As part of the EU:CD Fellowship programme, we welcomed the cohort of 2024 to New York to participate in the 8th substantive session of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 between 8-12 July 2024.
During the week, Fellows participated in the negotiations and attended a series of briefings and side events designed to enhance their understanding of cyber diplomacy and multilateral processes.
The agenda began with a briefing by the stakeholder community on the role of stakeholders and their contributions in the context of the UN OEWG. Following this, we hosted another briefing at the European Union Delegation to the United Nations where representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Delegation provided a comprehensive overview of the EEAS's work and their efforts surrounding the UN OEWG and cyber diplomacy. This session deepened the Fellows' understanding of the EU's role at the United Nations, specifically in the context of ICT security.
The final briefing took place at the United Nations Headquarters, where the United Nations Office on Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) provided background information and an overview of the process, outlining the goals and challenges of the negotiations, as well as the role of UNODA.
In addition to attending optional side events, the agenda included a reception where the Fellows had the opportunity to meet delegates and stakeholders involved in the process, fostering connections within the international cyber diplomacy community.
This visit to New York and the United Nations marked the culmination of the 2024 Fellowship, equipping the Fellows with firsthand experience and deeper insights into global ICT security discussions.
