By Dr. Grace Githaiga
The UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security aims to foster inclusive dialogue among member nations and stakeholders in order to create norms, strengthen collaboration, and confront challenges to global peace and security from the malicious use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
As it enters its final year, it has achieved significant milestones while facing notable challenges. I discussed some of the issues during the Securing Cyberspace 2024 conference 2024 organised by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on October 9, 2024.
The OEWG’s most notable success is its inclusive approach, which permitted the formation of global cyber norms through a collaborative framework that included both UN member states and non-state entities.
This multilateral process allowed a wide range of stakeholders to contribute to discussions on voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour and capacity-building efforts, resulting in a consensus on core norms in the 2021 report that reinforced previous agreements and promoted international cooperation to prevent cyber conflict.
In contrast, the primary concern as the OEWG enters its final year, still remains the polarisation of major geopolitical players, particularly between the United States and its allies and Russia and China. These disagreements impede efforts to establish universally acceptable conclusions on difficult problems such as incident attribution and international law compliance, thereby slowing progress and impeding the formation of meaningful global cyber standards.
In addition, African governments sometimes feel the need to align with a common position, informed by the fact that their priorities might not be the same as those of the Western Countries.
Given the proliferation of armed conflict, geopolitical contestation, including challenges concerning the future of UN negotiations on responsible state behaviour, the OEWG will need to balance competing interests to cement its legacy and build long-term frameworks for cybersecurity cooperation.
The next actions therefore should consider the three fundamental criteria critical to improving cybersecurity. First, the interconnectedness of economic security and cybersecurity emphasises the importance of states investing in strong cyber defences to promote economic stability.
Second, effective programs rely on collaborations between governments, the commercial sector, and civil society to share resources and experience.
Third, transparency and open communication are essential for establishing trust and eliminating misunderstandings in cyberspace.
Fundamentally, let us remember that the inclusion of varied voices in conversations fosters complete solutions, whereas international cooperation is required to combat cross-border cyber threats.
