST)

  • For on-site participation: Room H1, ITU Montbrillant Building

  • For remote participation: register here.

  • ​More information can be found here.


Featuring a keynote presentation by Mr Khabbab Hadhri, Director of E-Commerce Development in the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, of the Republic of Tunisia, this Action Line facilitation meeting will explore how governments, development partners and international organizations can collaborate to advance inclusive e-business ecosystems. Drawing on experiences from Tunisia, the session will examine practical approaches to strengthening digital trade, supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and ensuring that the benefits of the digital economy are more widely shared.

Keynote presentation by:
 

  • Khabbab Hadhri, Director of E-Commerce Development, Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Tunisia


Session 324 – The Global Shield: Collaborative Cyber Resilience for Global E-commerce and Logistics

Organized by the UPU
 

  • Monday, 6 July 2026 11:00–11:45 (CEST)

  • ​For on-site participation: Room K1, ITU Montbrillant Building

  • ​For remote participation: register here.

  • ​More information can be found here.


Cyber threats do not stop at national borders or sectoral boundaries. This session will demonstrate how the UPU's POST-ISAC and SECURE.POST initiatives strengthen cyber resilience across global supply chains through real-time threat intelligence sharing and practical security resources. Participants will explore how collaborative approaches can help safeguard e-commerce and logistics networks that connect businesses and citizens worldwide.

​
Moderator:
 

  • Mayssam Sabra, Business Development Specialist, UPU, Switzerland


​Speakers:
 

  • Tracy Hackshaw, Head of the .POST Business Management, UPU, Switzerland

  • André Pharand, Expert in the courier, express, parcel and postal (CEPP) industry, Pharand Advisors, USA

  • Massimiliano Aschi, Senior Cybersecurity ExpertPoste Italiane, Italy (remote participation)


Session 298 – WSIS Action Line C7 E-government Inclusive e-government services: Reaching the hardest to reach through multi-channel service delivery

Organized by the UPU, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) WSIS Action Line C7 on E-Government
 

  • Monday, 6  July 2026 16:00–16:45 (CEST)

  • ​For on-site participation: Room H1, ITU Montbrillant Building

  • For remote participation: register here.

  • More information can be found here.

 

Moderator:
 

  • Deniz Susar, Governance and Public Administration Officer, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs


Speakers:
 

  • Ahmed Said, Adviser to the Minister for Economic and Statistics Affairs, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt

  • Kevin Hernandez, Digital Inclusion Expert, UPU, Switzerland

  • Stephen Wyber, Director of External Affairs, IFLA, Netherlands

  • Representative of Kenya (TBC), Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy: Extending e-government services to less connected Kenyan communities through Huduma Centres


Session 199 – Investing in What Already Works: Public Access Institutions as Drivers of Digital Equity

Co-organized by the UPU, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and UNESCO IFAP
 

  • Wednesday 8 July 2026 11:00–11:45 (CEST)

  • For on-site participation: Room F, Palexpo

  • For remote participation: register here.

  • More information can be found here.


This session will explore how post offices, libraries and other public access institutions can help advance digital inclusion. Through practical examples, speakers will examine how these trusted community networks expand access to connectivity, digital services and digital skills, particularly for underserved populations. The discussion will also consider how existing mechanisms, including Universal Service Access Funds, can be leveraged to strengthen and scale their contribution to digital transformation.

Speakers:
 

  • Kevin Hernandez, Digital Inclusion Expert, UPU

  • Xianhong Hu, Programme Specialist, UNESCO IFAP

  • Additional speakers to be confirmed