Organisational session of the UN Global Mechanism on ICT security
Session reports
Note: All listed times are in the UTC time zone.
The organisational session of the Global Mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and advancing responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs was held on 30-31 March.
This session marked the start of the substantive work of the Global Mechanism, a new single-track, permanent forum on ICT security under UN auspices.
Proceedings began with the opening of the session by the Secretary-General or a representative, followed by the election of a Chair for a two-year term. States then discussed the session agenda and engaged in a general exchange of views on the mechanism.
The session also considered the agenda for future substantive plenary meetings leading up to the 2030 Review Conference, and considered the overall organisation of work, including the programme for the first plenary session and the structure of dedicated thematic groups (DTGs).
Read the analysis of the session written by GIP and Diplo’s cybersecurity team.
The mechanism is mandated to advance discussions across the five established pillars of responsible state behaviour in the use of ICTs, covering existing and potential threats, rules, norms and principles, the application of international law, confidence-building measures, and capacity-building efforts.
Beyond the organisational session, the Global Mechanism will convene in different formats.
It will hold substantive plenary sessions once a year during each biennial cycle, the first being scheduled for July 2026.
It will hold two DTGs—one addressing general substantive issues and one focused on capacity building—intended to enable more in-depth discussions building on the outcomes of the plenary. In 2026, the dedicated thematic groups are scheduled to take place from 7 to 11 December.
In addition, the mechanism will convene a review conference every five years to assess progress and guide its future direction.