The Youth Digital Ombudsman Dmitry Gulyaev opened the Youth Track and launched the “Youth Digital Ambassador” Award at the Global Digital Forum in Nizhny Novgorod.

5 June — Opening of the Youth Track “International Internet Security School for Youth.GDF”

The track brought together 100+ students and young professionals from Africa, Latin America and Asia. The venue was opened by Dmitry Gulyaev, Youth Digital Ombudsman and Head of the project “International Internet Security School for Youth.” It marks the Ombudsman team’s first step towards forming an international youth IT community and sharing Russia’s experience in this field with the world.

“I was afraid I wouldn’t find my place in life and doubted where to invest my heart and soul.  I found myself in defending human rights in the digital environment. If I had to describe my activity in three words, they would be: protection – education – support. We protect when preventive mechanisms have failed. We educate so that the digital space becomes a space of opportunity. We support so that every young person can realise themselves in IT,” — Dmitry Gulyaev.

During the interactive talk “The Youth Digital Ombudsman as an Institution of Civil Society: Russia’s Experience and the Global Future,” four years of results were presented, key focus areas and projects highlighted, and international prospects for the Youth Digital Ombudsman institution outlined. Dmitry Gulyaev called on the global youth community to unite around common values to safeguard citizens’ rights in the digital space and protect them from digital risks and threats.

Key projects of the Youth Digital Ombudsman team

●     “International Internet Security School for Youth” — to be held for the fourth time in autumn 2025 at the “Senezh” Management Workshop of the Presidential platform “Russia — Land of Opportunity.”

●     Annual Youth Digital Ombudsman Award “Digitalisation for Good.”

●     Support platform “Tsifro-Pomoshch” (“Digital Help”).

●     A number of other initiatives.

For the first time at the Global Digital Forum, the “Youth Digital Ambassador” Award has been established to identify young leaders from foreign countries who are ready to unite youth in their nations and implement initiatives with the support of the Youth Digital Ombudsman team. On 6 June the first Youth Digital Ambassador will be announced — the winner of the on-site final. The TOP-3 nominees come from Iraq, Brazil and Sierra Leone; they will present their activity programmes and video pitches to the Youth Digital Ombudsman and forum participants.

“At this forum we are creating a global youth IT community that will unite young people from all over the world. Today the ‘Youth Digital Ambassador’ Award gives you the opportunity to rally youth in your countries for our common goal, and we will undoubtedly support and mentor you, drawing on the experience gained in Russia!” — Dmitry Gulyaev.

Speakers of the Youth Track

Authoritative representatives of Russian IT business and non-profit organisations, including Solar, Yandex, Positive Technologies, Kaspersky Lab, the Internet Technology Association, the Global Fact-Checking Network, and others.

Reference information

The Youth Track “International Internet Security School for Youth.GDF” is held on 5 June within the Global Digital Forum, organised by the Youth Digital Ombudsman team with the support of Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL). General partner: Solar Group.

Official pages of the Youth Digital Ombudsman:  
TG: https://t.me/internetteamrussia  
VK: https://vk.com/internet.team  
Web: https://www.youthombudsman.ru/