A/68/156 International approaches The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of international efforts to improve the transparency, predictability and stability of cyberspace. In November 2011, the United Kingdom hosted the first International Conference on Cyberspace, which brought together representatives from over 60 countries and from business and civil society organizations to discuss ways of expanding the economic and social benefits of cyberspace, cooperation on tackling cybercrime, safe and reliable access to the Internet and international security. The momentum generated by the event was taken forward at the 2012 Conference, held in Budapest, and planning is already under way for the 2013 Conference, to take place in Seoul. The United Kingdom is an active member of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Conext of International Security and of the informal working group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on establishing confidence-building measures for cyberspace. In October 2012, the United Kingdom announced an initiative to set up a centre for global cybersecurity capacity-building, with funding of £2 million per year, to include various multilateral and bilateral initiatives. The centre will offer independent advice and expertise to other countries on how to build more secure and resilient national infrastructures and become a focal point for world class research and international collaboration on this vital issue. In order to further international efforts to tackle international cybercrime, the United Kingdom continues to promote the Convention on Cybercrime and its principles as the most effective instrument in this field. The Serious Organized Crime Agency continues to lead with international partners on the global representation of law enforcement issues to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems The paramount concept is that of the application of international law and the existing norms of behaviour that govern relations between and among States. The United Kingdom firmly believes that these principles apply with equal force to cyberspace and an unambiguous affirmation by States that their activities in cyberspace will be governed by these laws and norms would lay the foundations for a more peaceful, predictable and secure cyberspace. In this regard, cyberspace presents particular challenges, for example, the difficulties in the reliable attribution of activities, assessment of intent and the role of non-State actors. The United Kingdom would welcome international discussions on how to apply international law and norms of State behaviour in this context. The United Kingdom does not believe that attempts to conclude comprehensive multilateral treaties, codes of conduct or similar instruments would make a positive contribution to enhanced cybersecurity for the foreseeable future. The complex and comprehensive nature of any binding agreement across the entirety of a cyberspace that is evolving at “net speed” means that it could not be effective or command widespread support without many years, possibly decades, of painstaking work on norms of behaviour and confidence-building measures to build 18 13-39735