New publication on cyber peace now available!

WILPF has published a new briefing paper that presents five observations from the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons process that are relevant to the growing calls for a programme of action (PoA) on state behaviour in cyberspace.  

Malicious international cyber operations have become one of the most pressing security issues of our time. This has prompted some governments to call for an international treaty to regulate state behaviour in cyber space. Others maintain that the existing patchwork of voluntary norms is sufficient—but that these norms require more effective implementation or monitoring to be effective. In 2020, a potential compromise has emerged in a proposal for a programme of action on cyber security and state behaviour in cyber space. 

Some states have suggested modelling a cyber PoA on the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA). WILPF has, through its disarmament programme Reaching Critical Will (RCW), followed the UNPoA on small arms for nearly two decades and is increasingly involved in monitoring UN processes on international cyber security and calling for cyber peace. It is from this perspective that WILPF offers this briefing paper as food for thought to both states and stakeholders interested in advancing a cyber PoA. 

Click to read Programming action: observations from small arms control for cyber peace.