HARNESSING AI AND IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR GLOBAL GOOD: A CALL TO ACTION FROM THE 2ND UN VIRTUAL WORLDS DAY

Attending the 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day in Turin, Italy (11–12 June 2025) was transformative – not only as a milestone in my journey but as a moment that deeply connects with EmpowerHer Life Foundation’s mission.

A Global Gathering of Visionaries

At this landmark event, over 650 global leaders, innovators, and changemakers convened – coordinated by a powerful coalition of UN agencies, including ITU, FAO, World Bank, UNICEF, and more. The purpose: to deliver on the Pact for the Future through AI-powered virtual worlds focused on building inclusive, sustainable, and resilient societies.

Milestones That Echo EmpowerHer’s Vision

Two milestones stood out as touchpoints for change:

• The Turin Call to Action, a powerful commitment to inclusive, human-centered digital development, now available in all six official UN languages.
• The unveiling of the Citiverse Use Case Taxonomy – the world’s first global catalogue of AI and virtual world applications serving the public good.

These creations resonate deeply with EmpowerHer – tools for inclusion, crafted with care for people and planet.

Why It Matters to EmpowerHer

At its heart, EmpowerHer champions digital inclusion, particularly for women and girls in underserved communities. The Turin Call to Action and Citiverse Taxonomy echo our values:

• Digital equity is fundamental to true empowerment.
• AI and immersive technologies, when developed ethically, can bridge longstanding opportunity gaps.
• Global collaboration and ethical guidelines are vital to ensure technology uplifts, not excludes.

This event wasn’t just another conference – it was a reaffirmation of our purpose.

From Conference to Impact

UN Virtual Worlds Day spotlighted key priorities that empower our work:

• Expanding connectivity and digital access to rural regions.
• Applying scenario planning for resilient futures – especially for climate, health, and emergencies.
• Applying AI-based immersive learning for inclusive education, governance, and economic development.
• Accelerating youth-led innovation, part of global agendas advancing sustainable development.

At EmpowerHer, these insights feed directly into how we design our programs – digital literacy hubs, ethical tech training, and youth-centered advocacy built to scale.

A Collective Future, Powered by Purpose

This event reaffirmed: the future isn’t just arriving – it’s here. It belongs to those who act. And at EmpowerHer, we are building it – one empowered girl, one inclusive digital tool, one community-at-a-time.

Together, we’ll take these global breakthroughs, infuse them with care and action, and bring them to life on the ground. Because innovation without impact is meaningless, and our mission will be felt – not just heard.