UNCLASSIFIED
Canada’s Proposal for the Work of the 2021-25 United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on
“Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International
Security”
Summary
This paper outlines the issues that Canada would like to see addressed at the 2021-25 Open-Ended
Working Group (OEWG), in a manner that builds on the acquis of the 2013, 2015 and 2021 consensus
reports of the UN Groups of Governmental Experts (GGEs), as well as on the 2021 consensus OEWG
report. First, Canada proposes that the 2021-25 OEWG focus firstly on practical measures to apply and
implement the voluntary norms of State behaviour adopted in the 2015 GGE report and reaffirmed in
the 2021 consensus OEWG and GGE reports. The OEWG could also aim to provide additional guidance
on the implementation of the 2015 GGE norms, building on the guidance in the 2021 GGE report.
Second, we hope that the OEWG can further build common understandings of the application of
international law to state behaviour in cyberspace. Third, given the broader scope of the OEWG, and
the participation of a wide variety of actors in this process, Canada hopes that the OEWG will be as
inclusive as possible when it comes to stakeholder modalities. Fourth, we hope that an eventual OEWG
report will address the gender dimensions of cyber security. The rationale for this proposed approach
and more specific examples of what could be included in the OEWG report are outlined below.
Background
The 2013 GGE report affirmed the applicability of international law to State behaviour in cyberspace.
The 2015 report affirmed the 2013 report, with further elaboration on applicable international law, as
did the 2021 GGE and OEWG reports. With the new OEWG slated to work for the next four years, and
with multiple initiatives for dialogue and capacity building underway, there is an opportunity and a need
to expand common understandings and the consensus on how international law applies in cyberspace.
The 2015 GGE report included eleven voluntary, non-binding norms of State behaviour in cyberspace.
The 2015 report of the GGE was adopted by consensus in resolution 70/237, which “calls upon Member
States to be guided in their use of information and communications technologies by the 2015 report of
the Group of Governmental Experts.” These norms were reaffirmed by the international community in
the 2021 consensus GGE and OEWG reports. The 2021 GGE report also provides guidance on the
implementation of these eleven non-binding norms.
Canada sees the applicability of existing international law to State behaviour in cyberspace, together
with the implementation of these agreed voluntary norms, as the foundation for sustaining international
peace and security through the promotion of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace. That is why
Canada strongly supported the adoption of these norms and continues to promote their endorsement
and implementation in various forums (including the G7, G20, NATO, ASEAN Regional Forum and OSCE).
Canada reaffirms the conclusions of the 2013, 2015 and 2021 GGE reports, as well as those of the 2021
OEWG report. We hope that the 2021-25 OEWG reaffirms the conclusions of those reports and builds on
them, in a way that focuses on practical implementation of this acquis.
Issues that Canada will focus on at the 2021-25 OEWG
In order to consolidate and build on the achievements of the last two consensus GGE reports and the
recent OEWG report, Canada will focus on the following issues, among others:
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