Working Group on Cooperation and Confidence-Building Measures in Cyberspace

About Us

This Working Group was approved by OAS Member States in 2017 through resolution CICTE/RES.1/17, given the need for increased cooperation, transparency, predictability, and stability among States in the use of cyberspace.


The Group focuses on non-traditional Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), specifically those related to cyberspace. Member States of the OAS have agreed to the following CBMs:

 

  1. Provide information on national cybersecurity policies, such as national strategies, white papers, legal frameworks and other documents that each Member State considers relevant.
  2. Identify a national point of contact at the political level to discuss the implications of hemispheric cyber threats.
  3. Designate points of contact, if they do not currently exist, in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs with the purpose of facilitating work for cooperation and international dialogues on cybersecurity and cyberspace.
  4. Develop and strengthen capacity building through activities such as seminars, conferences, and workshops, for public and private officials in cyber diplomacy, among others.
  5. Encourage the incorporation of cybersecurity and cyberspace issues in basic training courses and training for diplomats and officials at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies.
  6. Foster cooperation and exchange of best practices in cyber diplomacy, cybersecurity and cyberspace, through the establishment of working groups, other dialogue mechanisms and the signing of agreements between and among States.


This portal facilitates transparency and collaboration among its members as well as access to information, by providing a repository of policies and legislation related to cybersecurity and information on cyber and ministries of foreign affairs points of contacts from OAS Member States.


Data contained on the portal is administered by the Technical Secretariat of the Working Group , namely the CICTE/OAS as submitted voluntarily by its Member States.

News

Discover up-to-date news, articles and insightful blog posts by leading experts on current issues in the field of cybersecurity.

DHS Launches First-Ever Cyber Safety Review Board

Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the establishment of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), as directed in Executive Order 14028 on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. The CSRB is an unprecedented public-private initiative that will bring together government and industry leaders to elevate our nation’s cybersecurity.

2022-02-08

US National Security Memorandum to Improve Cybersecurity signed on Jan 19, 2022

2022-02-08

ITU launchs 2nd edition of the National Cybersecurity Strategy Guide

The newly released 2nd edition of the National Cybersecurity Strategy Guide offers a roadmap to develop a sound strategy that captures the fast-changing nature of #cyber risks https://ncsguide.org/

2021-07-29

UN OEWG held its first substantive session on the week of 13th December 2021 at the UN headquarters in New York

The December 2021 meeting had rich contributions from member states and inter-governmental organisations, as well as inputs from non-state actors, with focus on cyber rules, norms and principles, on the applicability of international law in cyberspace, on capacity building, on new and emerging cyber threats, and on multistakeholder participation for this new round of negotiation on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

2021-07-29
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Events

Find upcoming trainings and webinars on cybersecurity and more capacity building opportunities that are of interest in the area.

UNIDIR International Cyber Crisis Management Regional Workshop - Organization of American States

How could regional cyber crisis measures be triggered? What are the most relevant and pressing region-specific vulnerabilities and threats? To stimulate the sharing of different views and experiences on the international/strategic implications of cyber crises and their management at the regional and multilateral levels, UNIDIR in partnership with the Organization of American States will co-host a half-day regional workshop. This workshop will cover: the relationship between the technical and political crisis management necessary in the cyber realm; cybersecurity efforts of Member States including through the implementation of norms and Member States’ expectations on the role of the UN in how regional organizations address cyber insecurity and prevent and manage cyber crisis. SPEAKERS: Please visit the event page for the list of speakers: https://www.unidir.org/events/international-cyber-crisis-management-regional-workshop-series PARTICIPANTS: Limited to government representatives. RSVP: Please register here by 14 February 2022. Registration is mandatory. The link to access the workshop will be provided by email to registered participants one day prior to the event. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=2zWeD09UYE-9zF6kFubccK9rH1mSsDROpQH4Ldf2FbFUQ0JISk1ZWTNMODJHRVhTWEczRVZVNEVMNS4u&web=1&wdLOR=c97113645-D6C0-9341-91FD-1522CEE4BA16

02-15-2022 10:00 - 02-16-2022 00:00

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=2zWeD09UYE-9zF6kFubccK9rH1mSsDROpQH4Ldf2FbFUQ0JISk1ZWTNMODJHRVhTWEczRVZVNEVMNS4u

Online Course on International Cyber Diplomacy, Law and Norms

The objective of this course is to build capacity in government officials to engage meaningfully and effectively in international cybersecurity discussions, particularly within the United Nations’ First Committee, but also in other multilateral discussions, such as in regional organizations and in discussions and consultations with the private sector, civil society and academia. This certificate program provides participants with an overview of the normative framework of responsible state behavior promulgated by the UN, and other multilateral organizations. Further, the course will examine legal frameworks and tools to assist cross-border digital crime cooperation. Participants will gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges that dominate current international dialogues on cybersecurity, responsible state behaviour and cybernorms. Candidates should be public officials of the Permanent Missions to the OAS and to the UN, mainly diplomats from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, or officials responsible for contributing to debates on international cybersecurity rules and norms, both at the United Nations and elsewhere.

02-21-2022 08:00 - 02-25-2022 00:00

Virtual

Online Course for Policy Makers

March 24-25, 2022

03-24-2022 10:00 - 03-25-2022 00:00

Virtual
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