WS #126 Strengthening Multistakeholder Digital Cooperation

Event desciption

As the world’s digital infrastructure grows, so does the complexity of cybersecurity challenges. With the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies (2021–2025) concluding its mandate in July 2025, discussions are intensifying around the creation of a UN Permanent Mechanism for ICT Security in the Context of International Security. This mechanism will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global cyber governance and ensuring a secure and resilient digital ecosystem. The role of multistakeholder cooperation, including government, private sector, academia, civil society, and nonprofits, is vital in shaping this future. Nonprofit organizations and capacity-building initiatives bring unique expertise, services, and research that can contribute substantially to global cybersecurity efforts, yet their participation remains fragmented. As these organizations face operational, financial, and institutional challenges, it is essential to explore how multistakeholder engagement can be structured and optimized to foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and action-oriented cybersecurity framework. This session, co-organized by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), the CyberPeace Institute, the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), and Global Affairs Canada, will discuss how the lessons learned from the OEWG and the multistakeholder community’s contributions can inform the UN Permanent Mechanism on ICT Security in the Context of International Security, scheduled to follow the OEWG’s conclusion. This session will focus on identifying pathways to leverage the expertise, tools, and services provided by the multistakeholder community to ensure the new permanent mechanism as well as future digital governance is inclusive, effective, and impactful.