Remarks on behalf of the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
at the Global Roundtable on ICT Security Capacity Building
as delivered by
Chef de Cabinet, Ambassador Collen Kelapile
10 May 2024
Your Excellency, Ms. Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information of Singapore,
Your Excellency, Mr. Burhan Gafoor, Permanent Representative of Singapore, and Chair of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (2021-2025),
Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of ITU,
Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP,
Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is indeed a great honour for me to deliver these remarks on behalf of the President of the UN General Assembly – Mr. Dennis Francis – who sends his sincere regrets for not being able to join you this morning, due to other conflicting work demands.
The President conveys his appreciation to Your Excellency, Chair of the Open-ended Working Group, for the opportunity to address this Roundtable on ICT security capacity building – as you said, the first of its kind at the United Nations.
With the global digital landscape rapidly evolving, the United Nations’ efforts to position itself ahead of the curve – in addressing challenges to international peace and security – could not be more important.
And the need for regular dialogue – such as this global roundtable – on ICT security capacity-building, could not be timelier.
As an Organisation established in an era of analog, we must not only prove ourselves able to understand and reckon with 21st century challenges – but ensure that all States can safely and securely harness the benefits of our ever-more digital society.
It is critical that we fully understand how extraordinarily powerful technologies – including Artificial Intelligence – have become.
And how equally imperative it is to enhance international cooperation – to strengthen ICT security, globally.
Against this backdrop, the digitalization of armed conflict – and the rise of new threats to innocent civilians – pose particular security challenges.
It is true that in conflict settings, access to digital technologies can save lives – enabling people to access vital information on humanitarian support, safe spaces, shelter and medical care.
At the same time, the malicious use of digital technologies – along with the spread of mis- and disinformation – can exacerbate the vulnerability of civilians, placing entire societies at risk of destabilization.
Building resilience against cyber threats and digital disruption is therefore paramount for international security.
By strengthening the capacity to quickly detect and effectively respond to these threats, States can both dramatically reduce the damage caused – and significantly increase the odds of uncovering potential threats when they are easier to address.
As you know better than most, building ICT security capacity is not simply about technology.
It is also about meaningful cooperation, knowledge- and intelligence-sharing, building trust, developing an equitable normative framework, and fostering universal respect for international law.
In this context, this Open-ended Working Group has proven its exceptional value – under the very able leadership of your Excellency, the Chair.
I especially commend the launch of the global intergovernmental Points of Contact Directory – for the exchange of information on computer attacks and other incidents.
Reaching consensus on this extremely complex topic is all the more valuable – amid the deficit of trust characterizing today’s global environment.
Excellencies,
As I conclude, let me underscore that the important work of this Open-ended Working Group aligns closely with the anticipated outcomes of the Summit of the Future in September.
If intergovernmentally agreed, the Global Digital Compact is intended to create an open, free and secure digital future for all, while the Pact for the Future would contain a dedicated chapter on science, technology and innovation, and digital cooperation.
Ahead of this historic Summit, I am confident that today’s deliberations will serve as useful input to its impactful outcomes – particularly for small developing States – helping also identify new avenues for partnerships that enable coherent approaches for addressing ICT security threats.
I encourage you to seize this unique opportunity for dialogue – to embrace the shared objective to protect civilians from malicious cyber activity; and to usher in a more safe and secure ICT environment, for all.
I thank you.
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