The Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group on the security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (OEWG) issued an invitation to ministers responsible for ICT Security and Digital Technologies of UN member states and observer states to attend the Global roundtable on ICT security capacity-building. 

The roundtable is scheduled for 10 May 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York. It will feature two signature panels on key focus areas and strengthening the global capacity building agenda, as well as breakout groups focusing on specific capacity-building thematic areas. 

The roundtable is designed to be an action-oriented platform involving capacity-building practitioners, state representatives, and stakeholders. The aim is to enable stakeholders to discuss and exchange views; showcase national, regional, subregional, and cross-regional initiatives; encourage the sharing of information and best practices; promote learning from national strategies; and catalyse the formation of partnerships. The roundtable will also be a timely opportunity to reflect on the capacity-building mapping exercise currently being carried out by the UN Secretariat and to identify potential gaps in the existing global capacity-building landscape.

Overall, the roundtable aims to identify gaps at regional, sub-regional, and bilateral levels, build synergies, and leverage the full potential of new and existing efforts.

Why does it matter?

This is the first time the UN is convening a dedicated global event on ICT security capacity building. The roundtable is expected to greatly enhance discussions, highlighting the critical need to expedite ICT security capacity building efforts globally.