On 13 December 2021, the Permanent Mission of Australia and the Let’s Talk Cyber Initative will host an in-person multistakeholder event and reception on the margins of the first substantive session of the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 (OEWG):  The new Open-Ended Working Group on Cybersecurity: What can the multistakeholder community expect?

Following the successful adoption of a consensus report by the previous Open-Ended Working Group on Cybersecurity (OEWG), hopes are high for the next iteration. Nevertheless, as the deliberations begin in earnest many questions remain open, including those relating to the details that will be discussed and the role of the multistakeholder community in the process. The first OEWG set a new standard by hosting an intersessional consultation with non-governmental stakeholders, which received praise from State and non-State actors alike. Will the second iteration raise the bar further and ensure that the upcoming discussions on cybersecurity are as transparent and inclusive as possible?

Moderated by Briony Daley Whitworth, Director, Cyber Affairs Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Australia, our panel discussion will be joined by:

  • Shariffah Rashidah Syed Othman, Senior Principal Assistant Director, National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), National Security Council, Government of Malaysia
  • Peter Micek, General Counsel and UN Policy Manager, Access Now
  • Britta Tarvis, Adviser, Cyber Diplomacy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Estonia
  • Nick Ashton-Hart, Special Adviser, International Internet Policy, ICC United Kingdom;

We hope that our event will be able to answer some of those core questions, or at least indicate what States are currently discussing: What topics will be the focus of deliberations? What are the intended outcomes? How can the multistakeholder community meaningfully participate and present their views? Moreover, we want this event to be a dialogue and hope to hear from industry, academia, and civil society to understand what they believe are the areas that need addressing, both in terms of substance and forms of engagement.

For all stakeholders in New York during the OEWG, the event will be hosted in person at the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations at the Socony-Mobil Building, 150 E 42nd St 33rd floor, New York, NY 10017, United States. The event will begin at 13:30 EST. Please note that due to Covid-19 restrictions, in-person attendance is limited to 70 people and proof of vaccination will be required to enter the venue.

The event will also be livestreamed on our Let'sTalkCyber Platform for all attendees not in New York during this week.

Register here to join us on 13 December, 13:30 EST / 18:30 UTC / 19:30 CET