AUSTRALIA
Australian Mission to the United Nations
Overview
E-mail australia@un.int
150 East 42nd Street, New York NY 10017-5612 Ph 212 - 351 6600 Fax 212 - 351 6610 www.AustraliaUN.org
AUSTRALIAN PAPER – OPEN ENDED WORKING GROUP ON DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE FIELD OF INFORMATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, SEPTEMBER 2019
PURPOSE
1.1. This paper outlines the issues that Australia would like to see discussed at, and considered for
inclusion in a subsequent report of, the United Nations Open Ended Working Group on
developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of
international security (OEWG).
BACKGROUND
2.1. In December 2018, the United National General Assembly (UNGA) established two processes
to discuss responsible state behaviour in cyberspace: an inaugural OEWG (A/Res/73/27); and,
a sixth Group of Governmental Experts (UNGGE) ((A/Res/73/266). The groups present an
important opportunity to generate a meaningful impact on international peace and stability.
2.2. The UNGA resolution establishing the OEWG and the UNGA resolution establishing the
UNGGE both welcomed the effective work of earlier UNGGEs and the 2010, 2013, 2015
UNGGE outcome reports (A/65/201; A/68/98; A/70/174). The UNGA had previously
considered and endorsed, by consensus – the outcome reports of the UNGGE (A/RES/65/41;
A/RES/68/243; A/RES/70/237) and, in 2015, the UNGA called on all UN Members states ‘to be
guided in their use of information and communications technologies by the [UNGGE’s] 2015
report’. Many regional groups and leaders meetings have subsequently welcomed the reports
of the GGE (for example, but not limited to: G20 2015; CHOGM Declaration 2018; ASEAN
Leaders’ Statement 2018; ASEAN Communications Ministers 2018; and, EAS Leaders’
Statement 2018).
2.3. Cumulatively the 2010, 2013 and 2015 UNGGE outcome reports affirm that existing
international law – and in particular, the charter of the United Nations in its entirety – is
applicable and essential to maintaining peace and stability and promoting an open, secure,
stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment. The reports also articulate voluntary nonbinding norms of responsible state behaviour, while recognising the need for confidence
building measures (CBMs), and coordinated capacity building. Combined, these measures
(international law, norms, CBMs and capacity building) provide the basis for a secure, stable
and prosperous cyberspace, and are often referred to as a Framework for Responsible State
Behaviour (the Framework).