At the core of the agenda were participating in the negotiations process of the OEWG at the United Nations Headquarters. The negotiations focused on developing rules, norms, and principles for responsible state behaviour in the use of ICTs, studying and countering information security threats, and establishing regular institutional dialogue among states, while also exploring how international law applies to state use of ICTs and promoting capacity-building measures.
The Fellows engaged in various high-level discussions and events throughout the week. They were able to attend several briefings on topical matters by stakeholders, such as the Delegation of the European Union Delegation to the United Nations, the EU’s External Actions Services (EEAS) and the UN Office on Disarmament Affairs.
The Fellows attended a number of side-events:
- “Strengthening regional cyber norms guidance through practice-based approaches: the case of ransomware” to strengthen regional cyber norms guidance through practice-based approaches and ransomware, organised by EU CyberNet and LAC4, and partners.
- “Cyber in Conflict” that addressed the complex legal and ethical challenges of involving civilians and companies in cyber conflicts, emphasizing the need to maintain the principle of distinction in warfare, organised by Germany, Japan, Senegal and ICRC.
- “Defending against economic cyber-espionage: saving a norm that never was?” to explore the evolving threat landscape of cyber-espionage and the international efforts to counteract it, organised by US State Department and Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
- “Protecting the Cybersecurity of Civilian Nuclear Infrastructure: threat landscape, international law and policy” that underscored the critical importance of safeguarding nuclear facilities from cyber threats, highlighting international law and policy measures, organised by Chatham House and Microsoft.
- “Unpacking Gender-Based Vulnerabilities in International Cybersecurity” that highlighted the unique challenges faced by women in the cybersecurity landscape and proposed strategies to mitigate these vulnerabilities, organised by Canada, the Netherlands, OAS and UNIDIR.
- “Good Practices on Developing a National Position on the Interpretation of International Law and State use of ICTs.” that provided practical guidance for countries developing their stances on the international legal aspects of state behavior in cyberspace, organised by UNIDIR.
Looking Ahead
As the EU Cyber Diplomacy Fellowship concludes, the participants from Benin, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Montenegro, Nigeria, Serbia, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine and Uruguay are returning to home with enhanced skills and knowledge. They will continue to contribute to international cyber diplomacy debates, strengthening global efforts to promote a secure digital future. The fellowship, in cooperation with EU Cyber Direct, has been instrumental in supporting professionals from governmental and non-governmental sectors in addressing critical issues such as countering cybercrime, strengthening cyber resilience, data governance, and digital cooperation.
