A/77/92 In 2018, the majority of the States Members of the United Nations voted to adopt the resolution on international information security sponsored by Russia. The resolution set forth an initial set of rules, norms and principles for responsible State behaviour with regard to the use of ICT. The General Assembly also decided to convene an open-ended working group, in order to further develop that list and, in general, conduct the discussion of international information security in a more democratic manner. The group completed its work, and the Member States adopted its final report by consensus on 12 March 2021, in New York. Russia worked together with like-minded delegations to ensure the continuity of the negotiation process under the auspices of the United Nations by establishing a new open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025. The group’s mandate is to further develop the rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of States and the ways for their implementation. The working group will do this primarily by reaching a common understanding of information security threats, the applicability of international law to the use of ICT by States, confidence-building and capacity-building measures, and by strengthening ties among relevant agencies. The group ensures that States play a leading role in the discussion and provides non-governmental organizations the opportunity to participate. The Russian Federation takes a transparent and consistent approach to ensuring international information security. International information security was designated as a strategic national priority in the national security strategy of the Russian Federation, approved by Presidential Decree No. 400 of 2 July 2021. In accordance with the State policy framework of the Russian Federation in the field of international information security, approved by Presidential Decree No. 213 of 12 April 2021, the purpose of the State policy is to promote the establishment of an international legal regime to regulate the global information space. We believe universal legally binding agreements are necessar y to prevent conflicts and to foster mutually beneficial cooperation in the information space. The draft convention on countering the use of ICT for criminal purposes, put forward by Russia in the special committee established at our initiative, could serv e as the basis for such agreements, as could the Russian proposal for a United Nations convention on international information security. ICT should serve sustainable development goals and enable favourable conditions for scientific inquiry and the rapid implementation of technical solutions. With a view to ensuring that these principles are incorporated into future universally agreed and equitable legal obligations, in 2021, Russia and the United States of America initiated the adoption of General Assembly resolution 76/19, by consensus, with 108 Member States joining the list of sponsors. Russia believes in the inviolability of the digital sovereignty of States. Every country can and should set its own parameters for regulating its information space and related infrastructure. Russia insists on the internationalization of, and the equal rights of States in, Internet governance. Any attempts to limit the sovereign right o f States to regulate and secure national segments of the global network are unacceptable. It is important for legal measures to be put in place at the national or the international levels to prevent certain States from dominating the digital sphere. It is important to take steps to ensure that the rights of all users in the information space receive reliable and equal protection. No single State or group of countries may unilaterally establish principles, rules and standards for the operation of the Intern et. To that end, Russia insists that Internet governance be placed within the competence 16/34 22-08761