UNITAR
30 December 2024, New York, USA – On 26 November (Virtual) & 9-10 December 2024 the United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office, in partnership with Canada, Germany, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, successfully held the Women in International Security and Cyberspace Fellowship at the United Nations Headquarters and the Permanent Mission of Canada. This three-day event provided training and capacity-building opportunities tailored to strengthen technical skills and empower women delegates from developing countries in preparation for the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) discussions on the security of and the use of information and communications technologies.
The programme began with a virtual session to build foundational knowledge of the UN Framework for Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace. Ms. Kimberley Raleigh (DOS) provided a crash course on the framework, helping Fellows understand its structure and principles. This was followed by Ms. Katherine Prizeman (UNODA), who outlined the expected outcomes of the OEWG's 9th session and the pathway to the final agreement in 2025.
UNITAR
The final segment of the virtual session was an interactive workshop on National Positioning, Drafting Interventions, and OEWG Protocol. Experts including Mr. Julien Sylvestre-Fleury (Canada) and Ms. Kimberley Raleigh (DOS), alongside WiC Fellows, facilitated breakout groups where participants practised crafting and delivering interventions, essential for effective engagement in the OEWG discussions.
UNITAR
H.E. Mr. Marco Suazo, Head of UNITAR New York Office, opened the fellowship by emphasizing the critical importance of fostering inclusivity and diversity in international cybersecurity discussions. He commended the Fellows’ commitment to advancing global cybersecurity norms and contributing to the 9th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on security in the use of information and communication technologies.
The in-person programme at UN Headquarters commenced with a Strategic Diplomacy Debrief & OEWG Insights session, featuring Corina Moroi (Republic of Moldova) and Marica Ristevska (North Macedonia). This segment provided participants with reflective insights on negotiation dynamics and practical lessons learned during the OEWG sessions.
UNITAR
In an engaging roundtable discussion, H.E. Mr. Burhan Gafoor, OEWG Chair and Permanent Representative of Singapore to the UN, shared informal remarks and answered Fellows' questions about the future of the OEWG. This was followed by a session on The Future Mechanism: What Comes Next, led by Matthew Wong (Singapore) and Katherine Prizeman (UNODA), which explored the next steps for the OEWG framework post-2025.
Participants later undertook an Interactive Exercise on Implementing Cyber Norms and International Law, facilitated by Shariffah Rashidah Binti Syed Othman (Malaysia), to deepen their understanding of responsible state actions in cyberspace.
The day concluded with technical and regional insights from Evelyn Tanty Akakpo (Sierra Leone) and Rachida Aligy Ussen Mamade (Mozambique) during the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime session, followed by a Certificate Ceremony honouring the Fellows’ achievements.
UNITAR
The second day began with Cross-Cultural Communication & Negotiation Skills, led by Samantha Adler (SEA Conflict Consulting). This session equipped Fellows with strategies to navigate diverse cultural contexts and enhance their multilateral diplomacy skills.
A panel of Fellows, including representatives from Africa, Latin America, Western Balkans, Central and East Asia, and Southeast Asia Pacific, showcased their experiences during Regional Initiatives on Cyberspace Security. The panel featured contributions from Moradeke Adelekan (Nigeria), Laura Quintero Buriticá (Colombia), and others.
UNITAR
Klée Aiken (FIRST) presented on Existing and Current Threats – Cybersecurity, Ransomware, and Incident Response, providing Fellows with a comprehensive overview of the evolving cyber threat landscape.
The programme concluded with a Mentorship Presentation and Exercise led by Klara Marland (GFCE), fostering peer-to-peer learning and collaboration among Fellows.
This Fellowship exemplifies UNITAR's commitment to empowering women leaders in cybersecurity and international security. By equipping participants with practical knowledge and fostering global partnerships, the WiC Fellowship strengthens women's capacity to address critical cybersecurity challenges on the international stage.
For more information, please contact the UNITAR New York Office at nyo@unitar.org.