WILPF submits views to UN cyber working group

WILPF submitted its views on cyber peace to the UN's Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs). The OEWG is having its first substantive session from 13-17 December 2021. 

In its submission, WILPF sets out what it sees as priority issues and ways forward for the OEWG, which will run through to 2025. The submission stresses the importance of meaningful civil society engagement, and of further development and application of human-centric approaches to cyber peace. Within this, gender considerations must play a central role and the OEWG should build on gender-related developments from the first (2019-2021) OEWG. In outining threats and concerns, WILPF urges the OEWG to consider cyber mercenaries and proxy actors, while not overlooking the legal and ethical responsibilities of states in engaging such actors. Other concerns include the militarisation of cyber space, including through the growing development of offensive, or malicious cyber capabilities, and their growing role in formal military doctrines and strategy; and also urge the OEWG to consider the nexus between cyber security and existing weapons or weapon systems. The submission further urges the development of accountability mechanisms, and offers thoughts on the proposed cyber programme of action. 

Read the submission here.

Visit our resource page for OEWG II.